Focusing facilitates a more intimate, friendly, and alive contact with oneself and others. Focusing as a practice nurtures a unique combination of two essential skills: living deeply in touch with our own sense of rightness and unique contributions to the world, while also learning to truly hear and take in the otherness of others. In this way, Focusing becomes a celebration of both diversity and togetherness.
When facing issues in which one feels unclear and stuck – perhaps caught in repetitive mental or emotional loops – in a tremendously gentle way, Focusing brings about a broader perspective from which unexpected and surprising insights emerge. However, it is often practiced without any specific theme, simply to curiously be with oneself (and another) and the ongoing unpredictable process that life is. Once the Focusing skill is learned, it becomes an internal source that is consulted many times every day.
“It [focusing] will enable you to find and change where your life is stuck, cramped, hemmed in, slowed down. And it will enable you to change—to live from a deeper place than just your thoughts and feelings.”
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“…the process of actually changing feels good. Effective working on one’s problems is not self-torture. The change process we have discovered is natural to the body, and it feels that way in the body. The experience of something emerging from there feels like a relief and a coming alive.”
Quotes by Eugene T. Gendlin, Ph.D.: Focusing
The actual Focusing process begins after the Focuser has told the Companion what they want from them, and how they would like to be listened to. After a moment to become fully present, the Focuser comes in contact with a felt sense of whatever he or she feels drawn to stay with. A felt sense includes physical sensations, images, thoughts, emotions, qualities and atmospheres, memories, and inner voices, that arise naturally and spontaneously as the Focuser silently ‘listens’ into the ‘body’.
From time to time, the Focuser expresses what comes to his or her attention, which is then reflected by the Companion. Both the Companion and the Focuser allow plenty of time, space, and silence. From an initially fuzzy sense of a situation, the felt sense slowly comes into focus. What is familiar arises quickly, and what is yet unknown is subtler and makes its way more slowly into the Focuser’s awareness.
When a shift happens, something like a deep breath, a relief, a sense of lightness, a hidden knowing or understanding becomes available, energetically and to the conscious mind.
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Join my Focusing courses. It enables you to have Focusing Partnerships from which you can benefit lifelong free of charge.
Advanced Focusing Level 3-5 Course: Jan, 12 to Aril, 13, 2026
You can join levels 3-5 if you have attended a basic Focusing skills course.
Beginner Focusing Level 1-5 Course: Fall 2026 to spring 2027 (begins probably in October)
My online courses are suitable for European & American time zones
No experience with Zoom? Instructions are at the bottom of this page.
German: For retreats and workshops in the German language, click the German language flag or click here.
Register paying in Euros
Register paying in US-$
You can book a session without first agreeing on a date & time. In that case, the meeting will be assigned a random future date. This is due to the technology of Ticket Tailor, the platform I use to create events. I accept payments by WISE, direct transfer/debit, credit card, and PayPal.
I offer professional training for those who want to become an internationally recognized Focusing Professional. This training is also for those who want to deepen their Focusing skills past the Level 1-5 course. You will learn how to work with people one-on-one and to teach Focusing to groups.
My next Professional Training will begin in the spring of 2026 Read about it here
Focusing can be done with a Focusing Professional, but also with friends, in groups, and alone. In the beginning, it is very helpful to be guided by someone with many years of experience with the process. To learn Focusing for oneself, books explain Focusing in detail, workshops are offered all over the world, locally as well as online, there are free Focusing groups (Changes Groups) in many major cities and online, and Focusing.org offers the possibility to find a regular Focusing Partner anywhere in the world.
Finally, it becomes second nature to attend to oneself, others, and all the varied daily happenings with the Focusing attitude.
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Within the framework of person-centered psychotherapy, Focusing has been developed since the 1960s by Eugene T. Gendlin, professor of philosophy and psychology at the University of Chicago.
Under the supervision of Carl Rogers, Gene Gendlin initiated an extensive research study to find out why therapy was life-changing for some people but not for others. He discovered that the missing piece for those who remained stuck was the lacking capacity to get in touch with their inner felt sense. As a consequence of his findings, he committed the rest of his life to developing Focusing, through which contacting the felt sense is learned or refined.
Focusing can be used as a sole ‘technique’ but is often crossed with other self-exploring practices.
An Essay: The Focusing Skills Course Level 1-2 2024/5
The Focusing Attitude in our every day living 2024
The Felt Sense – Your Guide For Authentic Change 2023
About Focusing (and meditation)- An interview revised in 2021
My experiences with “Thinking at the Edge” – A process developed by Gene Gendlin 2020 (see page 11)
You may also watch my German video with English subtitles on YouTube.
“My focusing experience with you was deeply meaningful, in large part due to your presence, patience, pace, kindness and teaching. Many thanks”
Diana, clinical social worker, January 2024
For more testimonials, click here
The total time frame of a Focusing session is typically one hour. In a 1-hour session, the actual Focusing process takes about 40 to 50 min. This leaves 10 to 20 minutes to arrive, possibly clarifying the content of your session, and for us to take time for any questions, curiosities, or insights you may want to share.
Using Zoom, the meeting is almost as if we were sitting in the same room. The session takes place seated, facing the camera and microphone, and proceeds just as it would if we were sharing the same space.
You need a Mac or PC, or a cell phone. You receive the Zoom link in your payment confirmation, just follow the prompts. When using a cell phone, you need to download the Zoom App before our meeting.
It is best to have a headset by your side, as the built-in microphone may not be strong enough to allow for a relaxed, quiet conversation.
Also, please ensure that you create a comfortable, undisturbed environment for yourself, so you are not interrupted in your inner listening. Optimally, plan some alone time after the session, as you may encounter vulnerable spaces that want your undivided attention.
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Ich lade Dich ein, einen Geschmack vom Focusing zu bekommen:
Diese Links findest Du hier:
https://move-with-life.org/de/focusing
Meine Schüler über Focusing:
https://move-with-life.org/de/testimonials
Die Welt des Focusing:
https://move-with-life.org/de/focusing-links/
Wenn Dir gefällt, was Du findest, kannst Du bei einer meiner Kurse mitmachen oder eine Einzelsitzung buchen.
Ich freue mich darauf, Dich live oder online zu treffen.
An invitation to explore inwardly in your own time
Find my articles and practices here:
https://move-with-life.org/focusing
Find my verbally guided practices here:
https://move-with-life.org/awareness-aliveness-vitality
What others say about Focusing:
https://move-with-life.org/testimonials/#focusing
If you like what you discover, consider exploring my online courses and one-on-one sessions.
I look forward to meeting you in person online.
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