This list of doctoral dissertations was compiled by Akira Ikemi, Hideo Tanaka and Kumiyo Sakai. It lists doctoral dissertations conducted on Focusing, Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy and Gendlin’s Philosophy as well as research studies using Focusing and its related methods, such as Thinking at the Edge (TAE) and the Experiencing Scale (EXP) in their methodologies. We have excluded studies where Focusing or Gendlin’s philosophy were referenced but were not used as major components of the dissertations. For better understanding, the titles were translated into English. Viewers can click on the links to see the dissertation titles in their original languages. We have compiled this list from databases, but we know that we are missing more dissertations. If you find that your dissertation (or another dissertation you're aware of) is missing from the list, please inform us at the Gendlin Center. Also, if you spot mistakes or missing information, we appreciate your help in fixing them.
Australia Doctoral Dissertations
Jeremy Mah, PhD (2020), Focusing-oriented transformative coaching: Supporting the journey of personal and social change, Doctoral Dissertation, Macquarie University
No links available
Claudia Núñez-Pacheco, PhD. (2018) Designing aesthetic experiences from the body and felt sense, Doctoral Dissertation, University of Sydney https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/17839
Belgium Doctoral Dissertations
Siebrecht Vanhooren, Ph.D. (2015) Loss of Meaning, Meaning-making Processes, and Posttraumatic Growth among Prisoners, KU Leuven
Open Access
Mia Leijssen, Ph.D. (1996). Focusing processes in person-centered and experiential psychotherapy KU Leuven (Dutch).
No links available
Brazil Doctoral Dissertations
Messias, J.C.C. , Ph.D. (2007) The plural in focus: A study on group experience
Doctoral Thesis, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (Portugese)
http://tede.bibliotecadigital.puc-campinas.edu.br:8080/jspui/bitstream/tede/393/1/Joao%20Carlos%20Caselli%20Messias.pdf
Canada Doctoral Dissertations
Jean-Luc LeBlanc (1999). Eugene T. Gendlin's perspective on science: A critical examination (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ottawa) https://hdl.handle.net/10393/8466
John J. Shea (1980). Toward a process understanding of religious experience: William James and Eugene Gendlin (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ottawa) https://hdl.handle.net/10393/4032
Barbara Wilkes Davison (1975). Methods for effectively generating and developing self-experiencing and empathy: the communication workshop, Gendlin's promising instrumentations, hot spot focusing instructions, centreing (Doctoral dissertation, University of Waterloo)
No Links Available
Marlene D. King (1975). Between two worlds: the story of a boy, a case study in experiential psychotherapy (Doctoral dissertation, University of Alberta)
No Links Available
Germany Doctoral Dissertations
Tony Hofmann, Ph.D. (2017). Experiential Communication: How can complex situations be dealt with successfully? Doctoral dissertation, University of Würzburg (German).
PDF
Japan Doctoral Dissertations
Miho Yamada, Ph.D., (2021) Therapist's embodied empathy in psychotherapeutic practice: The use of dance/movement and felt sense Doctoral Dissertation, Gakushuin University (Japanese)
http://hdl.handle.net/10959/00004977
Tomoko Hirano, Ph.D., (2020) A Study on focusing for human service professionals
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://hdl.handle.net/10112/00021330
Yoshiko Kosaka, Ph.D., (2020) Studies on the influences of symbol forms on symbolization of experiencing
Doctoral Dissertation, Taisho University (Japanese)
http://id.nii.ac.jp/1139/00001584/
Atsushi Okada, Ph.D. (2020) Feelings, sensations and body imagery: Gains in bodily sensations and Focusing Attitudes,
Doctoral Dissertation, Tohoku University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10097/00128184
Yusuke Tsutsui, Ph.D., (2020) Studies on the development of PCAGIP Dreamwork:
How to find the meaning of dreams in a group
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://hdl.handle.net/10112/21327
Toshihiro Kawasaki. Ph.D., (2019) A Co-reflexive model of listening
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://doi.org/10.32286/00018647
Rieko Kurino, Ph.D. (2019) A Study of psychological and physiological responses on Focusing-Oriented music listening
Doctoral Dissertation, Aichi Shutoku University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10638/00008135
Takako Higashiyama (Nakaya), Ph.D., (2018) A psychological study on the adaptive function of everyday focusing attitudes:
From the perspective of psychological health, Doctoral Dissertation, University of Tsukuba (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/2241/00152233
Atsushi Ishikura, Ph.D. (2018) Presenting a model of self-exploration among participants of T groups: A model supported by the theory of reflexive thinking and the theory of experiencing, Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10112/16648
Yasushi Kuba, Ph.D. (2018) The agency of the client: The psychotherapeutic significance of pointing to the phenomena, Doctoral Dissertation, Sophia University (Japanese)
https://digital-archives.sophia.ac.jp/repository/view/repository/20183600189
(Clinical cases are omitted in the internet version for protection of their privacies.)
Shimpei Okamura, Ph.D., (2018) Studies on the functions of crossing in focusing
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://doi.org/10.32286/00017618
Hideo Tanaka, Ph.D., (2018) The early days of focusing and the theory of experiencing: Studies on the background of how focusing was formed and practiced, Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10112/17618
https://note.com/hideo_tanaka/n/n05c6653a9067 (Summary in English)
Hideaki Fukumori, Ph.D., (2017) Everyday mode of experiencing that affects university students’ life: The attitude of respecting experiencing
Doctoral Dissertation, Kyushu University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/2324/1866369
Tsuyoshi Aoki, Ph.D., (2016) A Study on scales and clinical application of the focusing attitude Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://doi.org/10.32286/00000226
Keiji Takasawa, Ph.D. (2016) Structure-bound experiential manner and psychological distance Doctoral Dissertation, Hosei University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10114/12273
Ryuhei Koizumi, Ph.D. (2015) The theory and clinical practice of "thinking about" as a
method of focusing-oriented psychotherapy
Doctoral Dissertation, Nagoya University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/2237/22340
Yasuhiro Suetake, Ph.D. (2014) Studies on the clinical significance of Gendlin's Process Model Doctoral Dissertation, Hosei University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/10114/9497
Hiroyuki Hoshika, Ph.D., (2013) The five experiential steps from imagery to carrying forward Doctoral Dissertation, Mukogawa Women's University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I027708897-00
Kumiyo Sakai, Ph.D., (2013) Studies on the awareness of feeling processes:
Empirical investigations of the theory of experiencing
Doctoral Dissertation, Rikkyo University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I024872876-00
Tadayuki Murasato, Ph.D., (2011) On the philosophy of the implicit by E.T.Gendlin as a basis of psychotherapy Focusing and TAE,
Doctoral Dissertation, Hosei University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000011297195-00
Daisuke Oshioka, Ph.D., (2011) Empirical studies in the constitution of psychotherapy training models utilizing verbalizations of the felt sense in group interaction
Doctoral Dissertation, Tokyo Seitoku University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000011205503-00
Hiroyuki Uenishi, Ph.D.,(2011) Quantitative studies on focusing in daily life
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
http://doi.org/10.32286/00000309
Kie Yano, Ph.D., (2011) Studies on the Interaction where the client’s life is carried forward in psychotherapy
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I023977651-00
Maki Miyake, Ph.D., (2008) Rating the interview with the experiencing scale and the experiential response: A study of experiencing and psychotherapy
Doctoral Dissertation, Kansai University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000009721837-00
Yuko Amano, Ph.D., (2007) A new method to deal with disliked felt senses:
A focusing method of understanding the felt sense of a precious other
Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Asia (Japanese).
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000008556432-00
Akiko Doi, Ph.D., (2007) A study on the referencing process observed in the humanistic approach: How we touch down inside
Doctoral Dissertation, Kobe College (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000008589432-00
Yoshimi Itoh, Ph.D. (2006) Studies on creating space in focusing
Doctoral Dissertation, Nagoya University (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/2237/6627
Yuko Morikawa, Ph.D., (2005) Studies and development of a method to
bring the focusing manner of experience to daily life
Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Asia (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000007881818-00
Kiyoshi Hiramatsu, Ph.D., (1999) Basic clinical research on the interview process in sand play therapy
Doctoral Dissertation, Hyogo University of Teacher Education (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000039-I002076799-00
Yasuyuki Kira, Ph.D., (1999) The presentation and empowerment of the concept of the sense of subjectivity in counseling
Doctoral Dissertation, Kyushu University (Japanese)
https://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000039-I002025428-00
Yoshihiko Morotomi, Ph.D., (1992) Egoism and countering egoism in personality development
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Tsukuba (Japanese)
https://hdl.handle.net/2241/2160
Puerto Rico Doctoral Dissertations
Peter Lehmann Sutphen, Ph.D. (2000). Beyond the postmodern impasse: Understanding the constraint of meaning in narrative therapy through Gendlin's philosophy Doctoral dissertation, Carlos Albizu University
No links available
United Kingdom Doctoral Dissertations
Jenny M. White, Ph.D. (2017) A phenomenological enquiry into focusing on music
Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Anglia
https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/67665/1/A_Phenomenological_Enquiry_into_Music_Thesis_FINAL_VERSION.pdf
Anna Magee, Ph.D. (2014) The creative dance of love and consciousness: An integral, phenomenological inquiry into the experiences of belonging and not-belonging Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Anglia.
https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/52070/
Sarah Luczaj. Ph.D .(2015) Felt senses of self and no self in therapy
Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Anglia.
https://www.academia.edu/65242103/Felt_senses_of_self_and_no_self_in_therapy
Alan Tidmarsh, Ph.D. (2013) An exploration of focusing-oriented therapy for addictions. Doctoral Dissertation, University of East Anglia
https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/48047/
Greg Madison, PhD. (2005) 'Existential Migration': Voluntary Migrants' Experiences of Not Being-at-Home in the World. City University, London UK
https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/14787/1/Madison,%20Gregory%20%20Vol.%201.pdf
United States of America Doctoral Dissertations
Chia-Yun Chiang, Ph.D. (2020). Focusing-oriented art therapy and connectedness: Art as a means to spiritual care for Asian seniors. Doctoral dissertation, Notre Dame de Namur University
https://scholar.dominican.edu/art-therapy-electronic-theses-2015-2021/42/
William H. Sterner, Ph.D. (2018). The Science of Poetics and the Poetics of Science: Recovering Aristotle’s Empirical Science in the Context of Our Loss of Teleological Significances. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Chicago.
PDF
Leslie Anne Ellis, Ph.D. (2015). Stopping the Nightmare: An Analysis of Focusing Oriented Dream Imagery Therapy For Trauma Survivors with Repetitive Nightmares
Doctoral dissertation, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-99221-053
Rashmi Chidanand, Ph.D. (2014). A quantitative study exploring the effects of Focusing-Oriented Arts Therapy: Internet Protocol (FOAT-IP) on stress, anxiety, depression, and positive states of mind in South Asian women
Doctoral dissertation, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.
No Links Available
Sarah Nokes-Malach, Ph.D. (2012) A Phenomenological-Hermeneutic Study of Adept Practitioners’ Experiences of Focusing. Doctoral Dissertation. Duquesne University.
https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/985/
Charlotte Leona Frye, Ph.D. (2007). Educational implications of Gendlin's philosophy of experiencing
Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/80009
William R. Dinneen, Ph.D. (1997). Theoretical consistency between psychotherapy and psychotherapy research instruments: The Experiencing Scale and the Referential Activity Scale in experiential and psychodynamic psychotherapies
Doctoral dissertation, New School for Social Research
No Links Available
Letitia C. Hitz, Ph.D. (1994). Effects of changes in experiencing level of therapist responses on client experiencing
Doctoral dissertation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
No Links Available
Claudia A. Clark , Ph.D. (1990). A comprehensive process analysis of focusing events in experiential therapy Doctoral dissertation, The University of Toledo
No Links Available
Randall Gus Oberhoff , Ph.D. (1990). The role of attention in experiential focusing
Doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin
No Links Available
William Thomas Swaine, Ph.D. (1986). Counselor training in experiential focusing: effects on empathy, perceived facilitativeness, and self-actualization
Doctoral dissertation, St. John's University, New York
No Links Available
Susan Porter Gantt, Ph.D. (1984). A view of psychotherapy: an integration of experiential psychotherapy and existential-phenomenological philosophy
Doctoral dissertation, Georgia State University
No Links Available
Jerry Louis Jennings, Ph.D. (1984). Experiential psychotherapy: its theory, research, clinical practice, and historical development
Doctoral dissertation, University of New Hampshire
No Links Available
Jack L. Loynes, Ph.D. (1984). Effects of experiential focusing on anger experiences of separated or divorced men
Doctoral dissertation, Michigan State University
No Links Available
William Barbosa Gomes, Ph.D. (1983). Experiential psychotherapy and semiotic phenomenology: a methodological consideration of Eugene Gendlin's theory and application of focusing Doctoral dissertation, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
No Links Available
Thomas M. Marino, Ph.D. (1983). The effects of experiential focusing on group cohesiveness and the depth of group interaction
Doctoral dissertation, The University of Maine
No Links Available
Carol Adams Whatley, Ph.D. (1983). Focusing in the composing process: the development of a theory of rhetorical invention based on the work in psychotherapy of Eugene T. Gendlin Doctoral dissertation, Auburn University
No Links Available
Jacqueline Henderson, Ph.D. (1982). The effect of training with biofeedback and experiential focusing on increasing experiencing ability
Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California
No Links Available
Richard N. Bettinger, Ph.D. (1981). Experiential focusing and letting go to experience
Doctoral dissertation, Boston University School of Education
No Links Available
Kevin Corcoran, Ph.D. (1980). Experiential focusing and human resource development: a comparative study of pre-conceptual and conceptual approaches to the training of empathy Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh
No Links Available
John F. Beckman, Ph.D. (1979) An investigation into the effects of the existential-experiential training mode over time on the experiential focusing ability of counselor trainees.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Southern California.
No Links Available
James Robert Iberg, Ph.D. (1979). The effects of focusing on job interview behavior
Doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago
No Links Available
Jeanne Weiss King, Ph.D. (1979). Meditation and the enhancement of focusing ability
Doctoral dissertation, Northwestern University
Bruce Warner Shackleton, Ph.D. (1979). The interaction between ego development and experiential focusing in the process of creative thinking
Doctoral dissertation, Boston University School of Education
Jill M. Tarule, Ph.D. (1978). Patterns of development transition in adulthood: an examination of the relationship between ego development stage variation and Gendlin's experiencing levels Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University
No Links Available
Francis William Chiappa, Ph.D. (1977). Experiential focusing and the memory-monitoring process Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University
No Links Available
John Paul Gray, Ph.D. (1976). The influence of experiential focusing on state anxiety and problem-solving ability
Doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology
No Links Available
Richard Riemer, Ph.D. (1975/1976). Effects of brief reevaluation counseling on experiential focusing Doctoral dissertation, California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles
No Links Available
Linda Elaine Olsen, Ph.D. (1975). The use of visual imagery and experiential focusing in psychotherapy Doctoral dissertation, The University of Chicago
No Links Available
Rosanne Orenstein, Ph.D. (1973). Comparison of two methods of teaching focusing to hospitalized psychiatric patients
Doctoral dissertation, Syracuse University
No Links Available
Dennis Lee Wack, Ph.D. (1972). An exploratory study of experiential focusing
Doctoral dissertation, The Pennsylvania State University
No Links Available
Arthur M. Freedman, Ph.D. (1971). Focusing ability and depth of experiencing
Doctoral dissertation, The University of Chicago
No Links Available
Alice Brill Platt, Ph.D. (1971). The utilization of hypnosis to facilitate focusing ability
Doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago
No Links Available
BACK to The Eugene T. Gendlin Center For Research In Experiential Philosophy And Psychology