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title: "Testimonials - Presence Psychotherapy"
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![](https://presencepsychotherapy.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2646-scaled.jpeg)













### What Participants Say








Presence Psychotherapy is an integrative trauma therapy that opens awareness to the Four Dimensions of Presence to help us expand our identification of who we are, experience well-being, balance emotions, and process the many layers and nuance of trauma.


				[See Publications](https://psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/2021-99633-001.html)









































As a Psychologist with over 25 years in practice, and a specialization in trauma, I can say that the Presence Psychotherapy training was the best I have ever taken.  The model is incredibly intuitive, and Michelle’s experiential teaching style created a setting within which the model was so naturally integrated.  I found, and am finding that this model creates profound experiences of integration that I believe surpass other models I have worked with.

**Deborah Lubetkin, Psy.D., Certified Presence Psychotherapist**














Michelle is truly gifted…Presence Psychotherapy has helped support my clients to be in the moment notice their parts and be the observer while having a deeper connection with their own Self Energy.  It is an amazing modeality that is an integration of spiritual practice and somatic psychotherapy techniques.  It helps them regulate and stay in the window of tolerance. This is where much of the healing can happen. Michelle is an excellent clinician who is able to teach with so much authenticity and thoroughness. I can’t wait for the book!!!

**Melani Levine, IFS Approved Consultant and Certified Presence Psychotherapist**














Presence Psychotherapy breathes new vitality into traditional mind-body approaches by integrating a spiritual dimension that has long been missing.  It transforms psychological healing into a more robust, integrated and expansive experience. Presence Psychotherapy has been the missing piece in my clinical practice. Michelle’s five day Presence Psychotherapy training embodies this modality, allowing for a parallel process for the clinician, in which they are able to tap into their own spiritual presence, available for healing their own wounds as well as their clients.

**Esti Marcus, LCSW, Certified Presence Psychotherapist**














Attending Michelle’s Presence Psychotherapy workshop at Omega was one of the most meaning experiences in my career and in my life. Her wisdom, warmth and passionate energy creates a beautiful space to learn and experience this intuitive, spiritual and highly effective model. I have witnessed and experienced the powerful healing this approach can bring to those suffering from trauma. I am truly grateful for Michelle and the offering of this workshop.

**Cathleen Lawrence, LCSW, Certified Presence Psychotherapist**














As a certified IFS therapist and Program Assistant for IFS trainings, I hear repeatedly from clients and students that they need more support in how to connect to Self energy and how to guide clients in this regard. Presence Psychotherapy provides the missing link that both clients and IFS students repeatedly ask for as it provides a guide to experiencing Self energy, and establishes a visceral, felt sense of Self energy in the body that clients and students can inhabit.****

					Hayley Newell, Certified IFS therapist, PA for IFS levels 1 and 2, Certified Presence Psychotherapist












Michelle Lepak presented an excellent group workshop on Presence Therapy, This workshop was a stimulating and thoughtful.  …Michelle is a delightful, intelligent woman who truly cares about her work. I highly recommend Michelle Lepak and her workshop on Presence Therapy.

					Ellen Rosman, Presence Psychotherapy Workshop Participant












Presence Psychotherapy brings together trauma therapy and spirituality in a new way. It distill the essence of each and make them work synergically in ways that makes sense to the therapist and is very resourceful to clients in their healing journey  because they can access experientially in vivid ways  that they are much more than the sequel of their traumas. Thanks Michelle!

					Jean-Pierre M., Psychologist, Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












I am a Certified Level 3 IFS therapist who has been practicing IFS for 9 years, and began integrating Presence Psychotherapy two years ago.  Prior to adding PP, some clients might struggle to unblend, or feel any Self energy. Now, many times when we are working with a part and I suggest that the client can invite the part to turn towards the Presence that was integrated in awareness in the beginning of session, the part will have an aha moment! The part says, Oh right, there is all this spaciousness here, or oh yes that love is here.   Through this experience, the part will often relax, or soften, or get a different perspective on thesituation.  Sometimes parts spontaneously say, I can feel the Spacious Presence (that Presence Orienting in Presence Psychotherapy helped them become aware of).Presence Psychotherapy has also helped me be more thorough in eliciting all the various and subtle  experiences of a part.  In this way, the part’s layered experience is honored and met with Self energy.   Sometimes parts spontaneously say, I can feel the Spacious (or relational or grounded) presence here and that makes a difference! Also, at times the parts will spontaneously unburden, without a formal process being necessary.  In general, I find the PP model to be very thorough, organic and deeply powerful.  I am now even more of a facilitator of relationships within the client’s system (vs. “doing” anything)”. IFS has been an enormous leap in that direction, and now I am making yet another powerful transition to more of that with the PP model.

					Joanne Cohen-Katz, Ph.D., Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












I was blown away by this training.  The therapeutic process lends itself to a deeper, safer, unfolding of client parts, particularly traumatized parts.  And the client is able to provide, within the context of the technique, a space that is profoundly safe and loving.  The spiritual component was, for me, unexpectedly enriching.  I was moved and  excited and know this will deepen my work with clients and allow healing to take place more easily and more completely.  I cannot sing the techniques praises enough.

					Jordana Skurka, Psy.D., Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












Michelle embodies the Presence work that she offers. She is a supportive, engaging, thorough teacher. I highly recommend her. 

					Beth Guthrie, Presence Psychotherapy Workshop Participant












Michelle Lepak is a skilled clinician and teacher. The depth of her training and knowledge is astonishing and I can’t recommend her CEU classes highly enough. No matter what your skill level she will have a lasting positive impact on your practice and add so much to your toolbox.

					Jennifer Shedd, AMFT Training Participant












Michelle is one of those rare practitioner/teachers who possesses an abundance of knowledge combined with the gift of a keen intuitive sense that she integrates organically into being a highly skilled trainer/teacher. She is open, warm, present, caring, and very well organized with the content and presenting of the material as well as in the facilitating of the entire training process. Her passion for the material and the teaching of it is infectious. She creates a very caring, safe environment within which much joyful learning can take place.

					Robert Evans, Ph.D., Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












Thank you so much for a life changing training!

					Chris Wagner, Psychologist, Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












Michelle Lepak’s Presence Psychotherapy workshop at Omega is both a  personally and professionally elevating experience. As a holistic psychotherapist, I easily embraced the notion of using spiritual presence in the healing of trauma.  Yet as a seasoned practitioner, it took a moment to see how I could combine these tools with my own way of working.  Ultimately, acquiring these techniques has brought new energy to my practice, and it has rendered potent results for my clients.  Michelle’s masterful teaching style is gentle, soulful, and very informative. I highly recommend this workshop for any mental health practitioner who is interested in learning and growing.

					Marcia Blau, LCSW, Holistic Psychotherapist, Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












Presence Psychotherapy creates a safe, loving space in which to learn and heal. This program was powerful, experiential and didactic; Michelle teaching style is open, patient and supportive. Highly recommend!

					Fiona Watson, LCSW , Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












With a background in psychodynamic psychotherapy and limited exposure to somatic orientations, I was quite skeptical about how this training would land with me. This experience was transformative for me personally and for my practice. Presence Psychotherapy is a gift to the field of therapeutic approaches.  Michelle creates a safe, judgement free space and gently helps you to integrate her teachings with what you already know.

					Lauren Meisels, PhD., Certified Presence Psychotherapist










					Presence Psychotherapy is a powerful way to help clients on an energetic and spiritual level to heal past trauma. The 28 hour training at Omega was a pleasure to experience. Michelle is able to present this modality in an easy to understand way. The clients I have used it with have given me positive feedback.
					Amoret Phillips, LCMHC, Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant










					Presence Psychotherapy is  empowering and also increases the depth and breath of emotional processing and healing.   Michelle is an excellent presenter who generates an environment of safety, laughter, and openness. Her clinical depth and experience were evidenced throughout.
					Karen Sciaraffa, Ph.D., Presence Psychotherapy Training Participant












As an LCSW for over 40 years, and a meditator for 50, I have sat in many trainings in both disciplines and yet have never experienced any modality as skillful and comprehensive as Presence Psychotherapy Levels1 and 2. Michelle’s own presence and capacity to teach the ineffable is extraordinary as she embodies what is possible; not only for clients but for the therapist.

I discovered new capabilities for clients to reach depths of healing through the lens of Presence Psychology; for both client and therapist to access not only the psyche but their Highest Consciousness. This facilitates healing in the most efficient, subtle and effective ways without New Age rhetoric or jargon. Thank you Michelle for having the insights and courage to bring this cutting edge of healing to the therapeutic community.**Barbara Cole-Kiernan, LCSW, Presence Psychotherapy Levels 1, 2 Training Participant**














The essence of my experience in the Presence Psychotherapy training was a profound integration of the healing energies of mind, body, and spirit. This extraordinary experiential training offered me access to a deeply embodied sense of compassionate presence allowing for transformative attunement between therapist and client. The gently guided path Michelle so skillfully offers as a way of bringing forth the energies of presence creates a field of safety and support for the processing and unfolding of traumatic experience. My way of being with my clients as well as myself as therapist has reached renewed levels of humanity, understanding and healing.

**Emily Nash, LCAT, Presence Psychotherapy Levels 1, 2 Training Participant**














The Presence psychotherapy workshop at Hollyhock not only transformed me as a person and practitioner, it reminded me of who I am at the deepest levels. I brought Presence home with me as well as an excitement and enthusiasm to use this profound work with my clients. Thank you! 

**Judy Karel MA,LMHC**














I appreciated being able to learn the full presence psychotherapy model. Very much enjoyed the demo, videos, and experiential aspects. I have begun integrating my presence psychotherapy learnings from this training into my work and I’m excited about how it seems to help clients go deeply more quickly.

**Nathan Shane, LMSW**