ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 focusses on the notion of presence. It is argued that presence is a central notion when working therapeutically with clients, and when considering the psychological wellbeing of mental health practitioners. This chapter argues that it is important for mental health practitioners to be able to cultivate within themselves a connection to the present, to the timelessness of each and every moment, and to cultivate a proactive stance upon the world. It is also important for practitioners to help clients cultivate a sense of presence, particularly when considering modern society and its fragmentation of the self.
