Holding Therapy and Autism Ranking:

Key Features

Holding therapy (also known as Hug therapy; Holding time; Attachment holding therapy; Cuddle time; Gentle containment; Holding-nurturing process; PPCE Therapy and Prolonged Parent–Child Embrace Therapy) is a type of psychological intervention used to help children who find it difficult to form a relationship with their mother.

The therapy consists of forced holding by a therapist or parent until the child stops resisting or until a fixed time period has elapsed. The carer does not usually release her or his hold until the child ‘surrenders' and looks into the carer's eyes. The carer then returns the child's gaze and exchanges affection.

Holding therapy is different to simply hugging or cuddling a child, where no force and no coercion are used.

According to Simpson (2005)

“There are three parts to the Holding Time sequence: (1) confrontation, (2) rejection, and (3) resolution. During the confrontation stage, the mother and child position themselves so that they can easily make contact and 'hold' each other. The mother insists on eye contact, sometimes physically forcing it. Thus, the mother begins to elicit and express communication about feelings. This leads to child resistance, known as the rejection stage. During this stage, the mother continues to hold the child, no matter how vigorously the child fights, with intent to communicate the message ‘nothing can come between us - not your anger and not even my anger'. The rejection stage continues until avoidance behavior gives way to physical and verbal closeness (the resolution stage), with the development of a strong, loving, enduring bond being the ultimate goal.”

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Oct 2016

Next Review

01 Feb 2023