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5.00 CE Credits Available
Masterclass in Advanced Psychotherapy Skills, Vol 2: Working in the Here-and-Now
by Orah Krug & Victor Yalom
Working in the here-and-now is one of the more powerful but misunderstood therapeutic skills. Learn through extensive clinical demonstrations how to use the space between you and your client to energize sessions and help them increase their interpersonal awareness and capacity for connection.
Most therapists are aware of the concept of working in the here-and-now, but don’t have a clear idea of what this really looks like in practice, let alone the skills or confidence to engage clients in this manner.In this second volume of their Masterclass in Advanced Psychotherapy Skills Victor Yalom and Orah Krug explore the power of the here-and-now—a technique that shifts the focus from discussing past experiences or intellectualizing about their difficulties to actively engaging with what is unfolding in the therapeutic relationship in real time. This allows clients to experience and process their relational patterns as they emerge in session, creating powerful opportunities for insight and change. Rather than a separate therapeutic model, a here-and-now focus can be integrated into various modalities, enhancing depth and immediacy in the therapeutic process.
Through carefully selected real-life therapy session clips, Yalom and Krug illustrate how therapists can guide clients toward greater self-awareness by exploring their reactions, emotions, and interpersonal dynamics within the session itself. Clients struggling with anxiety, social isolation, and emotional detachment reveal how their relational challenges manifest in therapy. For example, Heather craves intimacy, yet finds it difficult to experience attention and connection in session, while Max’s statement to Yalom “I don’t have anything to offer you” clearly reflects his own deep-seated struggles for self-worth. Through these and many other vignettes you’ll get clear guidance on how to illuminate and transform relational patterns through present-moment interventions.
The course also provides practical, actionable strategies for bringing clients into the here-and-now, such as:
- Encouraging reflection on the therapist-client dynamic and related emotions arising in the session
- Guiding clients to connect in-session experiences to their outside relationships
- Using therapist self-disclosure of their experience of client in the moment
- Exploring bodily sensations and micro-expressions as cues for deeper emotional work
By integrating these techniques, therapists can build a more collaborative, authentic, and transformative therapeutic space. This masterclass highlights that vulnerability is a two-way process—therapists, too, must be present, engaged, and willing to model emotional honesty.
What therapists are saying…
“Through captivating therapy clips and insightful session breakdowns, Yalom and Krug illustrate the power of the here-and-now through their genuine and compassionate approach. Advanced Psychotherapy Skills Vol. 2 demonstrates clearly how the therapeutic relationship thrives in honesty, authenticity and transparency. It reinforces the importance of immediacy and the power of sharing space in all aspects of counseling work. Finally, vulnerable dialogue between Yalom and Krug stands out as refreshing and inspiring. Clinicians of any level would certainly benefit from spending more time exploring how the here-and-now enhances our counseling work.”
—Derrick A. Paladino, PhD, Professor, Department Chair & Program Director, Graduate Studies in Counseling, Rollins College
—Derrick A. Paladino, PhD, Professor, Department Chair & Program Director, Graduate Studies in Counseling, Rollins College
“This video highlights the importance of attending to the present-moment dynamics between therapist and client in sessions. Doing so helps therapists build rapport, address potential ruptures, and gain real-time insight about a client's relational challenges. The skills taught are invaluable for therapists, students, and professors or trainers who teach clinical skills. Using the here-and-now is a powerful tool for building better therapeutic bonds and improving client outcomes.”
—Dr. Audrey Zatopek PhD, Adjunct Professor, Midwestern State University
—Dr. Audrey Zatopek PhD, Adjunct Professor, Midwestern State University
“The second volume of Masterclass in Advanced Psychotherapy Skills led by Victor Yalom and Orah Krug provided clear instructions for the real-life application of key therapeutic principles, focusing on the use of here-and-now interventions and therapist transparency. This approach uses skillful immediacy and emotional attunement to deepen client insight and strengthen the therapeutic alliance.”
—Denise Lenares-Solomon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Capella University
—Denise Lenares-Solomon, PhD, Assistant Professor, Capella University
“The sessions with real clients, expert commentary breaking down the nuances of clinical interaction, and thought-provoking discussions make this course a must-watch. Featured are here-and-now techniques in action, bringing together theory and practice, clearly demonstrating what to do and how to do it — specifically with regards to tone and timing, and an understanding of the when and why. Yalom and Krug give us a glimpse of real-world clinical work, including its ethical gray areas, while capturing the bedrock of therapy — the human element — which can't be conveyed through academics, books, or classes.”
—Michelle Santiago, Associate Professor of Clinical Practice, Moravian University
—Michelle Santiago, Associate Professor of Clinical Practice, Moravian University
“Hearing Orah define the here-and-now, saying "here" is related to what's happening in the therapy space where the the "now" represents what is happening at the time was eye opening. Seeing experts use the here-and-now to remain present with clients, model skills, and offer feedback to encourage growth is empowering for all therapists regardless of skill-level. Having the unique opportunity to watch real sessions, then see the therapists reflect on them afterward is a special moment.”
–Yancy L. Cruz, Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University
–Yancy L. Cruz, Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University
Irvin Yalom has written extensively about working in the here-and-now, a concept he originally developed in his interpersonal model of group therapy and then applied to working with individual clients. In this course, his son Victor Yalom and colleague Orah Krug bring this important concept to life by showing exactly what this looks like in actual therapy sessions with a variety of clients.
Although therapists worldwide are drawn to Yalom’s idea of working with the here-and-now, they often don’t know what to do after asking something like “How is it going between us?” This is a good starting point, but frequently the client will respond “fine,” and many therapists don’t know how to proceed after that.
This is the first online course which shows you step-by-step how to have extended encounters in the here-and-now, creating an experiential environment for the client to learn about how they show up in relationships, and to be able to practice being both intimate and authentic. You’ll see extensive footage of actual therapy sessions led by Yalom and Krug and learn how to introduce working in the here-and-now, explain to clients exactly why you do this, and how to stay and go deeper in this experiential space.
As Frieda Fromm-Reichman famously said, “the patient needs an experience, not an explanation,” and in this course you’ll see many example of ways to help clients move beyond intellectualizing or talking about themselves abstractly to experiencing directly in the here-and-now the very difficulties that have brought them to therapy in the first place. This masterclass will teach you how to capitalize on these moments so clients can use every therapy session more effectively.
This requires vulnerability and even courage on the part of the therapist. It’s challenging work indeed, but the payoffs are immense for both client and therapist. Any therapist interested in bringing increased vitality and efficacy to their work will find this masterclass to be a real game-changer.
Although therapists worldwide are drawn to Yalom’s idea of working with the here-and-now, they often don’t know what to do after asking something like “How is it going between us?” This is a good starting point, but frequently the client will respond “fine,” and many therapists don’t know how to proceed after that.
This is the first online course which shows you step-by-step how to have extended encounters in the here-and-now, creating an experiential environment for the client to learn about how they show up in relationships, and to be able to practice being both intimate and authentic. You’ll see extensive footage of actual therapy sessions led by Yalom and Krug and learn how to introduce working in the here-and-now, explain to clients exactly why you do this, and how to stay and go deeper in this experiential space.
As Frieda Fromm-Reichman famously said, “the patient needs an experience, not an explanation,” and in this course you’ll see many example of ways to help clients move beyond intellectualizing or talking about themselves abstractly to experiencing directly in the here-and-now the very difficulties that have brought them to therapy in the first place. This masterclass will teach you how to capitalize on these moments so clients can use every therapy session more effectively.
This requires vulnerability and even courage on the part of the therapist. It’s challenging work indeed, but the payoffs are immense for both client and therapist. Any therapist interested in bringing increased vitality and efficacy to their work will find this masterclass to be a real game-changer.
Length of video: 5:04:03
English subtitles available
Group ISBN-10 #: 1-60124-782-6
Group ISBN-13 #: 978-1-60124-782-7
Orah Krug, PhD is recognized in her field as a master clinician, supervisor, teacher and author. She has been a licensed psychotherapist for over 30 years and an adjunct professor at Saybrook University for over 15 years. Her therapy and teaching has been inspired by her two long-time mentors: Irvin Yalom M.D. and James Bugental PhD. Orah has contributed to her field through numerous chapters and articles on the practice of Existential-Humanistic therapy including her highly regarded texts published by the American Psychological Association: Supervision Essentials for Existential-Humanistic Therapy (2016) and Existential-Humanistic Therapy (2017).
Orah Krug was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.
Psychotherapy.net defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum financial threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. We ask that all contributors disclose any and all financial relationships they have with any ineligible companies whether the individual views them as relevant to the education or not.
Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.
Victor Yalom, PhD is the founder and resident cartoonist of Psychotherapy.net. He maintained a busy private practice in San Francisco for over 25 years, but now sees only a few clients, devoting the bulk of his time to creating new training videos for Psychotherapy.net. He has produced over 100 videos, conducted workshops in existential-humanistic and group therapy in the US, Mexico, and China, and currently leads consultation groups for therapists. More info on Victor and his artwork and sculpture at sfpsychologist.com.Victor Yalom was compensated for his/her/their contribution. None of his/her/their books or additional offerings are required for any of the Psychotherapy.net content. Should such materials be references, it is as an additional resource.
Psychotherapy.net defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. There is no minimum financial threshold; individuals must disclose all financial relationships, regardless of the amount, with ineligible companies. We ask that all contributors disclose any and all financial relationships they have with any ineligible companies whether the individual views them as relevant to the education or not.
Additionally, there is no commercial support for this activity. None of the planners or any employee at Psychotherapy.net who has worked on this educational activity has relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies.
CE credits: 5
Learning Objectives:
- explain the therapeutic role of the here-and-now in deepening client engagement
- utilize the therapeutic relationship as a catalyst for improving client interpersonal functioning
- apply the skills of therapist self-disclosure to inform and empower clients
- create here-and-now interventions which are aligned with client’s goals
Bibliography available upon request
This course is offered for ASWB ACE credit for social workers. See complete list of CE approvals here
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