Home - Douglas Peterson, PhD

“A compelling and often thought-provoking analysis of how life can impact the body. Highly recommended!”

—The Wishing Shelf

The psychology of the body provides profound insight into behavior, yet most people greatly overlook it.

Your life will change when you realize that how you think and feel transforms your body tissue. Body Psychology brings to life, through descriptions and illustrations, the psychological and physical issues written on our bodies and how our thinking/feeling can change the body both immediately (such as with depression) and over time (such as when one develops a hunched back from long-held feelings and thoughts that the world is overwhelming).

Have you ever wanted to recognize the signs of deeply ingrained issues in yourself and others? What a great tool when considering who to choose for a date or a business partner. You can learn how to spot trauma, depression, and other repetitive problems.

Douglas Peterson, PhD, maps out the theories from major body-mind psychophysical researchers and writers, and he shines a light on insights about the body and behavior from his experience and training as a psychologist, educator, holistic health practitioner, massage therapist, and social worker. He offers wisdom and guidance about body psychology that will help you live a dynamic life.

Available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook

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About the Author

Douglas Peterson, Ph.D., has extensive experience as a psychologist, educator, holistic health practitioner, massage therapist, and social worker.

He began to understand trauma as a social worker involved with individual and family counseling and child abuse investigations. His training and experience as a holistic health practitioner and massage therapist brought therapeutic awareness and hands-on proficiency regarding how stress and trauma impact the body tissue.

His understanding of body psychology and therapy provided insight as a psychologist. He acquired experience as a school psychologist and continues with private practice consulting. He is married with two grown children and two beautiful grandchildren.

“Are your shoulders up around your ears? Do you have bags under your eyes? Do you walk on tiptoe? Dr. Peterson presents his "Three Centers Theory" to illustrate how "the drama of thought and passion plays out in the tissue of the body."

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Awards and Reviews

This is no pop science explanation for, say, what trauma may have caused a child to lisp, though Peterson does propose that "The child holds back from speaking by holding back on the jaw muscle... making it difficult to say the 's' sound, as the upper and lower teeth are not together." However, hands on practitioners, eager to bring patients comfort and insight into the causes of distress, should appreciate Peterson's compiling so much knowledge in one volume."

—BlueInk Review

"The author has been in a unique position with a long-standing career as a mental health professional as well as a massage therapist. In these coinciding roles, he was able to study, firsthand, the effects that trauma and mental illness can have on the physical body. His findings are fascinating and organized well within these pages. I even had some realizations about the consequences of my own mental health."

—Amazon Review

"I liked the fact that the book encourages awareness of the mind-body link, empowering us to make choices that benefit both our mental state and physical condition. It points out that while trauma can affect the body and mind, there are methods for healing, such as talking, acting out, and dreaming. This highlights the potential for recovery and personal growth, even in difficult circumstances.

I give it a perfect rating and recommend it to people who want to understand the psychology of their body."