About the Course...
Join us to hear Dr. Shari Geller speak on therapeutic presence and its importance in effective psychotherapy. This interview & presentation is designed especially for therapists in their first decade of practice who are looking to deepen their clinical presence & effectiveness with clients. Therapeutic presence lies at the heart of effective therapeutic relationships. Drawing on over 30 years of research, Dr. Geller has developed an empirically grounded model of presence that supports both clinical effectiveness & therapist well-being. Therapeutic presence is not just what we do, it is how we are with our clients. It helps clients feel safe, seen, heard, and understood, while strengthening the therapeutic alliance. For therapists, cultivating presence supports the ability to stay centred and engaged in the face of difficult emotions and complex clinical work. It also contributes to sustained vitality, connection, and effectiveness over time. Self-compassion is a key component of this work. It supports therapists in maintaining presence, working through barriers, and navigating challenging moments in therapy with greater balance and resilience. In this presentation, Dr. Geller will introduce: • An empirically validated model of therapeutic presence • Practical ways to cultivate presence in clinical work • Applications of mindfulness, self-compassion, and experiential practices • Strategies for working through challenges and therapeutic ruptures This session integrates research, clinical insight, and practical application to support therapists in deepening their work with clients.
About our Speaker
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 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 is a co-editor on a new book: Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy: A Clinical Handbook (in press). 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. www.sharigeller.ca www.cmbh.space
Therapeutic Presence & Self-Compassion for Effective Therapeutic Relationships
We hope you can join us! Have questions? Please contact Dr. Allyson Smith (613) 806-2107 [email protected]
$59.00