Rating: 
Summary: GREAT for ATTACHMENT problems!!
Review: Holding time has worked miracles for my son's attachment problems. We are so thankful someone recommended this book in time for us to catch what could have turned into serious Attachment Disorder. Working moms and dads who aren't as in tune with their children's feelings, or at-home parents who emotionally detach themselves because of whatever reason--depression, apathy, ambiguity, etc. can regain control over their child/parent relationships after applying this method. It is the best way I have ever found to get our son's anger out. He is now a calmer, happier child that doesn't resort to tantrums to "communicate". Those reviewers who criticise this book's theories about Autism research and scientific methods have either not read the entire book or applied the method incorrectly. Even in the book it says to use Holding Time for anger and attachment problems and when NEEDED. However, I only gave it 4 stars for 2 reasons: - I think the weight she puts on the mother's shoulders is a little dramatic and guilt-ridden. - I also thought the author's claim that the technique was just for mother was nonsense, as does our therapist. We do regular holding time sessions with our therapist where my husband is included and I think that helps immensely. A final note: remember, this is a technique that provides a safe environment for a child to express anger and leads to deep communication between parent and child.
Rating: 
Summary: Equally Beneficial to Mother and Child
Review: Holding Time, as described in Dr. Welch's beautiful book, is a two-way interactive physical and emotional expression of unconditional love and acceptance between parent and child of any age and between spouse, as well. I have found it to be equally beneficial to each of the holding pair.There are other therapies that go by the name of holding therapy, but they mostly involve holding by the therapist. Don't confuse these other therapies with Dr. Welch's parent-child holding therapy. Welch therapy works directly upon the crucial bond that must be formed between parents and child. It is this bond that is the foundation of behavior regulation. And it is the direct bonding experience in Dr. Welch's therapy that makes it so much more effective than other therapies.
Rating:
Summary: Thrilled with Holding Time
Review: How thrilled I was to find [her] website. I read Dr Welch's book "Holding Time" before my first child was born, and thought it was wonderful. I practised her therapies with my girls but did not carry on with them. I remember looking for Dr Welch on the Internet about 5 or 6 years ago, but did not find her. It seemed as if she had disappeared off the face of the earth with her wonderful ideas. So, how exciting to see that Holding Time is still "alive and well" and that Dr Welch continues to hold seminars and conferences. If ever there is one in London, I shall be there! God bless her and all who work with her!
Mrs Anderson
Rating:
Summary: Holding Time/Therapy: Excellent Book!!
Review: I adopted a little girl who had been neglected in her early months. When she started to rage and have uncontrollable outbursts of anger even in her sleep, I did not know what to do. I was very fortunate to have found the book Holding Time and I began Holding Therapy. Dr. Welch teaches you how to provide a safe place in which you and your child can work through and let go of anger and it will do the same for you. My daughter and I were able to begin to bond and trust right away. Have you ever been to one of those trust exercises where you have to close your eyes and fall backwards and trust that someone will catch you. Within an hour people are feeling connected and talking openly when they were perfect strangers just an hour before. Holding time is like that only 1000 times greater and it is with your child. Holding time is not about holding someone against their will, raging and then letting go and going about your daily routine. It's about 2 people holding together to work through their emotions and truly resolving the conflict within themselves. When that happens you begin to see people change. True resolution will bring about changes in behavior for both parent and child. It is not a one way street. When a child has problems and we send them to a therapist all you are doing is putting another obstacle between you and your child. Only the child is expected to change. Before you think that you want to totally change someone's behavior, think of how hard it is to change your own. You can't just demand your child see a perfect stranger, learn to trust them and that person will make everything right for your child. Holding time/therapy is about working it out together. One comment to Jane Hunt who spoke about therapist using chains. Dr. Welch does not mention chains or therapist holding in any of her work. Who needs to be connected to a chain or a therapist. Obviously if someone is using this to create pain, gain power or frighten someone, then they have truly missed the point. Dr. Welch is a gifted woman who has dedicated her life to this research. If you have ever looked into the eyes of a child who is deeply disturbed by anger (You will know it if you see it) and then see those same eyes after holding and resolution you will see that it can't be faked. It is not on the surface. It touches the very soul of the mother and child and there is no mistake about it. Our society is losing more and more opportunity to be connected with our families. We have empty homes during the day and at night people return to fast food and video games. People need to stay connected, otherwise we will have no use for a family unit. How sad that would be. Buy the book, find your child and hold on. Anger, hurt, conflicts and disappointments are always hard to work through. No mattter how you choose to work it through, it must be done with some degree of emotional pain to come out on the other side. When you hold, both you and your child will come out on the other side embraced, with a true innerpeace, connected and very content. This book was well written and informative. I hope everyone picks up a copy of this book.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Therapy
Review: I am 13 years old and in November of 2000 my family and I went to an intensive as a last resort. I was very unconnected and not bonded at all with my mom and dad. Before the intensive, I always had a bad attitude and I argued all the time. If my mom told me to do something, I would do just the opposite. I was adopted in August of '97 and I didn't even want to call my parents mom and dad.I didn't even want to be adopted at all. I was only eight so I didn't have a choice. My brother was fourteen so he could choose and he chose not to be adopted. I was mad that I had to be adopted. I have had 4 different foster families and almost all of them sent my brother and I away because of me and the way I acted. One family even wanted to keep my brother but not me. Even though I haven't read the book, I have been through the therapy and I know it can change lives. It has certainly changed my life. Now I love calling my parents mom and dad.I love having parents that I know will love me know matter what and will never send me away. I never wanted to love any of the foster parents I had because I was afraid if I loved them, they would just send me away and break my heart. My parents and I are very close and have a very good relationship. My parents and I talk all the time, not like most teens and parents. Before the intesive, I was always mean to the very few "friends" that I had. Now, I have a lot of friends. I am popular at my church and a lot of people like me. Before the intensive, I hated being homeschooled, now I dont mind it at all. I like getting to spend all day with my mom. I highly recommend this therapy. It will change your life.
Rating:
Summary: Triple Thanks
Review: I am a mom with two daughters and one son. I recently read (and reread and reread!) the book Holding Time and I am very excited that this technique to helped my youngest daughter (she was 2 in August) more firmly attach to me. She experienced great distress when my husband and I left to adopt our son. The technique worked exactly as described in the book, with my daughter. She cried/screamed/struggled for about an hour, then there was a wonderful resolution. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: DONT DESTROY YOUR FAMILY!
Review: I am a psychoanalyst, and so is my husband. The only reason we own this book is because we brought our children to an intensive workshop held by Martha and her followers. It was by far the worst experience of my life, my husband's, and my two daughters'. The children there were forced to lie on mats, and the parents lay on top of them, no matter how small the child was. This is what Martha means by "holding time." The children were practically suffocated. Then, the parents were told to lick the childrens faces. That's right - LICK THEM! These people were so desperate, they were ready to try anything if there was any chance it would make their family lives better. My children were scarred for life. They will not forgive me for taking them to this awful place. My husband, the children and I all agree that this is by no means a helpful organization. It is a cult, and we are currently looking into shutting it down. In the book Martha says so many things i disagree strongly with, and could mention here, but I will mention only the first that comes to my mind....
In Holding Time, Martha says that, using her technique, parents can bypass certain stages of childhood. She states that the terrible two's and teenage rebelion are avoidable. With the help of her book, or her therapy, or her intensive experiences, Martha says that children can become so connected to their parents that they really do not have bad feelings towards them ever. All tantrums can be fixed by "holding the child." And this is the way to a succesful person growing out of your child. But I look at succesful people today and I can't imagine that any of their parents were able to skip the hard parts of life, skip the terrible twos, skip puberty. I, as a mother and a psychoanalyst, think it is more likely that the adults now who used to be a "model child," who never had one fight with their parents, or never rebelled at all as a teenager, are the least succesful ones today. Teenage rebelion is completely natural! Those who avoid it are avoiding their feelings, which is never a good idea. There are so many more things wrong with what this woman says in this book, I want to keep writing, but I can't possibly name everything. In any case, I hope you take my advice and disregard anything Martha says in this book. In fact, please do not buy the book - the more money she has, the more lives she can ruin.
Rating:
Summary: Holding Time
Review: I am an educational psychologist who was noticing some minor but persistent behavior and emotional concerns with my two children. My daughter was short-tempered and very sensitive to any criticsm. My son was somewhat distant and did not often want to be held or kissed. I was familiar with attachment theory but was looking for a way to use it myself. I used the Welch method in a modified way (I could never hold them against their will). The results were so gratifying-I still am amazed when I think of my children's response to being really listened to and connected with on this deep level. My children are teenagers now and we are still reaping the benefits of the closeness that we were able to establish. It took lots of emotional effort to implement holding time with them but has been of great and lasting value for our family.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful way to bring the whole family closer.
Review: I cannot say enough in favor of Holding Time. My family has followed the Welch Method for two years. After only one Welch Method intensive bonding session involving our whole family, my niece, who had been in and out of institutions, was able to return home and return to a normal life. The book, Holding Time, along with support information we got from the Welch website, marthawelch.com, saved our family's life. A must for every family!
Rating:
Summary: Please get real help.
Review: I couldnt help but be disturbed by the unscientific nature of this "therapy". It may make everyone feel good, but I fear that it would delay parents getting their troubled children any real help. The author should be ashamed of herself.
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