Focusing

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Focusing is a psychotherapeutic process developed by psychotherapist Eugene Gendlin. It involves the practice of bodily awareness, known as a "felt sense," to achieve greater self-awareness and psychological healing. Focusing is grounded in the philosophy of existential phenomenology and has been widely incorporated into various forms of therapy, including client-centered therapy and psychotherapy.

Overview

Focusing is based on the premise that the body inherently knows more about situations than the mind is immediately aware of. Practitioners of focusing are taught to hone in on their inner bodily sensations that relate to their emotional states. Unlike other therapeutic techniques that may emphasize cognitive or behavioral change, focusing emphasizes experiencing the present moment and the subtle cues the body gives.

History

Focusing was developed in the 1960s by Eugene Gendlin, who worked closely with Carl Rogers, the founder of client-centered therapy. Gendlin's research at the University of Chicago identified that clients who focused on their bodily feelings during therapy sessions tended to have better outcomes. This observation led to the formal development of the focusing technique.

The Process

The process of focusing can be broken down into several steps:

1. Clearing a space: Identifying and setting aside preoccupations.
2. Felt sense: Allowing a holistic, vague, and often unclear bodily awareness to form in relation to a specific issue.
3. Getting a handle: Finding a word, phrase, or image that captures the essence of the felt sense.
4. Resonating: Checking back and forth between the felt sense and the handle, to see if there is a fit.
5. Asking: Asking open-ended questions of the felt sense to invite it to reveal more about itself.
6. Receiving: Welcoming whatever comes in response to these questions, even if it is unexpected or not immediately understood.

Applications

Focusing has been applied in several areas including personal development, psychotherapy, and conflict resolution. It is also used in combination with other therapeutic techniques to enhance emotional and psychological healing.

Training and Practice

Training in focusing is available through various workshops, online courses, and certification programs. Practitioners often integrate focusing with other therapeutic practices to tailor their approach to individual client needs.

Impact and Reception

Focusing has been positively received within the psychological community for its emphasis on bodily awareness and its respect for the client's experiential process. It has been praised for its ability to access deeper emotional states that are often bypassed by more cognitive approaches.

See Also

• Mindfulness
• Somatic psychology
• Experiential therapy