All touch leaves an imprint on human beings. Some kinds of touch are invasive and traumatic. Examples of traumatic touch are sexual abuse (such as incest, sibling sexual abuse and rape); violence directed at the person; witnessing violence or sexual abuse; neglect; and verbal abuse. The effect of invasive touch is often devastating and always significant. This kind of touch often leaves the person with a lifetime of body symptoms and/or negative behavior patterns that seem unsolvable. It is common that the health care generally used to resolve such symptoms and/or patterns may worsen or reinforce the condition.

Intentional Touch™ is designed to address this reality head-on. It is an approach that takes into consideration the negative imprint in the physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual system left by the trauma. Because of these imprints from previous invasive, traumatic touch, this client population needs health care tailored to their specific needs.

Intentional Touch™ is an approach to health care that takes into consideration several factors:

• Clients who have experienced traumatic touch have specific needs when receiving health care

• A health care service that is routine for most clients may cause significant trauma for this client population

• The quality of the therapeutic relationship is of profound significance

Those practicing Intentional Touch™ have been trained to work with a heightened awareness and skill level regarding clients who have a history of sexual abuse and other traumatic touch. Statistics indicate that there is a strong likelihood that every health care practitioner will encounter this client population. A majority of the time, the health care practitioner will not know that their client has this history. The Intentional Touch™ model insures that there will not be an inadvertent re-traumatization during a health care session as well as significantly increasing the confidence of the client in the practitioner, the modality used, and in their own body's ability to respond positively. I have seen the most invasive procedures transformed into fertile ground for profound healing from the past traumas as a result of utilizing the Intentional Touch™ principles.

If you have a history of sexual abuse, the following guidelines may assist you in choosing health professionals that can meet your needs with the least risk of re-traumatization:

• Ask your health care practitioners if they have an awareness and understanding of traumatic touch issues

• Choose health care practitioners that are willing to communicate with each other for your benefit

• Inform health care practitioners about your background. Disclose only the details comfortable for you

• Seek a professional to help you navigate the health care system, if necessary

• Trust your instincts and experience - Do you feel listened to, respected, and included in your treatment plan? If not, discuss this openly and ask your practitioner for effort on their part to shift the therapeutic relationship