Developing Fresh Forms of Focusing Practice: Exploring 'Feeling the contraction as lovingness'

Sunday, February 28, 2021 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Eastern (NY) time

(Sydney, Australia: Monday, March 1, 2021 from 8:00am to 10:00am)

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Class will be recorded for all registrants and available for viewing for one month.

Feeling the contraction as lovingness

In this class we will be exploring one fresh form of Focusing practice in particular called 'Feeling the contraction as lovingness'. We will experiment with feeling how a contraction (e.g. a 'critic' or other argumentative presence in Focusing space) is, from its own reference point, trying to help, and how allowing a deeper understanding of what is at stake to infuse it can foster a transformation into something much more helpful.

We will then step back and consider how this practice illustrates the potential for using Focusing sessions as designs for Focusing practices, and ways 'feeling the contraction as lovingness' speaks back to Focusing theory and the Philosophy of the Implicit, contributing to what Gendlin called 'first person science'.

The webinar includes an overview of methods for extending the Focusing practice tradition, including letting Focusing sessions be templates for repeatable practices, crossing practices and practice traditions with each other, and working experimentally, inspired by theories (e.g. Gendlin's 'A Process Model').

This class is intended for any Focusing practitioner who would like to experiment with variations to Focusing practice, and anyone who is curious about ways Focusing can be used in experiential research. All are welcome to attend.

We use Zoom videoconferencing for our online classes. In this webinar format, you will see the teachers and host, but you will not be seen. You will be able to ask questions during the webinar by typing them.

You will need to have a computer/mobile device. Calling in by phone is also possible but not preferred. All registered participants will be sent a link to the video recording approximately two weeks following the class. So if you are unable to attend the live webinar, you will still be able to view it for one month.

Bio

Greg Walkerden PhD is a researcher based at Macquarie University in Sydney. His academic roots are in philosophy and psychology. His research has focused on practical problems of adaptation for communities and regions, and on felt sense grounded reflective practice as a support for this. He has been a Focusing practitioner for 35 years, is a Certified Focusing Trainer, and has taught felt sense based decision making for environmental managers and planners at Macquarie University for about 15 years.  Gendlin invited him to teach A Process Model at his ‘Thinking at the Edge’ retreats in New York in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

Jane Quayle is a Certifying coordinator and former member of the TIFI board of Trustees.  She is a Focusing Oriented Psychotherapist, and has taught focusing in her private practice for 20 years.  She has also taught in a variety of tertiary institutions including Western Sydney University, Macquarie University and developed a Focusing Oriented Therapy elective for the Jansen Newman Institute.  Her teaching experience includes counselling skills, supervision of student therapists and Focusing Oriented Psychotherapy.