Focusing can be used by clients who feel stuck, stressed and overwhelmed to find a little more space. It is useful in helping to make decisions or find ways to move forward with blocked projects. Focusing helps us listen to our small voices which typically get overlooked or even stop speaking because of traumatic events. It is very helpful for brain-body conditions, fatigue, pain, addictive and obsessive behaviour. Focusing offers beautiful tools to find a new way of interacting with self-critical voices and dreams, even very hostile ones. Going at the clients’ pace and creating the right distance makes Focusing an effective but safe process that most people can learn with surprising ease even if they have never listened to their bodies before.
Here is a link to a demo by Gene Gendlin, with my teacher Lynn Preston in the background showing a client exploring their felt sense. Of course, every session looks different, but if you’ve experienced traditional ‘talk therapy’ you will get a sense of how this is different.
I also teach focusing to other counsellors, body therapists and people who are stuck with their client work. Where usual talk therapy goes round in circles, ‘focusing’ helps us to ‘drop-in’ and listen to ourselves at the edge of our awareness, and therefore can help resolve issues more effectively.
One person I worked with chose to publish this article about our work together. This will give you an idea of the possibilities.