A Process Model Reading Group (Chapters I-IV) with Rob Parker

22 Weekly meetings on Wednesdays (no meeting November 22)
Audio recordings available after each live meeting

July 12 to December 13, 2023
7:00pm - 8:30pm New York time
convert to your time zone here

Notes: This offering is in English only. 
           Registration for the 22 sessions will be split into two payments. 

• In meeting format on Zoom, Rob will offer a main meeting for 90 minutes, which will include a talk and time for questions and discussion.  (Discussion may occasionally run overtime)
• This offering will include downloadable audio (not video) recordings of Rob’s weekly meetings for all registrants. Recording Note: Audio recordings will be made available as soon as possible after each session for download prior to the next session (except in the case of unexpected technical difficulty).
• Optional: Participants can form discussion groups to explore and clarify concepts discussed in the main meetings. Discussion groups are intended to be self-organizing.
  
  Update: As of July 7, six advanced APM students have volunteered to lead groups. Group times offered so far: Fridays at 7AM-8AM Pacific time zone, Saturdays at 8AM-9AM Sydney, Australia time zone, Mondays at 6PM-7PM UK time, Thursdays at 4:30PM-5:30PM CET, Thursdays at 8PM-9PM, Central European (Summer) Time. After you register, your confirmation includes how to access the course resources, including details on the optional discussion groups.

Rob Parker studied philosophy with Gene Gendlin for several hours a week from 2003 until Gene's passing in 2017. Rob has been leading A Process Model (APM) reading groups for many years and we are delighted that Rob has now teamed up with the Institute to offer them.

We will read and discuss A Process Model chapters I through IV. This covers roughly a quarter of the book and most of the “basic” concepts from which the rest of A Process Model is derived. We will learn many new concepts such as body-environment interaction, en#1, #2, #3, and #0, implying and occurring, recognizing, carrying forward, feedback, eveving, sbs, metaphor, crossing, and a new concept of time.  These concepts will give us a deeper understanding of Gendlin's philosophy, and the beginning of an understanding of Focusing (although we'll have to wait for Chapter VIII to understand Focusing in depth).

More importantly, Chapters I – IV will bring us to the threshold of a new world, a new and gradually deepening understanding, not just of Focusing, but of life and of ourselves.  If we stay on this path, we will gradually gain the ability to think in new ways as we gradually free ourselves from a plethora of assumptions inherent in our culture. We'll discover that Process Model concepts are not like the concepts we’re used to; they are like handles in Focusing, each concept pointing to a new felt sense of life, and all the concepts together forming a path toward something even larger, over and over…  Like the path up a mountain, every step gives you a better view, and the further you go, the better it gets.

FORMAT
This series will be held in Zoom meeting format where participants can see the facilitator and other participants.

Rob will offer a main meeting for 90 minutes, which will include a talk and time for questions and discussion.
Time may occasionally go over 90 minutes, and audio recording will be available.

This offering will include downloadable audio recordings (not video) of Rob’s weekly meetings. (available within 3-12 hours, except in the case of unexpected technical difficulty).

You will need to have a computer/mobile device. Calling in by phone is also possible but not preferred. Breakout rooms (if utilized) are not recorded.
 

PREREQUISITES

• Focusing experience is recommended but not required.
   
• If you don't already have a copy, A Process Model can be purchased at https://store.focusing.org/products/a-process-model
   

ABOUT YOUR FACILITATOR
Rob Parker grew up in a scientific family, with a deep appreciation for the power and elegance of modern science. Rob was also interested in spirituality from an early age, and has practiced yoga and zazen for many years. And all along, he has sensed that science and spirituality must be related, because reality doesn’t come in separate packages.

These interests led to a career in psychology, an area where science and spirit seem to overlap, and to an interest in the philosophical assumptions that underlie modern science.  Rob specialized in psychological trauma; he designed and directed several treatment programs for trauma survivors and trauma perpetrators, published and lectured for professional audiences and appeared on national media. 

His experience as a psychologist made Rob acutely aware of the problems inherent in our current approach to science. In 2000, the search for a new scientific paradigm led him to visit philosopher Eugene Gendlin. Rob recognized in Gendlin’s work a revolutionary new way of exploring and understanding science, spirituality, meaning and the related issues of our time. Recognizing a once in a lifetime opportunity, Rob began meeting regularly with Gendlin until his death in 2017.  This class is part of Rob’s ongoing commitment to understand and experience Gendlin’s philosophy ever more deeply (learning by teaching), and to share that understanding and experience with others.
 

Registration Policies

Sessions 1-11*: Regular price $450  Modified price $300  Lowest price $150
Sessions 12-22*: Regular price $450  Modified price $300  Lowest price $150

*Payment for this group is split into two payments. To continue with Sessions 12-22, the second payment will be due by September 27, 2023. Registration for Sessions 1-11 is required to register for Sessions 12-22.

Note: if the lowest price is not affordable for you please write to [email protected] to inquire about a scholarship.

Three tier pricing. We welcome you to select the level right for you, while reminding you that if you have a reliable means of support and live in a country with a strong economy, we ask that you pay the regular price. By choosing the highest amount you are capable of paying you help make the sliding scale possible. Thank you! 

Refunds A full refund minus a $15 administrative fee for cancellations 14 days before the start date. Cancellations less than 14 days before the start date are nonrefundable. The International Focusing Institute reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule for insufficient enrollment or for other unanticipated reasons. In such cases you will be given a choice of applying your tuition to future programs, or having the full enrollment fee returned to you.

TIFI reserves the right to cancel, change and alter the program if necessary. Participants authorize TIFI to use their name, statements and likeness without charge, for promotional purposes in publications, advertising, video, web, new media, or other formats.

By registering for this course with the Institute, and in consideration of the right and opportunity to participate in and contribute to the Institute’s classes, for the purposes of its control of all video and/or audio recordings thereof pertaining to uses serving our purposes and goals, in enrolling in this session you acknowledge and agree to the Institute’s ownership of all rights in such classes, including all rights under copyright therein.  In no circumstance shall any portion or clip posted or displayed exceed 3 minutes in duration.  If you plan to use, post or display any portion or clips of these recordings, including posting these to a website or to a social media platform or portal, you agree that you will seek and obtain the prior approval of the Institute.

For more information:

Contact Elizabeth at [email protected] or (845) 480-5111.