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Being present as a psychotherapist is the fundamental state of mind that is the gateway to creating effective psychotherapy. In this masterful practical summary of a life's work, Shari M. Geller, PhD, powerfully guides us through the art and a science of developing the capacity to be present as clinicians so that our clients, our patients, and even our individual selves will benefit. This is an exquisite compendium of wisdom, research-based concepts, and useful practices that can help you enhance your clinical impact by developing therapeutic presence.

Shari Geller, PhD, reveals in this guide that cultivating presence promotes healing. Without presence, effective therapy is compromised; with presence, the natural capacity for healing is released within the attuned and resonating relationship that cultivates trust and unleashes the innate drive for integration. Geller weaves the science of presence with practical steps for how presence can be cultivated more fully in our clinical work. Whether the reader is a young clinician or a seasoned veteran this guide can help you develop the 'therapeutic relational presence' that not only is key to effective psychotherapy but will also enhance your own mental and emotional and medical well-being.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the clinician will be able to:

• The readers will be able to define and explain the concept of therapeutic presence.
• Participants will be able to articulate the theory behind the importance of therapeutic presence, including current research on neurophysiology of presence.
• The readers will gain and be able to implement skills for practicing presence prior to, within, and between therapy sessions with clients.
• Clinicians will learn to identify and work with barriers and challenges to presence, both on the part of the therapist and the client.
• Practitioners will learn tactics for responding and connecting with clients in a more grounded and relational way in session.
• The readers will implement presence practices in his or her daily life and create a daily presence practice which lays the groundwork for presence with clients.
• The participants will practice and learn how to implement in-session deeper therapeutic presence practices, such as grounding, immersion, expansion, and compassion.
• Participants will integrate and extend therapeutic presence to other areas of life, such as other relationships, spirituality, and further training.

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• This course is suitable for CE for beginning, intermediate and advanced level clinicians.
• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The printed book or ebook is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version of the test. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.

Additional Resources On This Site for CE

• Maybe You Should Talk To Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed (This course is not available for CE for psychologists))
  by Lori Gottlieb: 17 CE Credits
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: 25th Anniversary Edition
  by Stephen R. Covey, PhD: 15 CE Credits
• The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
  by Gary Chapman, PhD: 8 CE Credits
• Boundaries: When to Say Yes and How to Say No
  by Henry Cloud and John Townsend: 12 CE Credits
• ACT Made Simple (2nd Edition)
  by Russ Harris, MD: 16 CE Credits
• 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos
  by Jordan B. Peterson: 17 CE Credits

Bio: Shari M. Geller, PhD

Shari M. Geller, PhD, is an author, clinical psychologist, and supervisor with a commitment to mindfulness practices and a passion for rhythm and drumming. She has been involved in researching, writing, and training in therapeutic presence as a foundational approach to optimizing health care and therapeutic relationships. Dr. Geller coauthored (with Leslie Greenberg) the book, Therapeutic Presence: A Mindful Approach to Effective Therapy. She has released a companion CE on cultivating presence, with guided practices using the healing power of music and the health benefits of mindfulness. In collaboration with the American Psychological Association she has released a training video for therapeutic presence.

Dr. Geller has a clinical and supervisory practice in Toronto and Grey-Bruce County. Dr. Geller serves on the teaching faculty in health psychology at York University and for the Applied Mindfulness Meditation program at the University of Toronto, and she is adjunct professor with Music and Health Research Collaboratory. She is the co-director of, The Centre for MindBody Health, offering mindfulness and compassion-based treatment and professional training.

(Amended from the book: A Practical Guide to Cultivating Therapeutic Presence)