Maintaining the Clinician's Therapeutic Presence

Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs), as well as other health care professionals, develop a biological-psychological-social (biopsychosocial) mindset, as they are trained to work with patients. This mindset also applies to the clinicians themselves. One biopsychosocial component, therapeutic presence, is a vital part of clinical practice, especially in complex patient populations. A combination of ethical values, structured self-assessment, self-awareness of mental health and burnout symptoms, mentored reflection, healthy habits, and professional development can strengthen a clinician’s presence. One tool for structured self-assessment, with or without mentoring, is the Physical Therapy Clinical Reasoning and Reflection Tool (PT-CRT). This chapter discusses therapeutic presence, compassion, empathy, burnout, and tools for both measuring and addressing.