Focusing was originally developed by Eugene Gendlin, Ph.D. Gendlin enthusiastically encouraged Focusers to make Focusing their own and as a result there are many different offshoots in existence today. Two websites representing Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy are that of the International Focusing Institute: www.focusing.org and the Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy site: www.focusingtherapy.org
Options…
A BRIEF WRITTEN INTRO TO FOCUSING
INTRODUCTORY VIDEO TUTORIALS
INTERMEDIATE/ ADVANCED VIDEO TUTORIALS
FOCUSING DEMONSTRATION SESSIONS
UPCOMING LIVE FOCUSING TRAININGS
THE FOCUSING DISCUSSION PAGE
Brief Introduction:
The following brief description of Focusing is a synthesis of quotes from www.focusing.org:
Focusing shows how to pause the ongoing situation and create a space for new possibilities for carrying forward. This practice… shows how to apply open attention to something which is directly experienced but is not in words.
Your body knows more about situations than you are explicitly aware of. For example, your body picks up more about another person than you consciously know. With a little training, you can get a bodily feel for the 'more' that is happening in any situation. From that bodily feel come small steps that lead toward resolution.
“Focusing” is to enter into a special kind of awareness, different from our everyday awareness. It is open, turned inward, and centered on the present and on your body’s inner sensations.
Introductory Video Tutorials:
Dr. Kathy McGuire outlines steps through which to learn Gendlin’s six-step Focusing process :
“Clearing a space” — get out of your head and into your peaceful, inner body knowing
“Identify a felt sense” — a bodily knowing
“Find a handle” — words or an image that capture the bodily knowing
“Resonate” — check if those words fit with that bodily knowing
“Inquire” — Ask the bodily felt sense an open ended question
“Receive the experience”
Gendlin's Focusing: Pre-Focusing #1 -- Noticing Meditation (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Six-Step Focusing Exercise (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Getting A Felt Sense -- From The Bottom Up (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Clearing A Space exercise (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing : Felt Sense of Situations (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Self-empathy, Caring Feeling Presence, as first step (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Inspired to learn more?
Make sure you don’t miss new tutorials.
Be notified as soon as we add the next one.
Intermediate/Advanced Tutorials:
Gendlin's Focusing: Complete Session -- "How Am I Today? (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Positive Experiences can be explored and strengthened! (permission granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Complete Session on Interpersonal Situation Part 2 (permission for use granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Positive Experiences can be explored and strengthened! (permission granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Gendlin's Focusing: Instant "Ahah!"s on Creative Projects (permission granted by Dr. Kathy McGuire)
Focusing Demonstration Sessions:
Coming soon…
Upcoming Live Training Events for Focusing:
The online tutorials on this site do not qualify you for Focusing certification and are not a substitute for the comprehensive in-person training offered by the organizations representing Focusing. See their schedule of upcoming trainings here: