6 CPD POINTS/HOURS AWARDED FOR WEBINAR SERIES

We at PCPSI are delighted to welcome Dr. Shari Geller for a two-part webinar on therapeutic presence and polyvagal theory for cultivating effective therapeutic relationships.

The Complete Series includes:

• Two part LIVE webinar series each three hours in length
• Two whitepapers from speaker
• Slide decks to accompany each of the LIVE webinars
• Recordings of all webinars (available until 12th February 2023)
• A certificate with 6 CPD points/hours

Overview

Therapeutic presence (TP) lies at the heart of positive and effective therapeutic relationships. Twenty years of research on the art and science of presence forms the basis of an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence. Therapeutic presence provides a neurophysiological sense of safety in clients that allows them to be seen, heard, and understood. Presence includes a balance between attunement with clients as well as attunement with oneself. It leads to building, strengthening, and sustaining a therapeutic alliance, working more effectively with therapeutic ruptures and better treatment outcomes. It also asks therapists to take care of themselves and work on their own balance of presence and compassion with self and clients.

TP involves bringing one’s whole self in the encounter with another by being completely in the moment on multiple levels—physically, emotionally, cognitively, relationally, and spiritually. This involves simultaneously being grounded and present in the moment while attuning to clients’ moment-to-moment experience. This helps clinicians remain centred in the face of difficult emotions while offering a therapeutic intervention that is timed to the readiness of their clients. This type of relationship provides a powerful buffer to clients’ distress through the co-regulation of affect. Practising the core skills of TP helps to sustain a level of vitality, connection, and effectiveness and supports movement towards emotional health and neurophysiological integration for both clients and clinicians.

In this two-part webinar, Dr. Shari Geller will explore an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence as a map to build and strengthen the skills of presence with ourselves and with clients. The neurophysiological principles to creating safety with therapeutic presence, based on concepts such as co-regulation and neuroception of safety stemming from polyvagal theory (Geller & Porges, 2014) will be introduced along with core practices from Dr. Geller’s book, ‘A Practical Guide for Cultivating Therapeutic Presence’, to help therapists and counsellors cultivate this foundational quality, informed by research and trainings in therapeutic presence, a common factor in effective therapies. Barriers to presence generally will be explored, as well as challenges to being present in the current online environment and how to stay open and engaged in difficult moments. Self-compassion practices will be offered in removing the obstacles to being fully in the moment. There will be several take-home techniques and practices for cultivating presence during therapy and in life.

Learning Objectives

• Explore an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence.
• Discover the neurophysiological benefits of therapeutic presence based on concepts such as co-regulation and neuroception of safety stemming from the polyvagal theory (Geller & Porges, 2014).
• Examine the research evidence for the benefits of therapeutic presence and self-compassion in therapy, counselling and in life.
• Experience and learn practices and skills for attuning in the moment with clients, oneself, and the therapeutic relationship.
• Learn core presence techniques and practices for clinical settings and in life to sustain emotional connection with clients.
• Discuss barriers to presence and challenges to being present in the current online environment.
• Receive take home practices to support cultivation of therapeutic presence.

Webinar 1 | Model and Training in Therapeutic Presence – Nov 11, 2022

• Introduction / Setting Intention
• Background / Foundational Therapeutic Stance
• What is Therapeutic Presence:
  • Empirical Model of Therapeutic Presence
  • Research
  • Transtheoretical Model / Common Factor
• How Does Presence Help?
  • Neurophysiological Underpinnings to TP
  • TP and Polyvagal Theory
  • TP Model of Change
• Closing Part 1

Webinar 2 | Cultivating TP Skills & Working with Barriers to Presence – Nov 12, 2022

• Creating Conditions for TP:
  • Preparing for Presence: Self Care
  • Preparing for Session prior to Session
• Process of TP:
  • Attunement Skills
  • Embodied Listening
• Challenges to TP:
  • Internal
  • External
• Online TP
• Closing Part 2

Contact email: info@pcpsi.ie