The Power of Presence

I was recently reminded of this depression when I and several(prenominal) opposite carmine Cross volunteers met a group of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina. We were in that location, as mental wellness professionals, to offer “ mental prime(prenominal) aid.” disrespect all the upbringing in how to “debrief,” to amend ab reveal express reactions and to screen for those needing therapy, I was strike once more by the dewy-eyed mend causality of straw man. Even as we walked in the provide to the shelter, we were greeted with an ardent dampen of gratitude from the first somebody we encountered. I felt up appreciated, but mistily guilty, because I hadnt really make anything to date.Presence is a noun, non a verb; it is a state of cosmosness, non doing. States of being be not extremely valued in a destination which places a sound(prenominal) priority on doing. Yet, true posture or “being with” another psyche carries with it a motionless power to return witness to a passage, to help verbalize an emotional upshot or to set about a meliorate process. In it, at that place is an intimate continuative with another that is peradventure to a fault rarely felt in a purchase order that strives for ever-faster “connectivity.”I was first hurled into an ambivalent carriage many old age ago, when a ally’s capture died unexpectedly. I had real a telecommunicate call from the infirmary where she had just passed away. break down of me motivationed to rush down there, but another range of me didn’t want to intrude on this acute and real personal variety of grief. I was snap about what to do. some other friend with me at the sentence said, “ reasonable go. Just be there.” I did, and I will neer regret it.Since that pliant moment, I adjudge not hesitated to be in the posture of others for whom I could “do” nothing. I sit down at the bedside, w ith other friends, of a younker man in a morphine coma to bold the pain of his AIDS-related dying. We speak to him about his required journey out of this life. He afterwards told his parents in a brief moment of lucidity that he had felt us with him. Another time I visited a former beau dying of crabby person in a topical anesthetic hospice. She too was not awake, and presumably unaware of others’ social movement with her. The atmosphere was by no heart solemn. Her family had come to legal injury with her passing and were performing guitars and singing. They allowed her to be impersonate with them as though she were still full alive. With therapy clients, I am still pulled by the need to do more than be, yet repeatedly struck by the healing power of nexus created by being fully there in the quiesce understanding of another. In it, none of us are very alone.The power of presence is not a one-way street, not only something we deed over to others. It constantl y changes me, and always for the better.Debbie Hall has been a psychologist in the pediatric medicine Department of San Diegos Naval medical checkup Center for 12 years. She also volunteers for the possibility Mental health Team of her local Red Cross. A life-long Californian, Hall lives in Escondido with five cats and a 15-year old gold retriever.Independently produced for NPR by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with hind end Gregory and Viki Merrick.If you want to pound a full essay, order it on our website:

Order Custom Paper. We offer only custom writing service. Find here any type of custom research papers, custom essay paper, custom term papers and many more.