Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams: Appreciating Gendlin’s Dreams Book

Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams: Appreciating Gendlin’s Dreams Book
with Dr. Leslie Ellis

7 Weekly meetings on Tuesdays
September 9 - October 28, 2025
(No class September 23)

11:00am - 12:30pm New York time
convert to your time zone here
 

• This offering is structured like a book club -- registrants will pre-read chapters of the book. Of course, you can still join if you haven't done the reading, though it is designed for a more full experience with pre-reading.

• Since this is the first time Leslie is leading a group in this format, she anticipates the group will finish the book together in 7 meetings. If not, she is willing to offer a continuation for those interested in going further.

• Book title: Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams - If you are ordering a paper copy, please allow plenty of time for delivery from the publisher. A Kindle version is also available (link to buy the book below).

• Recording Note: Recordings of the weekly meetings with Leslie will be available to all registrants as soon as possible after each session whether or not you attend live.
   
• All registrants will receive access to a Resource Page where the recordings and other information will be available. The Resource Page will be accessible through February 4, 2026.
   

We hope you can register by the 1st session but if you miss it, we have registration open until September 26 -- you'll just need to catch up on the recordings.

OVERVIEW

It’s been 40 years since Gendlin (1986) published his book on Focusing and dreams. His teaching continues to be relevant and inspirational as an embodied approach to understanding dreams. In this group reading of Gendlin’s ground-breaking dream book, we will study, experience and discuss his Focusing-Oriented approach to dreams. We will also look at how embodied dreamwork has evolved in the four decades since the book was published.

FORMAT

We will start each week by reading and discussing specific passages, summarizing the chapter(s) to be discussed in that session. Some of the chapters are very short, so we may cover several at once. Leslie will design an experiential practice for each session based on the reading, and there will be the option to share/debrief in small groups, or if preferred, to journal solo. Leslie will also do demonstrations with volunteer participants from the class.

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

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

MORE INFORMATION

• Let Your Body Interpret Your Dreams book
  If you don't already have a copy, it can be purchased at https://store.focusing.org/products/let-your-body-interpret-your-dreams or a Kindle version is also available on Amazon. 
   
• Suggested prerequisites:
  Some experience with Focusing and having read Gendlin's Focusing book (can be purchased here).
   
• What if I can't attend live because of my schedule or where I live?
  It's okay because the recording is posted shortly after each week's session. Many registrants cannot attend live because of the time zone they live in. The recordings remain available through February 4, 2026. 
   

Reading Schedule

Session 1: 16 Questions you can ask of a dream
Introduction/Chapters 1-2, Appendix B

Session 2: More on how to use the 16 Questions
Chapters 3-4, 11

Session 3: Dreamwork with others; Scary dreams
Chapters 5-6

Session 4: Something new from the dream
Chapters 7-8

Session 5: Bias Control
Chapters 9-10

Session 6: Continuing the growth process, and specific dream scenarios
Chapters 12-20 (These are all very short chapters.)

Session 7: Theory of the Living Body and Dreams
Appendix A

Option to continue
Over the course of our readings, we will not have time to cover all the nuances and dream topics introduced in this book. We will ‘bookmark’ any areas that warrant further discussion, and then, as a group, we can decide if we would like to meet for a second round of readings.
 

About Dr. Leslie Ellis
Your guide on this journey is one of the world’s foremost experts in Focusing-Oriented dreamwork, and its clinical applications, particularly for treating nightmares. Dr. Ellis has written numerous book chapters and academic articles based on this method. With her guidance, you will learn to apply Focusing to dreams in constructive and creative ways that both honor and advance Gendlin’s approach to the dream. Ellis is author of A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy: Demystifying Dreamwork (2025) and has largely based her embodied experiential dreamwork method on Gendlin’s book and other teachings about dreams. 

Registration Policies

Pricing: Regular price $295  Modified price $195  Lowest price $120

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! 

Note: If the lowest price is not affordable, please email [email protected] to check on scholarship funds.

DEI Scholarship. There are DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Scholarship funds available for anyone in a group under-represented in TIFI's programs, including people aged 30 or younger, those in the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community and others.  For more about our DEI scholarship, please see focusing.org/board. To apply, email [email protected]. Please write DEI scholarship in the subject line.

Refunds A full refund minus a $25 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 (TIFI) reserves the right to alter the program, 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.

The opinions offered by presenters and participants are their own and do not necessarily represent the opinions of TIFI. 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. We ask that participants not take screen shots to share on social media. TIFI may opt to take an official screenshot where participants will be given the option to be included or not.

For more information:

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

(January 2026) THIS IS A PAST EVENT -  REGISTER FOR THE RECORDINGS BELOW - after registering you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the Resource Page which includes the recordings (available through August 21, 2026)