The Skin as a Psychic Organ: The Use of Infant Massage as a Psychotherapeutic Tool in InfantParent Psychotherapy

This paper explores the use of touch, particularly infant-massage in
infant-parent psychotherapy and the ways in which clinicians can utilize this
intervention to strengthen infant-parent attachment. Touch as a taboo in
psychotherapy, and the paradigmatic shifts that are occurring to allow for a
reconsideration of the value of touch in psychotherapy is considered. Theories on touch
and development from a depth-oriented perspective are presented, including related
concepts such as: psychic skin, skin ego, and Winnicott’s holding environment or
handling.
KEY WORDS: Infant development, infant, massage, infant massage therapy, infantparent bonding, mother infant relations, psychoanalysis, object relations, psychic skin,
skin ego, holding environment and handling, touch.