32. The Healing Power of Handholding: Touch, Parenting & Connection in a Digital World

In this episode of the Trust Me Mom podcast, host EkaterinaKonovalova sat down with author Alex (Sasha) Simakovsky to explorethe science, psychology, and emotional power of human touch.Alex shared what inspired his book, More Than a Touch:Rediscover the Healing Power of Handholding, and why intentional touch ismore important than ever in a post-pandemic, digital-first world. Together,they discussed tactile hunger, parenting and child regulation, relationshiprepair, cultural perspectives on touch, and simple handholding practices thatcan help children and adults feel safer, calmer, and more connected. 📘 Alex’s Book: MoreThan a Touch: Rediscover the Healing Power of Handholding https://www.amazon.com/More-Than-Touch-Rediscover-Handholding/dp/B0FKXZX5M4 00:00 Introduction & welcome00:22 Why human touch matters (especially after the pandemic)01:02 What inspired the book More Than a Touch02:10 Growing up with holistic, touch-based healing03:54 The science of touch: hormones, stress & regulation05:37 Parenting, touch, and emotional safety for kids06:03 Hand-in-hand breathing exercise for children08:16 Demonstration: how hand-in-hand breathing works09:32 Why assisted regulation works better for some kids10:17 The “30-second rule” and intentional touch10:41 Handholding during conflict and relationship repair12:59 Cultural differences in handholding around the world15:28 Alex’s favorite chapters and modern-day application16:54 A powerful father–daughter story from the book19:23 Closing thoughts   #TrustMeMom #HumanTouch #Handholding #ParentingTools#EmotionalRegulation #TactileHunger #MindfulParenting #ChildDevelopment#Relationships #MentalHealth #Attachment #NeurodivergentKids #HolisticWellness#ConnectionMatters