Alone: Anxiety and the Absence of Presence

Course overview

Anxiety is widely understood as a fundamental signal of distress in human beings, yet its deeper meaning and function require interpretation beyond neurophysiological measurement alone. While science allows clinicians to assess the biological expression of anxiety, understanding what anxiety signifies and why it emerges calls for a broader interpretive framework rooted in human meaning-making. Drawing on interpersonal neurobiology and narrative understanding, this workshop explores anxiety as a response not only to perceived threat but also to relational and intrapersonal disconnection. Participants will examine how the absence of a regulating, non-anxious presence contributes to anxiety across diagnostic presentations. The session integrates interpersonal neurobiological principles with clinical application, offering practical insights for psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders working with individuals experiencing complex or comorbid conditions. Attention is also given to ethically appropriate spiritual practices that may support anxiety regulation for willing Christian clients who desire such integration.