Book Reviews: Somatic psychology, body, mind and meaning by Linda Hartley

Abstract

This is a pearl of a book, inspired by a vision of ‘bodymind’ integration. Practitioners concerned with the relationship between psyche and soma will welcome this finely-researched text grounded in practice. Drawing on her experience as a dancer, Body Mind Centering practitioner, and psychothera- pist, trained in psychosynthesis and process-oriented psychotherapy, Hartley combines a sensitive somatic understanding of body and mind with a transpersonal awareness of the body as echo of the soul. The focus is upon processes of awakening hidden emotions and images, laid down in the cells of the body. Inspiration comes from a belief in a deep nature to be discovered through the body, a nature which is ‘essentially loving, wise, compassionate and full of joy’ (p. 2).