08/18/2026
Freud wrote in 1923 that “the ego is ultimately derived from bodily sensations.” In 1940, Freud stated that “the physical or somatic processes concomitant with the psychical ones” are “the true essence of what is psychical,” thus confirming the fundamental role of bodily sensations in psychoanalysis.
It was understood early on that feelings are rooted in the body. Sensations come first, and then we interpret their meaning. A fast heartbeat can mean excitement about a new date or anxiety about a sick child. It is clients who ascribe meaning based on their own experience and subjective viewpoint. This conversation will explore how the mind and body are inextricably connected and why it is important to include the body as a focus in treatment. How do we handle clients who aren’t aware of what they feel and can’t express themselves in words? Often the feelings are expressed in a variety of maladies. A case will be presented to illustrate how feelings can be expressed non-verbally in the consulting room before a patient is ready to talk.
Course Objectives:
1. Participants will recognize the importance of including the body as a point of interest in treatment.
2. Participants will be able to identify how bodily sensations can reveal unconscious emotions.
3. Attendees will be able to describe ways in which the body communicates feelings that cannot be said to the analyst.
4. Attendees will develop the skills to access a patient’s emotions that cannot be accessed through talking alone.
Facilitators: Lisa Sokoloff, LCSW, PsyA and Lauren Waddell, LCSW, PsyA
Place: In Person at
655 Pomander Walk,
Teaneck, NJ 07666
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2026
Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Fee: $20 payable via Zelle or PayPal using [email protected]
