THE DEPTH OF HER TOUCH

A biography focuses on a woman who pioneered scientific advances that helped those physically debilitated by various forms of trauma.

Svetlana Masgutova hails from an ancestry of healers—her great-grandfather was famous for his restorative powers in his remote village in Russia, with his unique techniques taught to her by her great-grandmother. By the time she was about 14 years old, Masgutova knew she wanted to be a “body-oriented psychologist.” This was partly inspired by the traumas she endured as an adolescent, experiences that made her peculiarly sensitive to human suffering, with a deep reservoir of sympathy movingly depicted by Carr. Eventually, Masgutova made extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in the understanding of the brain-body system and the role of reflexes in neurodevelopment. These advances were captured in her therapeutic system, Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration, “a primary reflex integration program intended to support motor, communication, and cognitive development; emotional and behavioral regulation; stress resilience; and immune system support.” At the heart of her MNRI system is a new interpretation of the importance of primary reflexes, the “building blocks for human development,” which can by stunted by trauma but also reintegrated through touch therapy. The author lucidly depicts the intriguing arc of Masgutova’s career—eventually, she would treat 380,000 children and adults in 40 countries. In addition, Carr affectingly relates Masgutova’s personal travails and the brave manner in which she confronted them, including the murder of her sister, Helen, and the death of her only son, Denis. The author came to know Masgutova first clinically—she treated Carr’s son, Daniel, who was born with a debilitating genetic disorder, and witnessed firsthand the power of MNRI. As a result, the author is uniquely positioned to give an account of Masgutova’s character as well as an accessible explication of her theories and methods. This is a scientifically edifying book as well as an inspiring one and poignantly presents Masgutova’s philosophy of life, distilled here in her own words: “Our children and the people around us are our biggest life teachers. We want to apply techniques that support the positive developmental mechanisms that are the source of their power to create change. We want to alleviate suffering.”

A captivating blend of portraiture and scientific explanation.