The Therapist Presence Series: Using Your Presence as a Tool

In my past blog posts, I have been encouraging the idea of mindful presence - being aware of how you ARE at any given moment and being aware of how that affects others. Our presence affects others in subtle and profound ways, just as their presence affects us. In the therapy room, our feelings of safety with a client, our feelings of competence that we can handle what they bring up, our mood and what we had for lunch all impact the energy in the room. And the client’s presence does the same. Noticing this energy in the room is a prerequisite for using its power effectively.

Once we have noticed how our presence is currently affecting the energy in the room, we can choose to shift it. If there is tense energy that is preventing the client from being open to possibilities, shifting to a calmer presence will allow the energy to relax. If the client appears to be lacking in energy, a slight shift in our presence can help their system respond positively to greater energy in the room. So how can we do this?

Our bodies are mechanisms that we can use to shift energy. A simple example is a smile. When the atmosphere feels tense and we add a genuine, calm, warm smile, the energy shifts. When a client is expressing lack of energy in their system, sitting up just a little straighter can add up-lifting positive energy in the room. Keep the movements gentle, as sharp movements can have the opposite effect - the client’s system is more likely to push back against a sudden shift in energy, rather than allow it to work with their system.

Try practicing these small movements in a mirror or with people you know. What happens as you add a warm smile to a conversation? What happens if you stand a bit straighter or slouch a bit? It may take some practice and further attention to notice subtle shifts, so if this is new to you, be patient with yourself.

Thank you, once again, for joining me in exploring using presence as a powerful tool in therapy. Next time, I will take a look at tone of voice and how we can use this tool as a mechanism for change.