The Forgotten Dialect:
Our Body Language

Part 15: The Presence Process

Treatment Plan A: The Presence Process

Each time I was exposed to new tools and concepts in mindbody medicine, I had a hard time accepting them because they were unusual or it seemed like they would be a waste of time. I hope that this paper helps others come to explore these powerful tools quicker and with more ease than I did. Some people may have a hard time accepting The Presence Process because Michael Brown supports the concept of God or the Source. Discussing the idea that there is a facilitator “behind the scenes” or a higher intelligence is generally discouraged in conventional medicine. In my opinion, it is helpful to include our “heart and soul” with mindbody medicine. In this book, Michael Brown's spiritual concepts are generic. I suspect people coming to this work with personal religious beliefs will be comfortable with them. Instead of being asked to adopt a particular belief system, this work provides a methodical approach to interacting with our stressors. By applying this methodical tool we can expect changes in our life experiences. These changes help us to see how our perceptions are distorted. As a result we receive important feedback and direction, directly from our life experiences. Therefore, the emphasis in this book is not on a system of beliefs, but instead on validating our own experiences. Learning directly from our life experiences significantly augments our existing belief system. Religious or spiritual values are extremely important, but also have limits. Conflicts do arise in which logic cannot determine one path of action to be better than another. Learning to develop our conscience or intuition to help navigate these circumstances is exactly what The Presence Process helps accomplish.

Many science-oriented people (or “I'll believe it when I see it-types”) may have a hard time accepting the idea of a higher intelligence. For those of us, it may be useful to watch a movie called “What the Bleep Do We Know”. This movie covers the evolving field of quantum physics. Quantum physics shows that all physical things are, at their deepest level, made of the same stuff... energy. It is also shows that there is a connectedness between the energy that makes up all physical things in this world. Altering the movement of energy in one place can lead to immediate changes in the movement of energy in other areas, sometimes at staggering distances. Quantum physics has also shown that the way we observe the building blocks of this world, changes the way they behave. Put in another way, our perspective actually influences the physical world that we are looking at. The “observer” influences what he “observes” by the simple act of watching. This fundamental area of science confirms that we do not fully understand our existence. We can confidently say that we don't exactly know what is going on. Our personal experiences maybe just as useful, when it comes to understanding this physical existence, as the best scientific experiments. Because our culture is more scientifically based, this movie may be an excellent starting place for many people before beginning The Presence Process. This movie can be found in most public libraries.

The Presence Process is a stand alone tool. The goal of The Presence Process is to empower people to cope with their own life experiences without relying on outside help. However, some people might benefit from temporary guidance and support. I am happy to offer support through my clinic or by email. My contact information appears here.

What to Expect with The Presence Process

My experience with The Presence Process may be totally different than other people’s. We all come to this work from our own backgrounds, and as such, require a different set of experiences to stimulate emotional growth. Some people may notice very little inner sensations. They may feel numb throughout the process. Other people may be crawling out of their own skin while trying to do the breathing sessions. Whatever experiences arise for an individual during The Presence Process is valid and required for that person. Unless we are willing to embrace whatever happens, we will be unable to move forward. So I hope my experiences help other people prepare, but please don't dismiss your own experiences because you are waiting for something else to happen.

34. Brown, M; The Presence Process; Namaste Publishing, Vancouver, Canada and Beaufort Books, New York, NY. 2005.