Soothing touch

Soothing touch is a person's own contact that gives them safety and calm. A simple gesture, such as placing a hand on the chest or the belly, can send a signal of safety to the nervous system; this is a soothing a person can give to themselves. This touch is one of the body's tools of self-regulation and can be a support, especially in difficult moments. A tender contact directed toward oneself often soothes more directly than words. The body often responds to a safe touch with calm.