“The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
In clinical settings, we’re trained to notice symptoms.
We assess mood, behavior, affect, speech, cognition.
We document what we see.
But how often do we ask ourselves: How am I showing up right now?
Presence is more than being physically present.
It’s being aware, grounded, open.
It’s listening with your whole being.
It’s pausing before reacting.
It’s holding space—not to fill, fix, or rush—but to allow what is.
Neuroscience confirms what ancient wisdom traditions have long taught: presence changes the brain—both ours and the person we’re with.
It lowers stress.
It builds trust.
It enhances the therapeutic alliance.
It slows down the mind and body, allowing new connections to form—internally and relationally.
In The Still Point, we call this “anchor awareness”—the practice of returning to the now as a place of power, peace, and possibility. No intervention is effective without it. No transformation is sustainable without it.
Presence is not a soft skill.
It’s a clinical one.
It is the root of attunement, the seed of safety, the condition for insight to emerge.
Insight in Action: Try this during your next session, meeting, or moment with a resident:
- Before you speak, take one conscious breath. Inhale, exhale, and feel your feet on the ground.
- Let yourself arrive fully before asking anyone else to.
Spotlight: Upcoming Certificate Course
Reality Therapy Certificate Course
Dates: Wednesdays, May 21 – July 9, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (ET)
Location: Virtual (Live Online Sessions)
Join us for this transformative 8-week certificate course on Reality Therapy—an empowering, choice-based approach that emphasizes personal responsibility, effective decision-making, and meaningful connection.
CEUs Available in New York for:
- Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- CASACs
Click here to register now!
In a world that moves fast, presence is radical. It says: “I’m not rushing past this moment. I’m meeting it fully. Because you—and I—deserve nothing less.”