Therapeutic presence (TP) involves therapists bringing their whole self to clients and being fully engaged and receptively attuned moment to moment, within themselves and with clients. TP activates a neurophysiological experience of safety, supporting clients to engage in optimal and effective therapeutic work. TP helps therapists remain centered amidst difficult emotions, while offering a therapeutic response or intervention that is precisely timed to the readiness of their clients. This kind of present centered engagement and relationship can provide a powerful buffer to clients’ pain through the co-regulation of affect. Presence also can help clinicians to strengthen the therapeutic alliance, recognize markers as well as activate clients’ safety in engaging in EFT psychotherapy so they can stay engaged in the deep emotional work of EFT. However, presence is not easily activated or sustained and requires attention, care and an experiential focus outside of the therapy room.

In this workshop, you will join two EFT supervisors and trainers who are also experts in Presence, Self-Compassion (SC) and Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF). We will learn an empirically validated model of TP as a map to cultivating presence. Neurophysiological principles and core skills for cultivating TP to help activate clients’ safety will be offered. We will particularly focus on cultivating presence outside of the therapy room to help activate and sustain presence in the therapy room. A discussion about practices based in SC and IRF that are particularly helpful in strengthening TP as well as working with the blocks to presence will ensue. This will be followed by experiential practices based in mindfulness, self-compassion, and Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF).

Dr. Shari M. Geller, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
Certified EFT Supervisor and Trainer
Certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Teacher and Trainer in Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy (SCIP)
York University, Centre for MindBody Health, Toronto, Canada

Agathi Lakioti, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
Certified EFT Supervisor and Trainer
Certified Focusing Professional/Trainer/FOT
Director, Hellenic Institute of Emotion Focused Therapy, Athens, Greece