The Primal Sense is reviews the nature of touch and is geared to those in the health professions and healing arts who use some form of manual therapy. It provides both the standard information about the sense of touch and bolsters it with the latest findings in neuroscience and psychology. The Primal Sense explores the nature of touch in an evidenced-based discussion regarding the different models of touch along with cultural influences; the neuroscientific aspects of the touch system; the social, emotional, and development impact of touch; applying touch in the context of clinical intimacy and healing; and lastly, some useful exercises to enhance the reader's own sense of touch. In all, The Primal Sense will help the reader:
· Learn the latest information on the neural, psychological, and interpersonal dynamics of the social affective touch system.
· Deepen the way you think about touch.
· Distinguish between the different kinds of touch.
· Better understand how touch and your need for it changes over the lifetime.
· Appreciate the gender differences in touch.
· See how touch communicates energy, intention, and emotion.
· Clarify the relationship between clinical intimacy and the healing experience as one multi-faceted experience.
· Grasp how massage therapy can help address a wide variety of psychological conditions.
· Practice some simple exercises to re-discover and enhance your sense of touch.
