Our Mission
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Why Focusing?
Everyone has the potential to access and live from their unique bodily-felt knowing. Focusing, a process grounded in experiential listening, is a powerful way of interacting with this body-felt knowing that leads to mutual respect, authenticity and compassion. In this way, Focusing fosters peace and harmony in the world.
Who We Are
The International Focusing Institute is an international, cross-cultural organization dedicated to supporting individuals and groups world-wide who are practicing, teaching and developing Focusing and its underlying philosophy.
What We Do
The International Focusing Institute is committed to the promotion of Focusing and encourages a wide variety of Focusing-based applications and educational methodologies. It also serves as a catalyst for Focusing research, an information hub and custodian of Focusing-related literature, and provides physical and virtual meeting spaces for education, dialogue and interaction. In these and other ways, the International Focusing Institute is committed to sharing and advancing the work of its founder, Eugene Gendlin, and those who have built on his legacy.
GOALS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FOCUSING INSTITUTE
AS DEFINED IN THE 2017 STRATEGIC PLAN
(For the full plan, scroll down)
GOAL 1: Build an organization that has the capacity to keep Focusing alive and available to everyone
GOAL 2: Preserve the integrity of Focusing and foster its development
GOAL 3: Catalyze the development and expand the world-wide availability of programs and applications that are vital, responsive and contextually relevant
GOAL 4: Raise the visibility of The International Focusing Institute and effectively communicate the benefits of bodily felt-sensing as a way for people to carry life forward
About Us
The International Focusing Institute is an international, cross-cultural organization dedicated to supporting individuals and groups world-wide who are teaching, practicing and developing Focusing and its underlying philosophy.
Founder
Eugene Gendlin, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, University of Chicago, 1964 - 1995
Mary Hendricks-Gendlin
November 5, 1944 – March 28, 2015
> Board of Directors
> International Leadership Council
Staff
Catherine Torpey
Executive Director
[email protected]
Elizabeth Cantor
Administrator
[email protected]
Rita Kirsch
[email protected]
Diversity of Approaches Statement (Approved by Board in 2009)
Focusing is a practice that honors what arises freshly in the moment. Frozen structures of any kind are antithetical to the ethic of Focusing. Therefore, The International Focusing Institute takes as a core value the principle that the practice of Focusing, how it is taught by certified Focusing teachers, and its application in different fields will not be standardized. Diversity of approaches will be protected. Constructive critiques among Focusing Trainers or between the Institute and individuals presenting or applying Focusing are welcome and should be offered by means of open, respectful communication. The Institute itself will seek to honor the values of non-standardization in its operations while recognizing that tension can arise between maximum diversity and the need for effectiveness and efficiency in meeting its goals.
Annual Reports
The International Focusing Institute 2021 Annual Report
The international Focusing Institute 2020 Annual Report
The International Focusing Institute 2019 Annual Report
The Strategic Plan (published 2017):
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