Mentalizing the Body: Integrating Body and Mind in Psychotherapy

The book "Mentalizing the Body" explores the relevance of the body in mental disorders, particularly personality and somatization disorders. It integrates theory and practice with neurobiological and developmental psychological findings to understand the bodily phenomena within psychotherapeutic treatments. Ulrich Schultz-Venrath emphasizes the importance of the intentionality of bodily symptoms and their integration in the talking cure. The book expands the work of Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy and introduces the "body mode" in contrast to embodied mentalizing. It promotes mentalizing in psychotherapy while taking the body into account, helping patients with somatoform and eating disorders, as well as those with psychological complaints lacking a connection to the body. The book offers detailed insight into various therapies and treatments, including individual and group psychotherapies, body, art, and music therapy, with clinical case studies and diagrams. It is of great interest to practitioners, researchers, and healthcare professionals working with severe mental disorders.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 29 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Mentalizing the Body is a groundbreaking book that brings together theory and practice with the latest neurobiological and developmental psychological findings to understand the relevance of the body in a wide range of mental disorders, particularly personality and somatization disorders. Ulrich Schultz-Venrath, a renowned expert in the field, provides insightful explanations on individual bodily phenomena within psychotherapeutic treatments, experienced by both patients and therapists. He emphasizes the importance of the intentionality of bodily symptoms and how they can be integrated into the talking cure.

Mentalizing the Body expands on the work of Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy, introducing the concept of "body mode" in contrast to the popular notion of "embodied mentalizing." By promoting mentalizing in psychotherapy while taking the body into account, this book helps not only patients with somatoform and eating disorders but also those whose psychological complaints have a missing connection to the body. Schultz-Venrath offers detailed insights into the range of therapies and treatments available, including individual and group psychotherapies, body, art, and music therapy, with clinical case studies and diagrams throughout.

This book is of immense interest to practitioners and researchers alike, from psychoanalysts and psychotherapists to psychiatrists and psychologists seeking to understand the mentalization model, and all healthcare professionals working with severe mental disorders. By integrating the body into mental health treatment, Mentalizing the Body offers new avenues for understanding and addressing these complex disorders, leading to improved outcomes for patients.

Weight: 553g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032384597