Why do westerners struggle to establish a regular meditation practice? Could it be that traditional instructions are not engaging enough for our high stimulus cultural milieu? Might creating a sound, consistent formal meditation practice enhance a clinician’s capacity for therapeutic presence?

In order to support a more enlivening atmosphere for meditation, there are several important building blocks which need to be established at the beginning of practice. If these are overlooked meditation is more likely to be colored by restlessness, boredom and cognitive drift. These foundational elements-a settled posture, an easy breath and affectively engaged attention- create a holding environment for practice. Development of such a sound holding environment for formal meditation practice translates into deeper therapeutic presence - the capacity and skill set of the clinician to create a sound, healing holding environment for the psychotherapy client. This recording will focus on identifying and engaging core elements of this internal holding environment, with serving suggestions about how to cultivate them.