Wearing her favorite Sari from Calcutta, Indore, India, 1967; June, 2016
We honor the life and profound contributions of Elfie Hinterkopf, a foundational figure in our community who passed away on January 21, 2026, in Austin, Texas, at the age of 82. While I did not have the opportunity to know Elfie personally, the outpouring of memories from those who did reveal a woman of immense warmth, spiritual depth, and intellectual curiosity.
Elfie’s journey was a lifelong "search for meaning," taking her from studying with Viktor Frankl in Vienna to serving in the Peace Corps in India. Her commitment to Focusing began in Chicago in the 1970s, where she worked closely with Eugene Gendlin.
A Foundation of Service and Teaching
Elfie was instrumental in the early days of the Focusing community:
- An Early Voice for the Community: In the years before the Institute was formally founded, Elfie served as a vital point of first contact for the budding Focusing community. She wrote in a letter about the early history of Focusing: "The hardback copy of Focusing was published in 1978. I was listed in the back of the book as the Coordinator for Illinois. Basically The Focusing Institute was located on my answering machine!"
- Global Reach: Fluent in both English and German, Elfie taught Focusing to a diverse array of people—including clergy, counselors, and Buddhist nuns—across North America, Central America, Europe, and Asia.
- Focusing and Spirituality: Her seminal work, Integrating Spirituality in Counseling: A Manual for Using the Experiential Focusing Method, remains a vital resource for practitioners connecting Focusing with a deep sense of the sacred.
Reflections from the Community
Members shared several poignant memories of Elfie’s "gentle and light" presence:
"When I was struggling to 'clear a space'... she held out her palms and asked me if she could hold it for me. I felt her warmth, trusted her, and was able to put the whole thing on her hand." – Akira Ikemi
"She was one of the well-known teachers and a gentle companion. I remember a saying about her that she is so gentle that even a cockroach would not get scared." – Nada Lou
"I admired her greatly for her contributions to the work with Background Feeling... I am sure she is at peace, with that great spirituality she always conveyed." - Isabel Gascón
"Such a being of light... Your light still shines and is being passed on." - Suzanne Noël
"I believe that Elfie was a great soul who surely left a mark not only on those who had the privilege of knowing her, but also on the human collective consciousness." – Rosanna Camerlingo
“I am so taken by the life of Elfie Hinterkopf after reading her obituary, and now I want to read her book. It is so important to gather information from people who were instrumental in the first generation of Changes groups and Focusing.” - Sigridur Thorgeirsdottir
“Elfie was strong in my memory for teaming with Les Brunswick to offer listening training at Mankato State Hospital mental institution to patients! That was under the guidance of Garry Prouty. I remember Les telling stories of that training.” – Allan Rohlfs
"Focusing was the integrating center of her life... Elfie cherished her connection to Focusing and the many people she met, worked with, respected and loved." – Stephen Biles (husband)
Elfie’s legacy is woven into the very fabric of The International Focusing Institute. We will honor her memory during the Honoring Milestones ceremony on August 30, 2026. Her soul rests now, having left a legacy of light and deep, felt understanding.
Barbara Dickinson is a Certified Focusing Professional who applies Focusing to all her endeavors as a coach, consultant, speaker, strategist, and author. Find out more at https://linktr.ee/barbarajdickinson