Psychoanalysis and psychosomatics. Bodily foundations of psychodynamics

In the book “Psychoanalysis and Psychosomatics. The Bodily Foundations of Psychodynamics”, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the Berlin School of Psychology, psychotherapist and psychoanalyst (DPV / DGPT / IPA) Timo Stork defines and analyzes the interrelationships between modern psychoanalysis and psychosomatics. He proves that psychoanalysis can be characterized at its core and from the very beginning as a psychoanalytic-psychosomatic theory.

The body as a combination of the psychic and physical levels remains the starting and central point for psychoanalysis, therefore psychosomatics should be treated not simply as an adjacent discipline, but rather as an inseparable component of psychoanalysis.

The interaction between psyche and soma is revealed through the concept of corporeality. The concept of “body”, which contains the physical and psychic, is different from the concept of “physical body”, or “flesh”. So, “having flesh” and “being a body” are not the same thing. It is important to give the patient the opportunity to reconnect with his own physicality through psychoanalysis.

The book “Psychoanalysis and Psychosomatics. The Bodily Foundations of Psychodynamics” by Timo Stork will be useful both for psychotherapists, psychologists, and for readers who want to form a general idea of ​​​​the role of modern psychoanalysis.