The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook

Jean Benjamin Stora has worked as a psychoanalyst and psychosomatist for almost five decades. The aim of integrative psychosomatics is to heal the body and mind in relationship to one another rather than treating the body as a machine with parts to be fixed. Thus, Stora explores a patient's current and past life history in relation to physical illness and offers therapeutic support alongside medical treatments. To better understand this revolutionary approach, Stora presents fifteen case studies from the past twenty years. We read of George suffering from hyperlipidemia; Giles, a diabetic facing amputation; Elvira, an alcoholic; Dorothy, who complains the doctors treat body parts but not her; Beatrice facing a reappearance of breast cancer; and ten further patients. This complex process takes into account the fundamental role of the central nervous system in the relationship of mind and body. Thus, neuroscience is a key component of this holistic approach, as well as the new discipline of neuropsychoanalysis. This is most clearly shown in the case of Emma, suffering after brain surgery. The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook is an excellent introduction to integrative psychosomatics. The stories presented in the first four chapters can be read by anyone with an interest in the subject. The fifth and final chapter is aimed at psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and doctors looking to gain a greater understanding of the practice. It contains a comprehensive review of the technical points involved and clearly shows the difference between psychoanalytic technique and the technique of psychosomatic therapy. This is an important book in learning to treat the person as a whole rather than split into mind and body.

In this fascinating book, eminent Psychosomatician Jean Benjamin Stora outlines 15 case studies to illustrate his work in treating patients. Examining interrelations and multicausality between different systems within the body and mind, the book features a range of patients, from those suffering from cancer and chronic pain, to those suffering from stress and alcohol addiction. It provides readers with a rich selection of case histories through which to understand the scope of psychosomatic therapy and outlines the psychoanalytic, medical, and neurological dimensions to each case. The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook is the perfect introduction for anyone interested in this growing area of work and will appeal especially to practicing psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and counsellors.

Jean Benjamin Stora has worked as a psychoanalyst and psychosomatist for almost five decades. The aim of integrative psychosomatics is to heal the body and mind in relationship to one another rather than treating the body as a machine with parts to be fixed. Thus, Stora explores a patient's current and past life history in relation to physical illness and offers therapeutic support alongside medical treatments. To better understand this revolutionary approach, Stora presents fifteen case studies from the past twenty years. We read of George suffering from hyperlipidemia; Giles, a diabetic facing amputation; Elvira, an alcoholic; Dorothy, who complains the doctors treat body parts but not her; Beatrice facing a reappearance of breast cancer; and ten further patients. This complex process takes into account the fundamental role of the central nervous system in the relationship of mind and body. Thus, neuroscience is a key component of this holistic approach, as well as the new discipline of neuropsychoanalysis. This is most clearly shown in the case of Emma, suffering after brain surgery. The Psychosomatic Therapy Casebook is an excellent introduction to integrative psychosomatics. The stories presented in the first four chapters can be read by anyone with an interest in the subject. The fifth and final chapter is aimed at psychotherapists, psychoanalysts, and doctors looking to gain a greater understanding of the practice. It contains a comprehensive review of the technical points involved and clearly shows the difference between psychoanalytic technique and the technique of psychosomatic therapy. This is an important book in learning to treat the person as a whole rather than split into mind and body.

The Casebook of Psychosomatic Medicine brings to life the patients whom psychosomatic medicine serves and the variety of challenges they face -- classic psyche--soma involvement; psychotic attributions to physical illness; catastrophic events and injuries; major systemic medical challenges with comorbid psychopathology; and more.

This volume presents 12 highly instructive case studies grounded in the evidence-based psychodynamic therapy model developed by Richard F. Summers and Jacques P. Barber. Bringing clinical concepts vividly to life, each case describes the patient's history and presenting problems and takes the reader through psychodynamic formulation, treatment planning, and the entire course of therapy, including the challenges of termination. The cases address a variety of core psychodynamic problems, with outcomes ranging from very successful to equivocal. The emotional experience of the therapist is explored throughout. Commentary from Summers and Barber on every case highlights important points and key clinical dilemmas. See also the authored book Psychodynamic Therapy: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practice, in which Summers and Barber comprehensively describe their therapeutic model.

Following the publication of the Handbook of the Brief Psychotherapies (Wells & Giannetti, 1990), the editors began to conceptualize the idea of a collection of case studies encompassing a number of the commonly en countered clinical problems that have been treated with such ap proaches. The Casebook of the Brief Psychotherapies is the result. The Case book details clinical interventions with client populations as diverse as substance abusers, torture victims, the physically handicapped and other exceptional groups, and the economically disadvantaged with emotional and behavioral problems, as well as individuals experiencing sexual dysfunction or eating disorders. In addition, topics such as be reavement, depression, anger, and many crucial aspects of marital and family therapy are discussed by eminent clinical practitioners. Although the cases draw heavily upon cognitive behavioral and strategic structural formulations, psychodynamic, interpersonal, and experiential ap proaches are also included. The Casebook is clinically oriented, with a minimum of theory. Am ple case material and commentary allow the reader to experience direct ly the application of brief therapy to specific client problems. What emerges from this compendium of approaches and problems is a tap estry of action-oriented, problem-solving, skill-building, rational ap proaches to therapy that balance the client's ability to change with the demands and limits of time.

This work argues that the selection of 12 sessions on a once weekly basis mobilises hope and optimism in psychotherapy patients. It also necessitates dealing with the conscious and unconscious conflicts and meanings surrounding time, termination and separation-individuation. The patient knows precisely when the beginning stages of therapy are over, and where the middle and end are. No other short-term therapy deals specifically with these issues. Much of the theorising on time by Dr Mann is relevant to the termination issues in open-ended long-term psychotherapy and psychoanalysis proper. Margaret Mahler's writings are also utilised.