Pat Ogden

The body's intelligence is largely an untapped resource in psychotherapy, yet the story told by the "somatic narrative"—gesture, posture, prosody, facial expressions, eye gaze, and movement—is arguably more significant than the story told by the words. The language of the body communicates implicit meanings and reveals the legacy of trauma and of early or forgotten dynamics with attachment figures. To...

The body, for a host of reasons, has been left out of the talking cure. Psychotherapists who have been trained in models of psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, or cognitive therapeutic approaches are skilled at listening to the language and affect of the client. They track the clients' associations, fantasies, and signs of psychic conflict, distress, and defences. Yet while the majority of...

Our physical habits—of sensation, posture, and movement—reflect implicit knowledge of our histories of trauma, relationships, and resources, as well as our future possibilities. However, this wealth of information often eludes our awareness. The intention of the somatic practices in this card deck is to experientially illuminate the innate and unique knowledge that resides in our bodies and to nurture a...

A concise guide to this groundbreaking somatic–cognitive approach to PTSD and attachment disturbances treatment. Following an already-established and successful "pocket guide" format, Pat Ogden discusses sensorimotor psychotherapy. Whether you are new to the approach or in need of a handy reference, this book will help. Topics include: trauma and early attachment injuries, dissociation, dysregulation, and mindfulness. Case studies round out...