Content

    1. The Mind-Body Connection – Judith Rustin

    1. The Embodied Mind with Dr Thomas Verny

There is a deep connection between the mind and body, particularly how emotions manifest as bodily experiences before reaching conscious awareness. This article, The Mind-Body Connection: Working With Bodily Experiences, by Judith Rustin, discusses how these bodily-based emotions, shaped by evolutionary processes, influence human behavior and decision-making. Through examples and research findings, the text highlights the importance of incorporating an understanding of these somatic markers into psychotherapeutic practice to enhance clinical outcomes. The narrative emphasizes the need for therapists to recognize and work with the body as a source of emotional insight.

  • Understand the concept of emotions as bodily experiences that often precede conscious awareness.

  • Explore how evolutionary processes have shaped basic emotional responses in humans and other mammals.

  • Examine the role of somatic markers in decision-making and how they influence behavior subconsciously.

  • Learn how psychotherapists can integrate body-based emotional awareness into clinical practice to enhance therapeutic outcomes.

  • Analyze case studies that illustrate the connection between bodily sensations and emotional experiences in therapy.

  • Discuss the implications of the mind-body connection for psychodynamic therapy and how it can inform treatment strategies.