No one can deny in times of stress, a hug has the ability to make anyone feel better. Hilary Jacobs Hendel, an experienced therapist, noticed this after hugging one of her patients. After the hug, her patient told Hendel that she felt cured from her life long depression. Because of this, Hendel became curious about the actual healing powers of a hug, and if it should be more popular as a tool in therapy sessions. She wrote this article to explore these thoughts for other therapists or anyone who was curious about hugs and hugs in therapy. To decide on whether or not she believed hugs should be involved in therapy, she started the article with personal narratives. She included the one about her patient who claimed to be cured. Hendel also explained how instead of continuing to hug her, she instead had that patient picture being hugged in her head. Maybe picturing a hug would have the same effect as an actual hug. Hendel also decided to check factual sources to see if hugging was stated to not be allowed in therapy or not. She checked the ethical guidelines from the National Association of Social Workers and the American Psychological Association and it was found that it is never stated that a therapist cannot hug their patient. So although it was mainly known to be taboo, it was legal. In the end, Hendel decided that hugs were not a good idea to use in therapy. She writes, “So even when I think a physical hug would be therapeutic, I continue to rely on fantasy (Hendel).” I don’t believe she accomplished her purpose of proving that. Only in the very last paragraph does she state that opinion. She does not give good reasons for why she believes that. The whole article was Hendel debating either side, so there were good things and bad things to each side, there is nowhere her opinion is favored.
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