handholding: Meaning and Definition of

hand•hold•ing

Pronunciation: (hand'hōl"ding), [key]
— n.
  1. the act of holding hands, esp. as a sign or token of affection.
  2. constant reassurance and help, esp. as an indication of one's interest or confidence: We do a lot of handholding with our clients.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.