Being, Becoming, and Healing Through Movement and Touch

This chapter introduces the fascinating story of how, in utero and during the first months after birth, when our first sensory perceptions occur, we experience ourselves in the world through movement and touch. We explore how our earliest experiences model and shape the way we engage in relationship and environmental interactions, from early attachment and throughout our lives. Through case study examples, we consider the impact of early developmental trauma and neglect on well-being across the lifespan. We examine how play therapy can support recovery by calming and reorganizing traumatized nervous system responses through movement and touch experiences. Particular attention is paid to the therapist&s;s role and presence, the relational field and the therapeutic environment.