A practical guide to cultivating therapeutic presence.

Research has consistently demonstrated the role of the therapeutic alliance in effective psychotherapy. Yet, the emotional demands of therapy combined with everyday stressors and distractions can prevent therapists from being fully present with their clients, which makes it difficult to build and maintain a stable alliance. This book is a much-needed practical guide to cultivating therapeutic presence. The specific techniques described will help clinicians engage more deeply with their clients on multiple levels -- physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational. It will also help clinicians and their clients deepen their relationship into a healing encounter. Author Shari Geller first reviews the empirical foundations of therapeutic presence, including its neurophysiogical underpinnings. She then translates this knowledge into clinical skills and practices that therapists of all theoretical backgrounds can use to set a pre-session foundation for presence, cultivate that presence in session, and overcome barriers. To be optimally effective, therapists must also practice self-care and hone their presence skills outside of therapy. Thus, Geller provides exercises that allow therapists to cultivate presence in all aspects of their lives. The book culminates in a description of therapeutic relational presence, the deepest level of connection therapists and clients can achieve through ongoing presence with each other. "Research has consistently demonstrated the role of the therapeutic alliance in effective psychotherapy. Yet, mental health practitioners often struggle to be fully present with their clients due to various stressors and distractions that occur in and out of session, which makes it difficult to build and maintain a stable alliance. Renowned therapist Shari Geller thus presents a transtheoretical model for cultivating therapeutic presence that will help clinicians engage more deeply with their clients on multiple levels -- physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational -- which will ultimately result in positive change. In this accessible guide, Geller first reviews the empirical foundations of therapeutic presence, including its neurophysiogical underpinnings. She then translates this knowledge into clinical skills and practices that therapists can use to set a pre-session foundation for presence, cultivate that presence in session, and overcome barriers to presence. To be optimally effective, however, therapists must practice self-care and hone their presence skills outside of therapy. Thus, Geller details exercises that allow therapists to cultivate presence in all aspects of their lives. She then describes therapeutic relational presence, the deepest level of connection therapists and clients can achieve through ongoing presence-building practices. The book concludes with broader applications of presence beyond therapy"--Publicity materials. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved) "Research has consistently demonstrated the role of the therapeutic alliance in effective psychotherapy. Yet, mental health practitioners often struggle to be fully present with their clients due to various stressors and distractions that occur in and out of session, which makes it difficult to build and maintain a stable alliance. Renowned therapist Shari Geller thus presents a transtheoretical model for cultivating therapeutic presence that will help clinicians engage more deeply with their clients on multiple levels -- physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational -- which will ultimately result in positive change. In this accessible guide, Geller first reviews the empirical foundations of therapeutic presence, including its neurophysiogical underpinnings. She then translates this knowledge into clinical skills and practices that therapists can use to set a pre-session foundation for presence, cultivate that presence in session, and overcome barriers to presence. To be optimally effective, however, therapists must practice self-care and hone their presence skills outside of therapy. Thus, Geller details exercises that allow therapists to cultivate presence in all aspects of their lives. She then describes therapeutic relational presence, the deepest level of connection therapists and clients can achieve through ongoing presence-building practices. The book concludes with broader applications of presence beyond therapy"--Résumé de l'éditeur "Research has consistently demonstrated the role of the therapeutic alliance in effective psychotherapy. Yet, the emotional demands of therapy combined with everyday stressors and distractions can prevent therapists from being fully present with their clients, which makes it difficult to build and maintain a stable alliance. This book is a much-needed practical guide to cultivating therapeutic presence. The specific techniques described will help clinicians engage more deeply with their clients on multiple levels -- physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and relational. It will also help clinicians and their clients deepen their relationship into a healing encounter. Shari M. Geller first reviews the empirical foundations of therapeutic presence, including its neurophysiological underpinnings. She then translates this knowledge into clinical skills and practices that therapists of all theoretical backgrounds can use to set a pre-session foundation for presence, cultivate that presence in session, and overcome barriers. To be optimally effective, therapists must also practice self-care and hone their presence skills outside of therapy. Thus, Geller provides exercises that allow therapists to cultivate presence in all aspects of their lives. The book culminates in a description of therapeutic relational presence, the deepest level of connection therapists and clients can achieve through ongoing presence with each other."--Publisher's description Foreword Preface Introduction I. Theory Chapter 1. Therapeutic Presence: The Foundation for Effective Therapy Chapter 2. History of Therapeutic Presence Chapter 3. Neurophysiology of Therapeutic Presence II. Presence Skills in Session Chapter 4. Preparing for Presence Prior to the Session Chapter 5. Receptively Attuning With Clients and Ourselves Chapter 6. Extending, Responding, and Promoting Contact With Clients Chapter 7. Barriers and Challenges to Presence III. Presence Practices for Daily Life Chapter 8. Preparing the Ground for Presence: Mindfulness and Experiential Exercises Chapter 9. Strengthening the Therapeutic Presence Process: Receptivity, Inward Attuning, Extending, and Contact Exercises Chapter 10. Deepening the Experience of Therapeutic Presence: Grounding, Immersion, Expansion, and Compassion Exercises IV. Integrating Therapeutic Presence in Relationships and Training Chapter 11. Therapeutic Relational Presence: Relationship as a Pathway to Spirituality Chapter 12. Continuing the Journey: Training and Expanding Therapeutic Presence to All Relationships Appendix A: Additional Resources for Cultivating Presence Appendix B: Markers of Therapistsʼ Presence Appendix C: Markers of Clientsʼ Safety Appendix D: A Model for Optimizing Presence in Your Therapy Session References About the Author

Being fully present with clients can be challenging for health practitioners, given the emotional demands of their intensive work combined with any number of physical and mental distractions, which can make it difficult to establish a healing therapeutic alliance. In this practical guide, author Shari Geller translates empirical research -- including neurophysiological evidence -- into simple exercises that clinicians of all theoretical persuasions can use to set a pre-session foundation for presence and develop presence throughout therapy. Geller also emphasizes therapist self-care with practices that clinicians can implement in their daily lives, which ultimately translates into more effective therapy.