ABSTRACT
Chapter One introduces the notion of presence and its significance in creating openness within the therapy environment so that both patient and therapist can give to and receive from the other. Basic bodily elements that underlie and constitute a well-developing, satisfying therapeutic relationship are highlighted. These co-created moving patterns are important in diagnosing the unfolding relational field. The sense of wonder or astonishment, a pre-requisite for presence, is illuminated through an example of everyday parent-child relations. Here both partners show when and how the experience of presence grows spontaneously and creatively, and when and how it becomes diminished. A well-detailed case vignette demonstrates the working through of obstructed to fluid states of experience through dynamic, qualitative movements of therapist and workshop participant (in person). This chapter makes clear how the interaction of moving bodies shapes experience.
