Mind-Body Problems: Psychotherapy with Psychosomatic Disorders

by Janet Schumacher Finell

Overview

The opening paper profitably links psychosomatic disorders to alexithymia, the absence or deadening of feeling, the inability to identify or express emotion. Alexithymic individuals are particularly prone to disease as a result of the faulty processing of emotions that leads to cognitive deficit in coping with stressful affects.
Animated case reports on specific disorders—anorexia, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, even (speculatively) miscarriage—balance consideration of developmental questions and treatment issues (transference/countertransference) and techniques.
From a historical essay on Freud's view of the mind-body connection to explorations of the complicated role of trauma and PTSD, the contributions to Dr. Finell's collection demonstrate intellectual energy and clinical creativity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781568216546
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/07/1977
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Janet Schumacher Finell, Ph.D., editor of Mind_Body Problems: Psychotherapy with Psychosomatic Disorders, is Training and Supervisory Psychoanalyst at the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, New York, and the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of New Jersey, where she is also a member of the faculty. In her recent writing and clinical work, Dr. Finell has focused on psychosomatics, particularly on alexithymia_the inability to feel_and the use of the countertransference. She maintains private practices in Manhattan and Millburn, New Jersey.

What People are Saying About This

Herbert S. Strean

With characteristic creativity and enthusiasm, Dr. Janet Finell has assembled a group of outstanding clinicians to update us on mind_body problems. They not only teach us a great deal about the etiology and dynamics of psycho-somatic disorders but also help us become more sensitive therapists as we try to help our patients reduce the intensity of the anxiety that accompanies psychosomatic problems. Lucid, erudite, insightful_and a wonderful read!

Lawrence Balter

Mind-Body Problems is a welcome addition to the field of psychotherapy with psychosomatic disorders. Packed with practical as well as theoretical information, it will assist clinicians in confronting enigmatic, often perplexing problems.

Martin A. Schulman

One of the ironies of contemporary clinical practice is that while therapists are regularly confronted with patients exhibiting psychosomatic disorders, the literature is minimal and scattered. Dr. Finell's volume of excellent papers is a necessary palliative. Combining the latest thinking in both the clinical and theoretical realms, her contributors offer a superb overview of a neglected area. Papers ranging from miscarriage to anorexia, with alexithymic underpinnings, weave together the dynamics common to a significant segment of our patient population.

Editorial Reviews

One of the ironies of contemporary clinical practice is that while therapists are regularly confronted with patients exhibiting psychosomatic disorders, the literature is minimal and scattered. Dr. Finell's volume of excellent papers is a necessary palliative. Combining the latest thinking in both the clinical and theoretical realms, her contributors offer a superb overview of a neglected area. Papers ranging from miscarriage to anorexia, with alexithymic underpinnings, weave together the dynamics common to a significant segment of our patient population.

Martin A. Schulman

Mind-Body Problems is a welcome addition to the field of psychotherapy with psychosomatic disorders. Packed with practical as well as theoretical information, it will assist clinicians in confronting enigmatic, often perplexing problems.

Lawrence Balter

With characteristic creativity and enthusiasm, Dr. Janet Finell has assembled a group of outstanding clinicians to update us on mind_body problems. They not only teach us a great deal about the etiology and dynamics of psycho-somatic disorders but also help us become more sensitive therapists as we try to help our patients reduce the intensity of the anxiety that accompanies psychosomatic problems. Lucid, erudite, insightful_and a wonderful read!

Herbert S. Strean

Provides evidence that alexithymia, an inability to feel, is at the root of many psychosomatic problems, and explains how therapists can help their patients get in touch with their feelings and regain control of their own bodies. Also considers the role of post-traumatic stress disorder, psychological factors in miscarriage, and post-concussional syndrome. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews