The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook: Stories from the Intersection of Mind and Body

Jean Benjamin Stora is a psychoanalyst and psychosomatist who has worked for almost five decades. Integrative psychosomatics aims to heal the body and mind in relationship to one another, offering therapeutic support alongside medical treatments. Stora presents fifteen case studies from the past twenty years, including George, Giles, Elvira, Dorothy, Beatrice, and Emma, to demonstrate the importance of neuroscience and neuropsychoanalysis in this holistic approach. The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook is an excellent introduction to integrative psychosomatics, suitable for anyone with an interest in the subject, and contains a comprehensive review of the technical points involved.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Phoenix Publishing House

Jean Benjamin Stora, a renowned psychoanalyst and psychosomatist, has dedicated nearly five decades to his field. Integrative psychosomatics, as he envisioned it, aims to heal the body and mind in a holistic manner, viewing them as interconnected rather than treating the body as a machine with individual parts that require repair. Stora delves into a patient's current and past life history, exploring the relationship between physical illness and psychological distress. Alongside medical treatments, he provides therapeutic support to help individuals overcome their challenges. To further elucidate this revolutionary approach, Stora presents fifteen case studies spanning the past twenty years. These case studies vividly depict the experiences of individuals such as George, grappling with hyperlipidemia; Giles, facing the amputation of his foot due to diabetes; Elvira, struggling with alcoholism; Dorothy, expressing frustration with doctors who focus solely on treating body parts rather than addressing her as a whole person; Beatrice, facing a recurrence of breast cancer; and ten additional patients. This intricate process takes into account the central role of the central nervous system in the interplay between mind and body. Consequently, neuroscience plays a pivotal role in this holistic approach, alongside the emerging field of neuropsychoanalysis. A notable example is the case of Emma, who underwent brain surgery and suffered from various symptoms.

The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook serves as an invaluable introduction to integrative psychosomatics. The narratives presented in the first four chapters are accessible to individuals with a curiosity about the subject. The fifth and final chapter is specifically designed for psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and medical professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the practice. It offers a comprehensive review of the technical aspects involved and highlights the distinct differences between psychoanalytic technique and psychosomatic therapy. This book holds significant importance in learning to treat individuals as holistic beings, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind and body.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800131446