The Therapeutic US: FACILITATING FOCUSING GROUPS, COMMUNITIES AND CONVERSATIONS

We all know the deep satisfaction that comes with the sense of belonging and connectedness in a group or community. There is an eagerness to share more of ourselves when people are genuinely interested and responsive. This kind of group evokes “the more of us.” We come alive. We all know, as well, the painful or deadening experience of feeling like we don’t belong.  We can see ourselves as boring, or even obnoxious when we are not well received by the group. How do empowering group interactions come about? How can Focusing ideas and practices enable us to co-create such groups?

In this module of “The Therapeutic Us” we will look at the ingredients of an enlivening group experience. We will explore a model of leadership that crosses the vitality of Carl Rogers’ Encounter Groups with the groundedness of Gendlin’s Embodied Listening. This model encourages us to look at the group as a living “us-ness” with its own needs, hopes and dreads—its own life force.

This module will be helpful for those who are interested in facilitating groups of all kinds. We will discuss the skills and ideas in developing group leadership.