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Summary

The present is viewed not as an empty pause between past and future, but as an active node where their traces, projections, and unconscious attractions converge. This chapter integrates phenomenology (the imaginal, bodily, and collective content of the «here-and-now»), neuroscientific data on pre-activation and reconstruction, and clinical practices – from dialogue with the unconscious to mindfulness and somatic anchors. The practical aim is to give the therapist a working map for reading the present and a set of methods that allow the «here-and-now» to become a field of choice and integration.

Key Concepts

Present – not a point-like moment, but the «assembly point» of the psyche, a node where the past, the future, and atemporal meanings condense.

Temporal language – the set of images, rituals, bodily patterns, and cultural «fonts» that shape how the present is experienced.

Prospection – the neurocognitive capacity to use the same networks involved in remembering to generate scenarios of the future; it reveals the tight link between past, future, and present.

Pre-activation / readiness potential – a neurophysiological phenomenon showing that part of our decisions and actions is initiated unconsciously before reaching awareness.

Proto-future – unconscious attractions toward the future that shape choice before explicit goals are formulated.

Anchors of presence – somatic and sensory techniques that help maintain the boundaries of the «here-and-now» and integrate insights.

Goals of the Chapter

– To justify the idea of the present as a multilayered field formed by images of the past, attractions of the future, and bodily rhythms.

– To show how neuroscientific data (pre-activation, memory/prospection networks) influence the therapist’s clinical stance.

– To propose an integrative clinical strategy: depth work + neuroscience + practices of presence.

– To offer concrete practical steps and techniques for reading and working with the present.

Introduction: Why «Here-and-Now» Is Not Trivial

Past, present, and future are not three separate planes but a braided knot of experience; the clinical key is to learn how to read that knot. Jung showed that the present often appears in the form of images stitched to collective «fonts» – archetypes and myths; by listening to these images, the therapist unravels the meanings that are governing choice and action right now.

Neuroscience adds humility and precision: Libet’s classic experiments and subsequent fMRI studies showed that part of the preparation for action and choice is initiated unconsciously. This does not abolish free will, but forces us to admit that many of our current decisions are «begun» before a conscious intention appears.

The concept of prospection (Schacter and colleagues) suggests that the networks involved in remembering are also used to imagine the future – therefore, the present is a fusion of traces of the past and projects of the future. Practically, this means that working with memories and working with representations of the future are not two separate exercises but a single intervention that reconstructs the attractions shaping behaviour «now».

Finally, the empirical medicine of presence (mindfulness programs, Davidson’s research, and others) shows that training attention changes regulatory networks, improves stress reactivity, and strengthens the capacity to remain resourced in the present. This is both an instrument and a test: deep insight without skills of presence often leads to disorientation; presence makes insight workable.

1. What Is the «Present» in a Clinical Context?

The present is not a simple temporal mark between «before» and «after». It is the assembly point of the psyche – the space where:

– images and imprints of the past converge (memories, subpersonalities, bodily reactions),

– attractions of the future are at work (goals, fears, proto-future),

– social and cultural fonts set expectations,

– current bodily states and rhythms unfold.

The experience of «here-and-now» is the foundation for therapeutic reconfiguration: it is the place where meanings can be revised and choice can be born.

2. Images of the Past in the Present

Images of the past shape habits, reactions, and ways of sensing the world. They come as dreams, flashbacks, bodily impulses, and the lines spoken by subpersonalities. Working with them means translating automatism into the field of conscious dialogue:

– identifying the «main past» – the layer that most actively rewrites the present;

– working with the content of images (retelling, mapping, portraiture);

– translating the image into a contract: «What do you want? How do you serve me? What happens if I give you a different place?» (approaches of mask-therapy, psychosynthesis).

3. Future in the Present: From Goals to Proto-Future

Images of the future are not limited to plans and goals: in the body and in expectations live unconscious attractions that we call proto-future. They may lead to adaptive planning or to repetitive enactment of compensatory scenarios (for example, attempts to «rewrite» a loss in the past through future achievements). The therapist:

– differentiates explicit goal-setting from hidden attractions;

– uses techniques of future modelling and prospection (visualisation, working with possible scenarios) to make the unconscious future available for reflection;

– employs «dialogue with the future» as a tool for reshaping motivation and meaning.

4. Neuroscience of the Present: Pre-Activation and Prospection

Neuroscientific findings demand reflective modesty: many acts and choices have an unconscious start (readiness potential), and the networks used for memory also participate in imagining the future. Practical implications:

– The therapist recognises the limits of conscious control and includes techniques that help slow down the impulse (breathing regulation, pauses, «time-outs» before decisions).

– In interpreting behaviour, pre-activation is considered: sometimes «behaviour now» is the result of a process already underway unconsciously; the task is to bring this into the field of speech and choice.

5. Practices of Presence as a Tool of Integration

Mindfulness, bodily anchors, sensory exercises, and rituals help maintain boundaries: they make it possible to integrate a felt image and apply an insight without collapsing into uncontrolled flight of the unconscious or, conversely, into avoidance. It is important to:

– choose simple, repeatable anchors (breath, feet on the floor, naming objects in the environment);

– combine work with content (dialogue, interpretation) and work with form (attention, body).

6. Pathological Present and Diagnostic Shifts

A pathological «here-and-now» manifests as:

– fixation on the past (rumination, intrusive flashbacks),

– a constant loop of expectations and anxiety,

– blurred boundaries of the self (meaninglessness, disorientation, atemporality),

– dominance of a single subpersonality that «silences» other inner voices.

A diagnostic shift is proposed: instead of only asking «What is today’s date?» we might ask, «Which dimension of time is dominating your present?» – this moves the assessment into a clinical and therapeutic register.

7. Temporal Handwriting and Societal Fonts of Time

Each person lives in a particular tempo – a temporal handwriting (fast/slow, cyclic/linear). On top of this, societal fonts (media tempo, economic deadlines, religious rhythms) model expectations and the experience of presence. For the therapist it is important to:

– map the client’s handwriting: speed of speech, pauses, preferred temporal metaphors;

– take into account the cultural background and digital rhythm (multi-screening, constant notifications), which remodel the capacity to remain in the present.

8. Eternity as a Resource of the Present

Experiences of eternity are a resource: religious, aesthetic, and meditative practices provide an anchor beyond linear time and can strengthen resilience. But it is crucial to distinguish between:

– resourceful eternity (embedded in life: rituals, meaningful practices),

– escapist eternity (avoidance, refusal of responsibility).

The therapist helps the client differentiate between these and incorporate rituals and practices of eternity as supports for presence.

Practical Section: Working Steps and Techniques

Diagnostics of «Here-and-Now»

– Identify the dominant dimension: a brief question —

– «What is occupying your inner time right now?» (past / future / eternity / atemporality).

– Map the temporal handwriting: observe speed, pauses, rhythm of speech and movement.

– Identify subpersonalities: who is speaking now? From which time does this part come?

– Assess bodily background: breathing, muscular tension, autonomic signs.

Interventions «In the Here-and-Now»

– Stabilisation: an immediate anchor (body, breath, orientation) if the material is intense.

– Dialogue with a subpersonality: let it speak, set rules for entry/exit, record agreements.

– Working with the image: mapping, portrait, visualisation («What does this image look like now?»), exploring its demands.

– Prospection exercises: modelling future scenarios, anticipatory rehearsal of delicate steps.

– Practices of presence: 5—10 minutes of mindfulness or body scan; closing rituals at the end of the session.

– Integration: creative note (six-word summary), drawing, a small ritual that anchors the new choice.

Safety Protocol

– Assess risks (disorientation, suicidal ideation, severe dissociation).

– In deep work, have a stabilisation plan and emergency contacts ready.

– Gradually translate insight into behavioural steps (concrete small actions) to reduce the risk of idealisation or overload.

Conclusion

The present is the field of clinical mastery: fate is shaped here; here automatism can be interrupted and conscious choice engaged. Practice integrates three lines:

– deep work with the unconscious (images and subpersonalities),

– knowledge of unconscious pre-activations (neuroscience),

– disciplines of strengthening presence (mindfulness, somatic work).

Only such integration turns the «here-and-now» into a resource rather than a source of threat.

Literature

Davidson, R. J., et al. – Studies on Meditation, Neural Networks and Immune Markers.

A series of empirical studies demonstrating changes in prefrontal and limbic activity, as well as immune parameters, under regular meditative practice. These works support the effectiveness of mindfulness-based techniques in reducing stress levels and enhancing emotional regulation.

Kabat-Zinn, J. – Full Catastrophe Living. 1990.

A practical guide to the mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) method for clinicians and patients. It offers a set of simple, clinically validated presence techniques applicable in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and somatic disorders, and is crucial for integrating «form» (attention, embodiment) with the «content» of psychotherapy.

Libet, B. – Do We Have Free Will?

A collection of classical experiments on the readiness potential, showing that neural activity precedes conscious decisions. This work is important for understanding the neurophysiological mechanisms of action and, in psychotherapy, serves as a reminder of unconscious initiation of behaviour and the need to account for it methodologically.

Porges, D. A., & Porges, S. W. – Polyvagal Theory Studies.

A body of research revealing the role of the vagus nerve in regulating emotional states and social interaction. It provides a somatic framework for understanding signals of safety, threat, and regulation in the «here-and-now», helping therapists choose bodily anchors and methods for restoring balance.

Schacter, D. L. – The Cognitive Neuroscience of Constructive Memory: Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future. 2007.

A review paper describing the shared neural basis of memory and prospection. It supports the idea that past and future are fused in present experience and offers a methodological foundation for clinically applying prospective thinking.

Schacter, D. L. – Searching for Memory: The Brain, the Mind, and the Past. New York: Basic Books, 1996.

A monograph on the reconstructive nature of memory and its impact on the perception of the present. It is useful for clinicians seeking to understand how memories shape interpretations of current events and the client’s emotional responses.

Soon, C. S., Brass, M., Heinze, H.-J., & Haynes, J.-D. – Unconscious Determinants of Free Decisions in the Human Brain. Nature, 2008.

An fMRI study showing that neural activity can predict a person’s choice several seconds before conscious awareness of the decision. It complements Libet’s findings and calls for caution in interpreting free will; in therapy it underscores the need to develop reflection and techniques of conscious inhibition.

A study using fMRI that showed neural activity can predict a person’s choice several seconds before the decision reaches conscious awareness. It complements Libet’s findings and calls for caution when interpreting the phenomenon of free will; in therapy, it serves as a reminder of the need to cultivate reflection and techniques of conscious inhibition.

(Next, we will move on to the typologies of temporal languages and to how they can be recognized in speech, behaviour, and culture.)