Holding space is a

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

concept meaning creating a

safe space The term safe space refers to places "intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations", according to Merriam-Webster. It is a place where marginalized groups can discuss issues pert ...

for someone or something by being present for them, physically, emotionally and mentally without judgement. The concept of "holding" was coined by

Donald Winnicott Donald Woods Winnicott (7 April 1896 – 25 January 1971) was an English paediatrician and psychoanalyst who was especially influential in the field of object relations theory and developmental psychology. He was a leading member of the Brit ...

in 1960 in a paper on the relationship of infants and parents and has since seen evolving use in the field of

psychotherapy Psychotherapy (also psychological therapy, talk therapy, or talking therapy) is the use of Psychology, psychological methods, particularly when based on regular Conversation, personal interaction, to help a person change behavior, increase hap ...

. The term "holding space" was popularized around 2015 by Heather Plett in a blog post about the concept. In popular culture, the phrase "holding space" gained a rapid rise in popularity following an interview in November 2024 between journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist and ''

Wicked Wicked may refer to: Books * ''Wicked'' (Maguire novel), a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire that inspired the musical of the same name * ''Wicked'', a 1997 novel series collaboration between Australian children's authors Paul Jennings and Morris ...

'' actresses

Cynthia Erivo Cynthia Chinasaokwu Onyedinmanasu Amarachukwu Owezuke Echimino Erivo ( ; born 8 January 1987) is a British actress and singer. Known for her work on both stage and screen, she is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Cynt ...

and

Ariana Grande Ariana Grande-Butera ( ; born June 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Regarded as a pop icon and an influential figure in popular music, Grande is known for her four-octave vocal range, which extends into the whistle re ...

History

coined the concept of "holding" in psychology in 1960 in a paper discussing the relationship of parents and infants. Since then, the concept has evolved in its use in

therapy A therapy or medical treatment is the attempted remediation of a health problem, usually following a medical diagnosis. Both words, ''treatment'' and ''therapy'', are often abbreviated tx, Tx, or Tx. As a rule, each therapy has indications a ...

beyond the parent/child relationship, with the concept of empathy and meeting patients where they are at its core. The "holding" concept further evolved with the term "holding space", which was popularized by Heather Plett, a writer from Canada in a then-viral 2015 blog post. Plett described the term as: "being willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they're on, without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome". The term is often used in the context of

where the concept of

s are a common theme.

In popular culture

The phrase "holding space" further gained rapid popularity outside of the field of psychology in November 2024 following an interview between Tracy E. Gilchrist and actresses

and

during a press tour interview for the 2024 musical fantasy film ''

'', based on the first act of the stage musical of the same name. In the interview, Gilchrist says to Erivo and Grande that audiences were "holding space" with the lyrics of " Defying Gravity," the musical's

signature song A signature (; from , "to sign") is a depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. Signatures are often, but not always, handwritten or styliz ...

. ''

Axios Axios commonly refers to: * Axios (river), a river that runs through Greece and North Macedonia * ''Axios'' (website), an American news and information website Axios may also refer to: Brands and enterprises * Axios, a brand of suspension produ ...

'' has said the phrase means "a way of creating judgement-free, safe spaces for healing". '' Glamour'' said, "No one seems to fully understand what any of this actually means — or, for that matter, if it means anything at all. Indeed, that's kind of the beauty of it." In a follow-up interview with ''Variety'', when asked to explain the meaning behind the phrase, Gilchrist explained her understanding of the phrase as:

References

{{reflist 2015 neologisms Internet memes introduced in 2024 LGBTQ and society Phrases Psychotherapy Social justice terminology Wicked (film series)

History

In popular culture

See also

References