This conference-workshop focuses on one specific contribution of Buddhist meditation to the Western practice of psychotherapy: the concept of presence and the capacity to be fully attendant to the moment with the client with 'clear seeing'. We will focus on the embodied nature of that state of awareness, difficulties in our capacity to be present to another and the therapeutic value of mindful atunement when it is achieved.

Although Freud referred to free floating attention, and Winnicott and Fairbairn gave consideration to being and presence, the teaching of psychotherapy has not traditionally attended to this vital therapeutic capacity. It is only in the last 30 years - and especially the last decade - that the application of mindfulness meditation to psychotherapy has flourished within specific therapeutic modalities. This conference includes but not does focus on mindfulness-based technique. Rather we want to explore how a practice in meditation can enrich therapeutic work in any modality via a deepened capacity for experiencing the intra-psychic and extra-psychic moment.

Within the Buddhist tradition being present and orienting to another holistically is considered to be a natural state of mind. However, if trauma has occurred and defences again others are needed for survival it may be a painful or unreachable state of consciousness. If we are able to be in a state of presence, mindful awareness, or sati, we will facilitate a natural shift in the client's consciousness towards integration and relatedness.

Our speakers bring together an Impressive depth of experience as both Buddhists and psychotherapists, and will lead us through the landscape of meditation, psychotherapy, embodiment and the mind to ask how we can deepen our connection and relatedness via the capacity for presence.