PhilYoung

Unfortunately I missed the open forum. I found your article fascinating and agree with your overall assessment but as someone who works with a biomechanical/structural model (derived from osteopathy) integrated with a major social/psychological/energetic perspective on the significance and malleability of structure I found many parts of your process model itself less than satisfying.
Throughout the article you present the concept of our body as self-healing through “repair, adaptation and alleviation of symptoms.” Yet clearly many clients do not self-heal and symptoms can continue for years. I have a curiosity about what inhibits healing at both physical and psychological social levels. When you addressed this issue your theorisation seemed too focused on physical parameters. A huge component for me is what I call the “functional benefit” of any particular problem or symptom set, what its social impact is in the life of the client.
Your model of touch effects as “soothe-seeking,” is valid but I think there is also commonly a very large component of general “attention-seeking” and “contact-seeking” within the therapist-patient relationship.