The Presence Phenomenon During Psychotherapy (Through the Client's Perception)

In this qualifying final work the final results of a study related to the psychotherapeutic phenomenon of presence through the client´s perception are presented. The concept of the phenomenon is understood as the apparition of the association between the psychotherapist and the client on personal level, accompanied with the sensation of passing beyond personal boundaries; the process is marked by a time perception as a distinctive "space", and the result is the disclosure of a new comprehension of the client and the situation content. In a lot of client cases the action of suitable techniques do not act as the healing agent but personal, particularly organized presence of “authenticities” in the client. Nevertheless, the singular components of the specialist´s presence are studied within the framework of different psychotherapeutic schools, there is no description of this phenomenon that provoked any research interest. Objective of the current work: to define the components, genesis and dynamics of the phenomenon of presence by the client during psychotherapy. In order to execute the study, were provided deep semi-structured interviews with different clients that regularly attend psychotherapy for more than 0.5 years and also have subjective events of the presence phenomenon during collaboration with a specialist. Via the descriptive phenomenological method, A. Giordi described the phenomenon that released the prerequisites, presence experience, effect emitted, and dynamics over time. Additionally, the researchers were able to determine, stipulate and highlight the characteristics of the psychotherapist´s non-presence phenomenon. The achieved results are applicable for development of the phenomenon of presence teaching methods, techniques and exercises for them to be used in direct work with the clients. In the same way, the study of the phenomenon of presence is not yet complete. Improvements are required as the study was performed through the client’s perception, and thus avoided the experience of the therapists themselves.