Anatomy and physiology for psychotherapists

the long version

Most psychotherapists agree that the body and mind are closely interconnected. Indeed, "mind/body connections" have become buzzwords, and practitioners of all kinds are keen to familiarize themselves with them. However, to date, many psychotherapists have focused solely on the mind, ignoring the "hardware" of what they are working with: the human body. In Anatomy & Physiology for Psychotherapists, Kathrin Stauffer--a biochemist and seasoned body psychotherapist--takes a look at organ systems of the human body to illuminate the connections between body and mind, exploring the body as both the ground of our physical experience and as a metaphor for our emotional life. Throughout, Stauffer presents human anatomy and physiology in clear, simple terms, with facts selected for interest and relevance to psychotherapists. Many links are made between physical and psychological function to give readers a taste. of how body psychotherapists work in clinical practice to integrate body and mind, and thus help their clients become more whole. Anatomy & Physiology for Psychotberapists invites psychotherapists, complementary therapists, and anyone else interested in the mind/body connection to engage with the physical body to bring more depth to their therapeutic work. "My first reaction to this book is, `WOW!' Scientist-turned-psychotherapist Kathrin Stauffer makes a major contribution towards a unifying theory of body and mind in this highly accessible volume. It is essential reading for all psychotherapists and body psychotherapists who desire to apply the wisdom of science for the purpose of gaining a deeper understanding of and greater compassion for their clients as well as themselves."-- Babette Rothschild, MSW, Author, The Body Remembers and 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery. "Anatomy & Physiology for Psychotherapists is a wonderfully readable overview of the main organ systems of the body, in language that a non-specialist can understand. Stauffer explains the functions of the body in ways that are relevant to our insights into the relation between psyche and soma. The book is rich with principles taken from body psychotherapy (Reich, Boyesen, Boadella, Keleman and others), and clearly presents the functional identity of body and mind. Each chapter is enriched with clear case examples taken from actual practice."--Divid Boadella, MEd, Dr. H.C., Founder of Biosynthesis, Author, Lifestreams --Book Jacket.