What to Expect
Therapeutic presence (TP) lies at the heart of positive and effective therapeutic relationships. Thirty years of research on the art and science of presence forms the basis of an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence. Therapeutic presence is a way of being that optimises the doing and techniques of therapy. TP provides clients with a sense of safety, allowing them to be seen, heard, understood, and “feel felt,” while also strengthening the therapeutic alliance. TP also invites therapists to work on their own balance of presence and compassion with self and clients, ensuring they remain centered and effective in the face of difficult emotions and challenging work. Practicing TP sustains therapists’ vitality, connection, and effectiveness.
Self-compassion (SC) is a key resource in maintaining therapists’ presence and working with the barriers to presence. SC involves meeting our emotions and difficult experience with mindfulness, common humanity, kindness, and warmth. Together, therapeutic presence and self-compassion are powerful resources for therapists to maintain emotional balance in the midst of challenging clinical work, to enjoy their work and their clients more fully, and to prevent caregiver fatigue and burn-out.
In this interview and presentation, an empirically validated model of therapeutic presence will be introduced as a map to build and strengthen the skills of presence with clients and how to create safety using neurophysiological principles based on concepts such as co-regulation and neuroception of safety stemming from Polyvagal Theory (Geller & Porges, 2014). Evidenced based practices from Dr. Geller’s books, A Practical Guide for Cultivating Therapeutic Presence’ (2017) and ‘Therapeutic Presence: A Mindful Approach to Effective Therapeutic Relationships’ 2nd Edition (2022) co-authored with Leslie Greenberg, including mindfulness, self-compassion, and experiential practices will be introduced. We will also discuss challenges to TP and how to stay open and engaged when working with challenging clients and working through therapeutic ruptures. Experiential practices for cultivating presence during therapy and in life will be introduced.
Presenter:
Dr. Shari Geller is an author, clinical psychologist, certified Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher and leader in the field of therapeutic presence.
Shari offers training modules in therapeutic presence internationally as part of a longer-term vision of having presence be a foundational training across psychotherapy approaches. With over thirty years’ experience weaving psychology and mindfulness, Shari is a co-editor on a new book: Grounding Psychotherapy in Self-Compassion (2025). Shari co-authored the book, Therapeutic Presence: A Mindful Approach to Effective Therapeutic Relationships – 2nd Edition (2022) with Dr. Leslie S. Greenberg. Shari’s book: A Practical Guide For Cultivating Therapeutic Presence (2017), offers hands on tools and guidance for cultivating and strengthening presence in therapy. Shari created the Therapeutic Rhythm and Mindfulness Program (TRM™), a group modality integrating mindfulness, rhythm practices and emotion-focused awareness to enhance wellbeing and presence. Shari serves on the teaching faculty in Health Psychology at York University and is Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, in association with Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC).
Shari is part of the core faculty of the Self-Compassion inside Psychotherapy (SCIP) certificate program and is Membership and Networking Committee Chair for the International Society for Emotion Focused Therapy (isEFT).
Shari is the co-director of the Centre for MindBody Health, in Toronto, where she offers training, supervision and therapy in Emotion-Focused therapy (EFT) and Mindfulness and Self-Compassion modalities for individuals and couples.
About the Virtual Seminar Series
What if you could sit down with experienced, highly-respected therapists and hear what shaped their careers? What if you could learn how they navigated challenges, refined their craft, and built careers that are both fulfilling and sustainable?
That’s exactly what the Learning from Masters: A Seminar Series with Master Therapists is all about.
Seasoned therapists from five cities across North America will sit down for an interview so you can hear about their unique perspectives on psychotherapy, reflections on their career, and the advice they wish they’d had when they were first starting out.
Each speaker will also present on a topic they believe is essential for new therapists, bringing their insights to life through a case study and wrapping up with a Q&A to answer questions. To help you apply what you’ve learned, you will receive guided worksheets after each session designed to spark reflection, highlight actionable takeaways, and support your professional and personal growth. The series begins with an introduction to the research on master therapists and therapist expertise, laying the foundation for an engaging and transformative learning experience.
This isn’t just another CE course. It’s your chance to learn directly from five, deeply experienced clinicians, each sharing the insights, skills, and strategies that helped them grow over the years.
You’ll get:
- Candid conversations about career growth and clinical wisdom
- Essential case studies that highlight key therapeutic skills that every therapist should know
- A personalized career plan to help you grow in the direction that’s right for you
- 9 CE credits
The Details:
Dates: April 11 | May 2 | June 6 | October 24 | November 14 | December 5, 2025
Time: 12 to 1:30 p.m. ET
Location: Live Online (with recordings available)
9 CE credits
Spots are limited—secure your place today!