Prepare your students to appropriately identify, understand, and respond appropriately to the phenomenon of emotional release during massage and bodywork! This new edition continues to provide a crucial basis of knowledge for massage therapy and students regarding the emotional impact of effective massage therapy. With a new, more colorful layout, this new edition has been fully revised to address the latest science around this topic. Furthermore, in-text features aim to help students apply their learning to actual practice as a massage therapist.

The psychological life of the body -- Psychological factors affecting massage therapy -- Psychological defenses affecting massage therapy -- Boundaries and limits in massage therapy -- The bodymind connection -- Emotional release -- Armoring -- Armoring : the disembodied, collapsed, and compressed character structures -- The rigid character structures -- Understanding mental health conditions and disorders -- Working with mental health professionals.