Marianne Bentzen is a psychotherapist and trainer in neuroaffective development psychology. The author and coauthor of many professional articles and books, including The Neuroaffective Picture Book, she has taught in 17 countries and presented at more than 35 international and national conferences. She lives in Denmark.

Foreword by Peter A. Levine, Ph.D.

INTRODUCTION
Psychotherapy, Personality Development, and Meditation

PART ONE Neuroaffective Developmental Psychology Spiritual Development through the Stages of Life
ONE Grow Up and Wake Up
TWO Embodiment, Emotions, and Identity: Childhood Development of the Triune Brain
THREE The Teenage Years and the “Rebuilding Project” of Identity FOUR Adulthood, Aging, and Perhaps Developing Wisdom

PART TWOMaturation and Spirituality
FIVE Wisdom Practices and Brain Regulation
SIX Meditation, Prayer, and the Brain

PART THREE Practices of Neuroaffective Meditation
SEVEN Being in Your Body Transitioning into Meditation with Yawning, Touch, and Movement Inner Listening: Movement and Breathing
EIGHT Being in the Biosphere Grounding: The Embrace of the Earth Air in You, Air around You
NINE Flow and Feeling of Spirit: The Beloved Spirit in Your Sense of Aliveness Core Sense and Spirit
TEN Relationships and Feelings Seven Emotions and Spirit
ELEVEN Meditations on the Songs of the Heart: Love, Compassion, and Gratitude Love, Compassion, and Gratitude Gratitude for the Great Things in Life and the Small Ones
TWELVE Aspects of Our Mental Space Focused Attention and the Field of Awareness
THIRTEEN Mandala: Your Personal Circles of Light and Darkness Mandala: Circle of Positive and Negative Experience
FOURTEEN Balancing Your Energy: Five Centerline-Energy Circulation Meditations
Pineal-Hara Breathing: Connecting Clarity and Pleasure Crown-Root Breathing: Connecting Existential Wholeness and Reality Double C Breathing: Connecting Clarity, Emotions, and Expression Circulation Breathing: Balancing Your Overall Energy Essence-Heart Breathing: Inviting Spiritual Energy into Yourself and Out into the World

CONCLUSION
Engagement and Responsibility in a Balanced Life

EPILOGUE
Reflections at the End of the Journey

Acknowledgments

The Meditation Recordings

Resources

References

Index