Amidst the persisting challenges of conflict, war, systemic racism, social inequities, and the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists and clients alike are confronted with profound difficulties and suffering. Training in therapeutic presence and compassion becomes pivotal, providing therapists with the tools to navigate clients’ experiences of pain while maintaining a connection with their own self and well-being. 

Guided by an empirically validated model, this session will explore neurophysiological principles drawn from Polyvagal Theory, such as co-regulation and neuroception of safety, aiming to enrich the safety of therapeutic interactions (Geller & Porges, 2014). The didactic component emphasizes the role of therapeutic presence in establishing a safe environment for clients to process multifaceted challenges associated with trauma and conflict, including but not limited to grief and loss.

Engaging in experiential practices, attendees will cultivate both therapeutic presence and self-compassion. Recognizing self-compassion as a vital resource for clinicians to work through barriers to presence, the workshop underscores its role in enabling therapists to navigate difficulties, staying present, and being in contact with their authentic self while at the same time staying grounded and in contact with clients and their suffering.  Research highlights the strong association between self-compassion, therapists’ emotional well-being, and the quality of their relationships.

Delving into the connection of compassion and self-compassion within the therapeutic relationship, this workshop is for therapists to effectively navigate challenges while remaining present with clients in moments of universal and shared human pain. The goal extends beyond individual healing, aiming to contribute to broader social changes by fostering flourishing virtues such as compassion in the face of adversity. Through this exploration, therapists can enhance their capacity to honor clients’ experiences of suffering, as well as their own, actively contributing to the cultivation of a more compassionate and just world.

Keywords: Therapeutic Presence, Self-Compassion, Conflict, Social Change, Compassion

Learning Objectives: 

• Explore an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence along with core presence and self-compassion practices. 
• Discover the neurophysiological mechanisms of therapeutic presence. 
• Practice self-compassion techniques to sustain emotional connection in moments of suffering.