What Is Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy?

When you have problems in your life, you can already say a lot about them. Yet, often nothing changes. The Focusing process introduces a new way of working with your problems.

Underneath your normal level of consciousness, it is possible to find a bodily sense of your issue. You definitely feel this in your body, but its meaning might seem vague, and at first there may be no words. If you pay attention to this directly felt sense of your problem, a bodily knowing emerges that is fresh and surprising. A different kind of change process happens when you find this inner connection.

You learn to listen to your body in a special way, and your own answers come. It is easier to resolve your problems, and you will no longer feel as constricted by your patterns of living. Over time, you can develop a deep sense of well-being and feel that your life is moving forward in ways that fit your deepest self.

How I Work

In psychotherapy, I hope to create an environment where you feel free to listen within yourself without any pressures or judgment. You will sense your own inner richness, even if you have no words for it. I hope to provide an atmosphere of respect, to welcome whatever comes, and to support you as you discover steps of change you want to take in your life. I am committed to understanding your experience and to sharing insights that might help you move forward in life. You will learn how to connect to your body's wisdom, and this will lead you to a self-directed growth process. This process can bring you greater physical relaxation, a sense of your “true” self, and spiritual wellbeing. Click to read more about Mind/Body Healing and Spirit/Body Exploration.

In 1969 Gendlin and colleagues studied why some clients succeeded in therapy and others did not. They found that successful change had little to do with the therapist's orientation, nor to the techniques themselves, nor with the content of the problems. Rather, the crucial element of change was whether or not the client was naturally processing their experience in a Focusing way. This study led to further inquiry into how clients (and people) can learn Focusing. www.focusing.org

Try This If You Would Like An Example

You can sense your bodily sense under thoughts, memories, and emotions. Think of a person in your life who is special to you. Bring your memory of this person into your awareness. While holding the image in your awareness bring your attention towards the torso area of your body and wait a few seconds while your body creates a bodily feel of this person. You can directly sense a 'something' about this person. There will be no words yet and don't try and find words. Notice a kind of rich mesh of sensation right there now. Just notice it first with interested curiosity.

This is a Felt Sense of 'all about this person.' Now take a few moments to find a word that describes the quality of the bodily sense. This is not an explanation. Rather look for a quality word, an adjective. It could be something like: "delicately treasured" or "surprising trust." These won't be your words, but these are examples of quality words that can be combined in fresh ways. Then when you have words that arise say them back to your body to see if they "Fit." You will physically experience the words connecting with your body and there will be a release. If this doesn't happen, try other words. Notice what it is like when there is this "Fit" of words and body sense. This is an example of how Focusing works.

Article: The Client's Client