ABSTRACT Oulu University of Applied Sciences Degree programme in Nursing and Health care, option of psychiatry

Author(s): Sarajärvi Johanna, Silvamaa Ida-Maria, Toivonen Heini. Title of thesis: Holding therapy at childrens psychiatry Supervisor(s): Lecture Alakulppi Juha & Principal lecture, PhD Eija Niemelä Term and year when the thesis was submitted: spring 2017 Number of pages: 38+9

Holding as careing format is common but rarely unknown method outside the hospital environ-ment. As a treatment, holdingtherapy is used when every another options are insufficient. Hold-ingtherapy sets affectively boundaries to childrens uncontrable aggressive behaviour and helps them not to harm themselves, others or living environment. In this strong hold, children can cry and scream out every pain, anger and sadness and still feel loved. Holding is therapeutic be-cause it brings control for child who has chaotic feelings.

Our project begun in autumn 2016, when we started to think current subject from childpsychiatry and holdingtherapy caught our intrest. As a result, we made a guide about children holdingthera-py for parents. The guide has been accomplished in collaboration with childen and youth psychi-atric workgroup in Oulu. Meaning of this guide is that the workgroup can share it to their clients.

Purpose of this guide is to bring unwritten knownledge to written format. We wanted to clear mixed understanding what comes to holdingtherapy. Purpose of this guide is also to give support for parents, nursing stuff and others like teachers and special educational teachers.

Result of this project we made nine-page guide, which collaborator can share to their clients. We also made a file of this guide which can be updated. The guide is based on reliable literature and research science.

Keywords: holding, holding treathment, children psychiatry