A short definition of Presence

Based on a longitudinal qualitative research into the practising of presence in outreach pastoral care, ‘presence’ became circumscribed as:

A practice in which the professional involves themselves with the other or others in an attentive and dedicated way, by doing so learns to see what is at stake for the other or others – from desires to fears – and, in connection with this, comes to understand what could be done in this particular situation and who they can be for the other or others. What can be done is done. This mode can only be accomplished with a sense of subtlety, craftsmanship, practical wisdom and loving fidelity.

Since the publication of ‘Een theorie van de presentie’ (A Theory of Presence) in 2001, the theoretical elaboration and justification of the practice of presence have been received very positively, even far outside the realm of pastoral care. The vocabulary of presence has come to be appreciated by social workers, nurses, youth workers, workers in addiction care, general practitioners, et cetera. It helps them to articulate their own motivation and aims, as well as their possible frustration with the way they are being trained, assessed, and managed. The presence approach and theory also have become relevant to management and to thinking about quality of care.

For a further introduction into Presence, read the 2002 article ‘The Presence Approach, an Introductory Sketch of a Practice’ or watch the video’s What is presence? for social workers and for nurses.

In 2025, ‘Relational Caring and Presence Theory in Health Care and Social Work: A Care-Ethical Perspective’ was published with Policy Press. Also in 2025, ‘Iemand voor iemand’ (Someone for someone), a fully revised and expanded version of the presence theory, was published.

See also: The Presence approach in New York: two intriguing examples