FOAT® Tools I (Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts)

Dates and Times

For USA, Monday meetings on February 22, March 1, 8, and 15.

For Asia, Tuesday meetings on February 23, March 2, 9, and 16.

Meetings will be 3:00 - 5:00 PM PST - click here for your time zone (2/22, 3/1, 3/8). Please note that daylight savings begins March 14, 2021 - click here for 3/15 time.

Recordings will be available if you are unable to attend the live workshop!

FOAT® Faculty

This course includes 4 sessions hosted by facilitators that are Certified Focusing Trainers: Specialization in FOAT®:

• Laury Rappaport, Ph.D., LMFT, REAT, ATR-BC *

• Doreen Meister, MA, LMFT

• Grace Brillantes-Evangelista, Ph.D., RPsy, CSCLP

• Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC

• Marise Lariviere, MA, LMFT, ATR

* Note: Laury will attend and co-facilitate the first session. The remaining sessions will be co-facilitated by the FOAT® faculty - Doreen, Grace, Lynn, and Marise.

Detailed Session Information

February 22: The Focusing Attitude: Being “Friendly” to Your Inner Experience

Facilitators: Laury Rappaport, Ph.D., MFT, REAT, ATR-BC and Doreen Meister, MA, LMFT

The “Focusing Attitude” teaches us to bring a curious and “friendly” attitude toward our inner experience and creative expression - and helps to transform our inner critic. We will practice the Focusing Attitude - and then find a new “attitude” that we would like to bring into our lives (such as kindness, gentleness, compassion, etc.).  

March 1: Peaceful Place

Facilitators: Marise Lariviere, MA, LMFT, ATR and FOAT® faculty

Taking the time to focus on a peaceful place (a place you know or make up in your imagination) helps the body to relax and restore - which is helpful during times of stress. Focusing and the arts are integrated into the experience. 

March 8: Clearing a Space with the Arts

Facilitators: Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC and FOAT® faculty

Clearing a Space with the Arts is an exercise that teaches how to identify stressors and to imagine setting them at a distance, outside of your body. It is based on Eugene Gendlin’s Clearing a Space exercise which has been researched showing its benefits for stress reduction. The exercise also helps us to access an inherent place of wellbeing that is always there. The arts are used to concretize and carry forward the benefits from the experience.

March 15: Source of Strength

Facilitators:  Grace Brillantes-Evangelista, Ph.D., RPsy, CSCLP and FOAT® faculty

This FOAT® exercise helps to become aware of something in your life that is, or has been, a source of strength or support. We will take time to Focus on the source of strength, get a felt sense and symbol (a word, phrase, image, gesture or sound) and express it through writing, art, movement or sound. This Source of Strength can continue to nourish you in an ongoing way.