PRESENCING: CHANNELING THERAPEUTIC EFFECTIVENESS WITH THE MENTALLY ILL IN A STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

Abstract

Twenty-three nursing staff in a state psychiatric hospital in the eastern United States narrated their experiences in establishing meaningful presence with seriously and persistently mentally ill clients. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and then interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutic method. The results of interpretation point to clarifying or illustrating that presence is established and maintained in the context of anxiety and uncertainty. Six themes were constructed to describe staff presencing: knowing the uniqueness of individual clients; listening actively with intense focus on the client; engaging several potential channels for change; caring with confidence, creativity, and perceived respect; involving clients optimally; and encountering mutually defined effective change.