Level 1: Foundations and Approaches of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)

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Course Description

Level 1: Foundations and Approaches of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) provides a solid foundation of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) with an emphasis on deepening one’s embodied knowing of the main FOAT approaches– Focusing Attitude, Theme-Directed FOAT®, Clearing a Space with Arts, FOAT® Check-in, Working on an Issue, Self-Focusing, and Compassionate Listening. Trainees will also expand their understanding of the core concepts, skills and philosophy of Focusing, developed by Eugene Gendlin– felt sense, symbol/handle, felt shift, and life forward direction.

Learning FOAT and Focusing in Level 1 emphasizes learning the exercises for oneself– in order to understand deeply how the felt sense, creativity, and the body’s wisdom interacts and unfolds, while also being grounded in FOAT theories. The FOAT Partnership and small group practices during Level 1 open the doorway to learn about others’ processes and also provides a foundation for facilitation skills that are continued in Level 2.

Meeting Dates and Times

In Level 1, all eight Group Meetings will be held via Zoom. For this training series, participants must attend 90% of the Group Meetings per level (exceptions may be made for extenuating circumstances with approval from the Training Director).

Dates (2025): These dates are valid for the U.S.– please use the time converter to determine if the meeting dates will be the same for your timezone!

• March 19
• April 2, 16, 30
• May 14, 28
• June 11, 25

Time: 10:30am- 1:30pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) / Click here for a timezone converter

FOAT Faculty and Assistant Faculty *

The following are all Certified Focusing Trainers: Specialization in FOAT® and Certified FOAT® Practitioners/Facilitators:

Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC, REAT

Carla Walmsley-Esteves, MA, BSc (Hons)

Karen Quatsoe, BFA

* Number of Assistant Faculty will be determined by the number of registrants.

Click here to view the course page for more information and registration!