1. What is Presence oriented psychotherapy?
Presence oriented psychotherapy is a therapeutic approach or modality rooted in the inner journey of the therapist. This two year training/course supports this journey by inviting participants into an inquiry: What is this state of Presence? Participants are encouraged to explore and directly experience the unique qualities of Presence, gradually cultivating an embodied understanding of it.
Rather than focusing solely on techniques or outcomes, this approach emphasises on ‘coming into’ a space of non-conceptual awareness: an awareness that is always available and simply requires recognition.
Mindfulness serves as the core practice through which this Presence is accessed. A central emphasis of the training is on the ‘Self of the therapist’, inviting participants to turn inward, touch into the space of Presence and meet their own selves and inner experiences, as well as what arises in the therapeutic field from this unconditioned space.
Another core aspect of the course is the relational space. Presence oriented psychotherapy brings attention to the space between the therapist and client. Within this relational space, participants are invited to develop and deepen skills such as attunement, resonance and embodied listening. Much of the work in Presence oriented psychotherapy takes place in this field of resonance, cultivating the capacity to sense what is unfolding both within ourselves and in the shared space with the client. This includes becoming aware of one’s own attachment patterns, responses and inner shifts and meeting them from the space of Presence.
2. What does the therapeutic process in Presence oriented psychotherapy look like?
Presence oriented psychotherapy is a very alive and fluid process that involves deeply listening and following a moment to moment unfolding.
The therapist and client work closely in an embodied way, in an atmosphere of safety and trust. This allows for deeper healing forces to emerge in psychotherapeutic contact and facilitates the client’s movement towards a felt sense of wholeness
3. What inspired you to develop this course? Why Presence oriented psychotherapy and why now?
The inspiration for Presence oriented psychotherapy emerged from immersion in both contemporary therapeutic approaches and wisdom traditions. There are various specialisations within the field such as mindfulness, cognitive approach, somatic work, trauma-informed perspectives and energetic or subtle body awareness. Each offers something valuable but they are often taught and practiced separately or in isolation. I found myself drawn to this and wondered if one was interested in this whole realm! What if these different elements could be brought together under one roof*?* In my own training and practice, I began to ask: What would it mean to bring these threads together in an integrated way? Presence oriented psychotherapy brings together key elements from:
All of these elements come together in an integrative way and offers the possibility of practicing the Presence oriented approach alongside other modalities to deepen existing work or as an approach in and by itself. What makes Presence oriented psychotherapy distinct is its centering of Presence and when we come into contact with that, even briefly, there is often a profound sense of arrival, coming home or a sense that all is well.
4. Who is the course for?
This course is designed for:
5. What are the prerequisites for joining the course?
A background in psychology, social work or a related helping profession is required. Familiarity with contemplative practices can be helpful but is not mandatory.
6. What does a non-dual approach mean in Presence Oriented Psychotherapy and how is it different from other modalities?
Presence oriented psychotherapy intends to hold a non-dual stance by recognising an inherent “wholeness” that underlies all experience. This key principle of the course- ‘wholeness’ points towards a fuller way of relating to psychological experience. A non-dual stance, therefore does not privilege certain experiences over others. It is non-preferential and inclusive, allowing all that arises: pain, joy, confusion, clarity, to be met from a spacious and resting awareness. The emphasis is on being rather than doing.
The therapist learns to recognise a sense of beingness within themselves and to relate to the client from this inner awareness and sense of self. In doing so, both therapist and client are held within a field of presence where healing and insight emerge organically.
Presence oriented psychotherapy thus differs from other modalities in its emphasis on ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’ and on shared presence rather than intervention alone. As a result, shifts may occur not just at the cognitive or emotional level, but also at the level of perception, energy and depth of awareness.
7. What are some of the themes that participants will be introduced to?
Participants are gradually introduced to key themes such as mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, aspects of Buddhist psychology, Focusing, attachment and relational work, trauma resolution and subtle body awareness. These themes are explored in an integrated and experiential manner throughout the course.
8. What can participants expect to experience over the two years of the program?
Over the two years of the Presence oriented psychotherapy course, participants engage in a shared inner journey. While the course is titled ‘Integrating Mindfulness, Compassion, Wisdom: A Non-Dual Approach’, these aspects are not presented merely as ideas but as living experiences that unfold gradually through the course, step by step with each module.
The training is not didactic. Rather, it is an experiential journey, like a gathering where we move together, module by module, exploring and embodying the work in our life.
The course is structured around three key aspects:
We begin with the foundational work of grounding the therapist in their own embodied presence.
The first module focuses greatly on establishing that base. When we are responding from a place of ‘beingness’, we encounter our mind and heart as a practitioner. We establish that base by learning to return to the base of our body, the ground, especially when the mind is scattered or triggered or are caught in the “doing” energy as practitioners. So we are really setting up that base by working on the mindfulness of the practitioner or the groundedness of the practitioner. This base becomes the most powerful support in the therapeutic alliance as spontaneous shifts often begin to happen when the therapist is simply rooted in Presence.
Each module builds on the previous one. As we move forward, we begin to explore attachment patterns, especially secure attachment, regulation and co-regulation in the relational space. Skills of attunement and resonance become central here, as we deepen our understanding of what’s happening within us and within the client in every moment.
Skills of attunement and resonance become central here, as we deepen our understanding of what’s happening within us and within the client in every moment. We also look at self-compassion and compassionate practices.
The year 1 retreat supports a deepening of the mindfulness practice. And having that practice as not just as something undertaken with a client, but as something you have for yourself as a personal way of being, living and knowing. This integration of mindfulness into daily life becomes foundational to the therapist’s presence. The year 2 retreat, organised later in the program builds on this foundation. It brings participants into deeper levels of embodiment and attunement, particularly through attention to the subtle body.
The course introduces and equips participants to a range of tools that kind of stay in the background that can be drawn upon depending on the client’s unique needs in each moment or session. The therapist then operates not from the tools or techniques, but operates from relating to the client in a moment to moment way from the space of presence.
Subsequent modules bring further layers taking from Internal Family Systems and working with protective parts and how to meet them for example. In the second year, we begin exploring more nuanced territories including trauma imprints, somatic awareness, the role of physiology in healing and the integration of subtle body awareness. The final module is a space of synthesis and settling, bringing together all the threads and rest in themselves as we meet the client in the therapeutic space.
Throughout the training, perceptual skills are continuously refined which allow the therapist to attune more finely to what is arising within and between. The therapist’s presence becomes a steady, resonant field within which the client can also come into contact with their own presence. This is the heart of presence-oriented work.
9. What is the format, duration and requirements for course completion?
The Presence Oriented Psychotherapy course is spread over two years, allowing for a gradual integration of both conceptual and experiential learning. A key aspect of the course is creating a holding environment through peer relationships, mentorship and therapeutic support—to meet whatever arises during this transformative journey.
The format includes:
In terms of supervision and support:
In the later part of the course, students also undertake a small research project**.** This is a reflective inquiry into how they might take presence-oriented work into the world, exploring areas of relevance through presence orientation.
Completion of the course requires full participation in the modules, engagement with assignments, supervision and the final research project. Each component shared above supports and deepens the therapist’s learning and presence.
10. For someone trained in another kind of therapeutic modality, what do you think this course adds or transforms for them?
The Presence oriented approach enhances and deepens existing practice because of the presence-based or mindfulness orientation that can be brought into any other modality. It doesn’t replace what you already know, instead, it shifts or deepens how you engage with it. It deepens how you perceive the other and how you use any particular technique.
The approach naturally integrates and can provide support to a range of other modalities. The psychodynamic lens for instance is present when we explore attachment, early imprints and relational dynamics. The cognitive aspects come in as we attend to beliefs underlying sensations and emotions. Even expressive arts too can blend with ease with the presence oriented approach.
11. What kind of inner readiness or curiosity is needed to bring to this course?
Just the sense of curiosity. A willingness to explore. That’s really all. You don’t need to be someone or something different. You can just come as you are and be willing to encounter yourself as you are. That is the work and that is where the work begins.
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