focusing

what is focusing?

Focusing is a uniquely powerful tool for bringing change in therapy. It gives us a direct line to the wisdom of the body, so we don’t have to stay stuck in our heads. It is a process of tuning in to what is going on inside us, and how that offers feedback and insight about different situations in our lives. Like this we sense what the right way forwards for us is.

what’s the process?

I guide you verbally into a focusing process. It’s a little like guided meditation, only we speak about what you’re experiencing and allow that to lead the way. As we tune in to it, the body gives us signals in the form of physical sensations, visual images, emotional states and memories. Giving these our curious, nonjudgmental attention reveals how these sensations and images relate to your present life, and enable you benefit from a fresh perspective, gaining a new sense of what needs to happen next. I will help you deepen contact with what you’re experiencing, staying connected and feeling safe and supported as we work with what your body is revealing to your consciousness. It is a gentle process, and as you develop the skill you will be able to make use of it at will, without my guidance, to strengthen the dialogue with your intuition.

what’s the evidence?

We now have more than 50 years’ of studies demonstrating the efficacy of Focusing as a fundamental therapeutic tool. Focusing was developed in the 1960s by Eugene Gendlin and Carl Rogers. They were researching what made the difference between effective therapy that gave lasting results and other therapy that facilitated little change in clients. Their research concluded that change in therapy occurs when the client is engaged in the technique we now call focusing — a process of consulting the body as therapy is taking place. Gendlin then devised a method of teaching clients to use this strategy, so that those who were not naturally engaging in it during therapy could adopt it too, and see a lasting impact on their growth. Once you have mastered the basic skills of focusing, you can use them on your own, outside of therapy sessions, and get great results, empowering you to move confidently through difficult situations. You can use this well-honed inner compass for the rest of your life

See https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-26919-009 for recent published studies on Focusing.

focusing offers:

  • A way to deep-rooted confidence

  • A way to love every part of you

  • A chance to feel old things freshly, bringing new life-forward movement to stuck places

  • The experience  of your body as a comforting and safe place for you

  • Access to an inner compass that reliably guides you to make good choices

who is focusing for?

• those who’ve tried therapy in the past but found it of limited effectiveness

• people who struggle to trust themselves

• those who wish to deepen contact with their intuition

• those who prefer an experiential approach to growth and healing

• those who would describe themselves as ‘overthinkers’ or are stuck in their heads

• people who experience body sensations that medical interventions don’t alleviate

• anyone who is curious about bodywork and who seeks lasting change through therapy

• people looking for a gentle embodied way to treat trauma