FOCUSING
a mindfulness practice of listening to the wisdom of our bodies
This is a site for people who want to learn about Focusing opportunities in New England.
What is Focusing?
Focusing is a mindfulness practice that teaches us to pause, to slow down and to listen to ourselves in ways that go beyond listening to just our intellect or emotions. The practice begins with the assumption that our bodily experience of an event, thought or feeling always has meaning. Focusing teaches us to attend to this bodily experience, the “felt sense,” with curiosity and compassion.
During the early 1960’s, Dr. Eugene Gendlin, a philosopher/psychologist at the University of Chicago, and Carl Rogers, renowned humanist psychologist, researched why some people succeed in therapy while others fail. Based on intensive analysis of hundreds of therapy sessions, they found that the people who succeeded, slowed down their speech, paid close attention to their vague inner bodily sensations, and took the time to let the meaning of those sensations emerge. (Gendlin coined the term “felt sense” to refer to those inner sensations.) In contrast, clients who stayed “in their heads” analyzing their problems or who merely recalled and re-experienced certain emotions without tapping into their direct bodily experience did not succeed in psychotherapy. Based on his findings, Dr. Gendlin developed a system for teaching people how to do what the successful therapy clients did and named this process Focusing. He broke the process into a number of steps, which he described in his book, Focusing (1981), which has sold over half a million copies and has been translated into seventeen languages. More than 100 research studies have shown that Focusing is teachable and effective in many settings. To learn more about Focusing, attend a workshop, or find a practitioner, click on the menu options above.
With sadness, we announce the passing of our Founder and friend, Gene Gendlin.
December 25th, 1926 – May 1, 2017
What can focusing do for me?
Would you like to learn how to slow down, step back, and become more mindful?
Do you want to know how to unlock the wisdom of your body?
Do you want to better manage your stress, self criticism and self-esteem?
Would you like to show up differently in your relationships?
GET INVOLVED WITH FOCUSING
We invite your questions and comments, as well as your contributions to our blog. If you are interested in contributing a piece to the blog, please send it with your name and contact information. Focusing New England reserves the right to determine which pieces will be added to the blog and editorial rights over the content.