Presence in Psychotherapy

Presence in psychotherapy, considered to be a fundamental underlying quality of an effective therapeutic relationship, is essentially the state of having one's whole self in the encounter with a client by being completely in the moment on a multiplicity of levels: physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. Not a replacement for technique, presence in psychotherapy is a foundational stance that supports deep listening and understanding of the client in the moment, and is also a framework for psychotherapy that fosters a deep client-therapist connection through various aspects, such as the awareness of bodily sensations, emotions, and perception. Being fully present allows for an attuned responsiveness that is based on a kinesthetic and emotional sensing of the other's experience as well as one's own intuition and skill, and the relationship between both. In this demonstration, Dr. Shari Geller works with a woman who, after the loss of her brother and father, sought out the opportunity to release long-held feelings of deep pain and depression.