Healthy Compassionate Touch Resources
Choose Love Extension Program: Compassionate Touch
All the Choose Love videos on Compassionate Touch
Science papers
Hertenstein, Holmes, McCullough, and Keltner (2009) The communication of emotion via Touch Emotion Vol 9, No 4 566-573
K. L. Bales et al, (2018) Social touch during development: Long-term effects on brain and behavior, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 95, 202-219.
T. Field (2010) Touch for socioemotional and physical well-being: A review Developmental Review 30 367-338.
McGlone, Wessberg, Olausson (2014 ) Discriminative and Affective Touch: Sensing and Feeling Neuron 82(4):737-55
Articles by Kate
"How healthy compassionate touch transforms," ACES Connections Blog, November 15, 2019
"Touch Matters: The Importance of Attuned and Compassionate Touch," Massage & Bodywork Magazine, March/April 2020
Blessing in disguise: How Covid-19 is bringing light to touch and consent, Sept. 7, 2020
Using touch as critical communication, Oct. 27, 2020
Podcasts with Kate
Episode 39: Kate Mackinnon on Creating Balance and Growth in Our New World, ChooSELove Movement Podcast, April 21, 2021
“CHOOSE LOVE” W/ KATE MACKINNON," April 2nd, 2018 How's the Pressure podcast with Haley Winter
Articles
Choosing Love: What healthy touch has to so with school safety Massage Magazine by Seraine Page October 2018
The Power of Touch National Geographic June 2022
The Social Power of Touch Scientific American Mind July 2015
No hugging: are we living through a crisis of touch?—The Guardian March 17, 2018
Power of Touch New Yorker March 4, 2015
Should teachers be allowed to touch students? The Atlantic Jan 23, 2015
Banning Hugs at School New York Times March 30, 2009
Book
Compassionate Touch – I can Show You I Care by Susan Cotta
Videos
Healthy Compassionate Touch in the Classroom for Elementary students by Kate Mackinnon
Video made on the work of Jean Barlow, UK teacher who has been training teachers how to include touch in the classroom. More information on Jean’s work can be found here.
Neuroscience of touch Professor McGlone
The Touch-Brain Axis & the Premature Baby Professor Francis McGlone