Key Concepts in the Power of Presence: 1 - Presence and Perception


Lecture Series Description

The three presentations in this series are taken from my courses entitled “The Power of Presence” which were designed to share the knowledge and skills that I have found to be crucial and highly effective in my osteopathic practice. The seeds of this knowledge came from my early contact with Rollin Becker, DO and have grown over time from the experiences and understanding that have come in my 37 years of practice. These teachings can be integrated with your current approach to treatment - no matter what treatment techniques or approaches you use day-to-day. The courses are appropriate for all levels of practitioners - from those who are beginners to the very experienced. 

There is one important trait all the great osteopaths that I have known have in common, and that is a strong and clear presence.  Along with that presence they also have a clear intention and connection with the patient. All of these practitioners naturally model this presence and connection while they are treating, and many of them articulate the importance of this to their students.  However, not many of them specifically teach how to understand and achieve this, and students often yearn for more direct guidance.

In my online course, Key Concepts in the Power of Presence, we focus in the first two modules on the understandings and practical approaches that offer a path toward greater presence, perception, and connection. In the third module we explore the nature of Stillness and how to move toward experiencing and using the state of Stillness.

Learning Objectives

Presence and Perception
After completing this activity, learners will be able to:
Identify the components that contribute to achieving presence and understand their own strengths and challenges in developing this skill.
Understand the role presence plays in optimizing their own mental and physical health and in increasing the efficacy of their patient interactions and outcomes.
Improve their palpatory and perceptual skills that can be used in any osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Entering a Balanced Relationship - Patient and Practitioner
After completing this activity, learners will be able to:
Develop an understanding of how to enter into a relationship with patients in a way that includes empathy, boundaries, and promotes open communication.
Apply this feature of a balanced relationship to each of their osteopathic manipulative treatments for better patient outcomes.
Assess for themselves when they are residing in that balanced relationship.

Understanding and Using Stillness
After completing this activity, learners will be able to:
Describe Stillness as a state.
Understand how Stillness exists and manifests in the body.
Incorporate the use of Stillness into their osteopathic manipulative treatments.