Creating Space for Lasting Change

Part 4 is called The Center of the Maze. Our goal here is to return to the essence of Focusing and ourselves as living process. What does it really mean when something within us moves forward? We’ll have more support for embodiment practices and noticing how does this inner process transpire outward and change how we experience and live in the world. We’ll gain clarity around these two normal states of being: Presence and Partiality and how they affect our experiencing. What is it to be a healing space for ourselves.

We’ll delve deeper into the principle of the Radical Acceptance of Everything and look at how it applies to distractions, images, sensations outside the middle body, physical symptoms & more. We’ll look closer at the inner criticizing process, it’s reactors and exiles.

Betty Szatkowski, another Focusing trainer who regularly uses TAE to practice Focusing, will lead our 4th class on Thinking at the Edge. We will go around again a bit deeper with the concepts of Stopped Processes by Gendlin and Tangles as taught by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. We will get a feel for Gendlin’s philosophy by crossing his three types of theories with neuroscience concepts. We’ll glimpse more understanding of our natural divisions of left-right hemispheres and top-bottom brain contributors into our daily experience of life. We’ll play with body movement and shared Presence as offered by Wholebody Focusers. And so much more…

Here are Part 4 general class topics:

Class 1: Focusing as a Way to Grow; Sensitive Empathic Listening goes a Long Way.

Class 2: Presence and Partiality: I AM a Healing Space

Class 3: Inner Criticizing Process and Its Reactors, Intro to TAE – Thinking at the Edge

Class 4: Thinking at the Edge: Crossing as a Way to Explore Edges

Class 5: Holding it ALL with Stopped Processes and Tangles

Class 6: Focusing Unites Brain and Body; Neuroscience

Class 7: Wholebody Focusing, Exploring Body, Movement, Gestures and Beyond Body, Transforming Trauma, Shared Presence

Class 8: A New Sense of Self in Living Life as Process, Crossing Project Presentations

We’ll meet approx. every 2 or 3 weeks for 2 hrs a total of 8 times or for about 3-4 months. Our first hour will be checking in and exploring our topics. Our 2nd hr will revolve around a demonstration in class with process appreciations from all those observing. Unlike Parts 1-3, there is no partner practice during class unless you are in the Demo. Class will be limited to 7 participants and designed so that each person will get an opportunity to be both a Focuser and a Companion for a class demonstration.

Reading involves completing Ann & Barbara’s Inner Relationship Focusing Student Manual part two. There are also a variety of articles provided and some handouts that I have created. The reading is relatively deep, the type that reveals something new for us from year to year. Other than the Student Manual, it is your choice how much of the reading to complete. Often students repeat this class again a few years later and find they get it all that much more. Focusing encourages us to explore that new edge and there is plenty of new emerging in this field to choose from. Thus, each group that comes together will create a somewhat different experience as we re-ground in a deeper level of trust in ourselves, our current experience and that it’s all going somewhere life-thriving.

Part 4 PARTNERSHIP REQUIREMENT

I ask that participants are Focusing weekly with a partner at least one month before class begins and throughout our time together. This is to ensure you have Focusing time to explore the many concepts we cover in class experientially. If you have a regular Focusing partner, you are welcome to Focus with them throughout this class. If not, I will suggest partners either from this class or our greater community.

Even with all of this practice, we cover so much here, that often people come back and repeat this level. Part 4 is a great place to return to whenever you would like to go deeper with your process from wherever it is.

PART 4 FALL SESSION – 2022 WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

8 Wednesday evenings via Zoom videoconference
7 – 9 pm EDT, 6 – 8 pm CDT, 5 – 7 pm MDT, 4 – 6 pm PDT

Oct 19, Nov 2, Nov 16, Nov 30, Dec 14, Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 8, (Feb 22 backup)

*note we have 4 weeks between Dec 14 and Jan 11*

Prerequisite: Part 3 or similar Focusing partnership skills experience
Course fee $240 ($190 if you are repeating)

Register By: Wednesday, Sept 14

**Note Daylight savings time changes November 6 for me. Our time will shift backward 1 hour for the last 6-7 classes. If you are not on the same time shift, take this into account.

For other upcoming opportunities, visit my website here: https://sandyjahmi.com/how-to-engage/creating-space-for-lasting-change-level-4/

HOW FOCUSING CLASSES WORK

Part 4 has a different format. It is expected that you are involved in a weekly partnership starting one month before class starts. There is significant reading between classes, possibly more than you will complete. About half of each class will be a brief review of the topic, discussion, questions, plus individual, small group or whole group exercises. The second half of class will be devoted to a Focusing Demo with each participant at some time volunteering as Focuser or Companion. The rest of the class will provide a larger Presence container while paying attention to what we’ve learned about process in order to share appreciations with those volunteering. Please plan to attend all 8 sessions for the full time of the meeting. Missing one or two classes is acceptable. I will record the first part of class if you miss, not the Focusing Demo. Part 4 is frequently repeated by those who graduate. I do freshen how we explore things and there is always more here than one can absorb in this time.

For the videoconference class, all you need is a computer with a camera. You can also attend via a cellphone. You’ll be able to see everyone in the class, generally, whoever is speaking appears larger at the time. You can mute and turn off your video camera as needed.  Recordings may be available if you miss a class.  Video seminars work amazingly well. Hope to see you here!