Preparing for Surgery: A Mind-Body Approach to Enhance Healing and Recovery

William W. Deardorff, Ph.D. and John L. Reeves, Ph.D.

Preparing for Surgery: A Mind-Body Approach to Enhance Healing and Recovery is a 220-page guidebook that is appropriate for any patient facing surgery.  It also functions as an excellent manual for the clinician who does surgery preparation interventions either on an individual basis or in groups.  We know of no other surgery preparation book that uses an interactive approach.  Preparing for Surgery won the Small Press Book Award in the Health Category shortly after its publication.

Preparing for Surgery is an interactive workbook that distills the core components of decades of research in this area.  It combines the latest research into a supportive, step-by-step guide for the patient.  The book details tested mental and physical techniques to prepare the mind and body for surgery, as well as other stressful medical procedures.  These techniques have been shown to lessen postoperative pain, decrease the need for pain medicines postoperatively, reduce complications, lessen distress before and after surgery, and promote a quicker return to health. 

The Table of Contents provides an overview of the topics covered in the comprehensive manual:

Part 1: Knowledge is Power: Gathering Information

1. Mind-Body Preparation for Surgery: What is it and Why do it?

2. Assessing Yourself Mentally, Emotionally and Physically Prior to Surgery

3. Gathering Information About Your Surgery: Taking an Active Role

Part II: Managing the Pain of Surgery

4. Pain Control

Part III: Training for Healthy Self-Talk

5. Unconscious Thoughts and Self-Talk

6. Retraining Your Self-Talk and Developing the Power of Health Thinking

Part IV: Mind-Body Techniques

7. Relaxation Techniques

8. Imagery and Visualization

9. Music for Surgery

10. Spirituality, Faith and Healing

Part V: Taking Control of Your Environment

11. Time Management: Taking Control of Your Time

12. Working with Your Doctor, Family and Friends

Appendices

How to Order

Dr. William Deardorff can be contacted directly at Deardorff1@aol.com.  Preparing for Surgery is published by New Harbinger Press and can now be ordered directly from Dr. Deardorff for $17.95, with free shipping and handling.  To purchase the book send a check or money order for $17.95 to:

William W. Deardorff, Ph.D.
P.O. Box 9061
Calabasas, CA 91372

Free shipping and handling.
Discount rates for bulk purchases are available.