Presented by Prof Heinz Deuser | Facilitated by Cornelia Elbrecht

Haptic Perception defines the hands as perception tools. Haptic perception commences in utero. It is instrumental in shaping the cognitive and emotional brain as infants, toddlers and children progress developmentally. The hands are the tools through which they discover and explore the world around them. Touch defines how we perceive safety, love and attachment, but also violence, pain and fear. Work at the Clay Field is touch therapy; haptic perception becomes a core diagnostic tool when observing clients’ connection or dissociation from the material. The ability to understand haptic perception can become an invaluable diagnostic tool not only for those, who work with clay, but all art therapists, expressive therapists, occupational therapists and teachers. The hands clearly express developmental stages and setbacks in the way they are relaxed and confident or tense and avoidant.