Focusing Australia

Jo Kennedy is a registered trainer with the Focusing Institute in New York. Jo trained with internationally renowned Focusing teacher Ann Weiser Cornell in Inner Relationship Focusing.

Focusing is a naturally occurring process in all of us. As children, we access it easily, but as we get older our relationship with this subtle, quiet internal process is easily lost, forgotten or pushed aside by other concerns.

Staying in touch with our Felt Sense, or focusing place facilitates a sense of joy and freedom.  If we can retain this inner contact with our natural flow  our lives move forward with ease.

Focusing is a practice that teaches us to be Present to our Aliveness.  And so when a child next says to us, “Look, it’s a butterfly!”  We find it a pleasure to slow down and be in that moment with the child, and the butterfly. 

Yes but what is Focusing really?
Most of us remember moments when we have had a sudden flash of insight, an unexpected sense of ‘Knowing’. An Awareness arriving, ‘out of the blue’ that somehow crystallizes something freshly for us. It may have come as a sudden awareness of our connectedness with nature.
These flashes of insight most often arrive unannounced and bring with them a deepening of our understanding. Sometimes what comes cannot be said in words.
We often remember these moments for the whole of our lives for they can hold a special significance that is just our own. 

So…Focusing is being with that deep place inside that contains all of this, our rich intricacy, the more; that which is beneath our emotions and conceptual models. Focusing is the method of accessing the place from where this deep kind of insight and knowing forms.

This way of knowing ourselves was first described and named by philosopher Eugene Gendlin. He called it ‘the felt sense’. Over time, he developed a simple process to access this place.

“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”
                              Eugene Gendlin

It sounds kind of complicated?
It does sound complicated but in fact it is such a simple process words cannot really describe it. It is kind of like trying to describe water - you don’t really get it until you taste it.

To access this place we learn a simple step-by-step process.  It is a gentle process of slowing down… of pausing, of listening to what is beneath the level of our usual thinking and emotions. We go to a wider place, to the meaning that is being carried in the body.

I will gently guide you through your session until you learn to recognize this place and can then take these steps on your own.

But why?
There is a lot of discussion in the world about the psychological and physical benefits of living in the moment or in the Now: being present. However, for anyone who has explored this, it is not easy. Focusing actually shows us how to be there moment-by-moment, step-by-step. Focusing shows us how to be fully present in our own lives.

Where did you say it comes from?
Philosopher/psychologist Eugene Gendlin first described ‘The Felt Sense’ in the 1970’s. His research at the University of Chicago with Carl Rogers (Client-Centered Therapy originator) produced a body of work extraordinary in its depth and ongoing resonance. Longitudinal studies undertaken at the time showed that it was this ability to focus or be with oneself in this focusing way that facilitated real change in any therapeutic process.

Focusing is taught and practiced extensively around the world; however, it is relatively unknown in Australia at this time.  This is why I have come to the Abbotsford convent Wellbeing centre to teach it.  It is taught in one on one sessions and in group classes.

It is currently being used:
In hospitals
In schools
In kindergartens
In corporations
By therapists with clients and in supervision
By Artists and Writers
By people exploring ideas
By stockbrokers
By Cancer patients
By Carers
By parents

And in many places around the world, including Afghanistan, where it is bringing relief to many thousands of people suffering the trauma of living their lives in a war zone.

How could I use Focusing?

•    If you want to know how you really feel

•    If you have ongoing aches and pains that don’t go away

•    If you are going through a major life transition and can feel something blocking your forward movement

•    If you are struggling to make a decision

•    If you find yourself reacting to situations in ways you don’t understand

•    If you are working with a health issue

•    If you are an inner explorer 

•    If you need to listen to what your body is telling you

•    If you are unclear about how you feel and what you want

•    If you want to be a better parent, lover or friend

•    If you want to reconnect to your creativity

•    If you want to deepen your spiritual connection or meditation practice

What does a Focusing session involve?
Focusing can be practiced sitting, standing or lying down. You are taken through a slowing down process where you become aware of your body and how it is, moment by moment.  This slowing down makes space for a felt sense to form allowing you to engage in the Focusing process. 

Focusing is available in one on one sessions - in person or over the phone, and can also be learnt in a series of classes

Sessions are an hour long.
Focusing one on one session: $75
Discount for a series of three sessions: $200
Focusing session over the phone: $70
Course run for five weeks: with weekly two and a half hour classes. Cost (includes manual): $300
Please note: It is a prerequisite of the course that you have had at least one session with any Focusing trainer. We do believe however that you will get the most out of the course if you have had three or more one on one Focusing sessions.

Upcoming 2011 Inner Relationship Focusing courses

LEVEL 2: March Thursday  10, 17, 24, 31, April 7

LEVEL 1: April Thursday  28, May 5, 12, 19, 26

LEVEL 4: July Thursday 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18

LEVEL 1: August Thursday 25 September 1, 8 ,15, 22

LEVEL 3: October Thursday 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10

LEVEL1: November Thursday 17, 24, December 1 ,8, 15

Phone Classes

All phone classes are run on Tuesday evenings
LEVEL 1: February 1, 8, 15, 22, March 1

LEVEL 2: May 31, 7 14, 21, 28

LEVEL 4: July 19, 26, August 3, 9, 16

LEVEL 3: October 11, 18, 25, November 1, 8

LEVEL 1: November 15, 22, 29, December 6,13

$300.00 per 5 week course
Includes Ann Weiser Cornell/Barbara MGavin¹s Focusing manual and instructional cards

At least one in person class with a focusing teacher is a prerequisite of these classes but we recommend 3.

Level one classes can also be arranged at other times for groups of 6 or more.

Please call Jo on 0418 141 870 if you would like to organize a class with a group of friends or colleagues.

If you would like to hear about our upcoming courses please send an email to Focusingaustralia@gmail.com and we will put you on our mailing list.

Once you learn Focusing, you can practice on your own or with someone else who has learnt how to do it.  Focusing is a friend for life!