The Focusing Institute’s Diversity Statement was approved by the Board of Directors in February 2009, I think it is a brave and wonderful statement, as it grapples with the ‘tension’ that so many institutions deny between valuing diversity and being efficient rather than fudging a compromise in which life-honouring principles are sacrificed for homogeneity. In …
Antiracism and Intersectionality
We live in an intersectional world, where gender, sexuality and multicultural affiliations can leave us with the experience that we don’t have a larger group identity to belong and seek support in. Patriarchy is the larger context for Colonisation and Industrialisation which has disrupted our experience of belonging to ourselves, each other and the land. …
Antiracism for Therapists
For therapists, bodyworkers and people working in communities which recognise trauma Shirley Turcotte a First Nations Canadian Aboriginal Psychotherapist explains her work bringing Focusing and the ‘felt sense’ to her community. She uses a ‘land-based’ approach which in western terms, might be eco-psychotherapy. As a Focusing Teacher and Trainer, I think this approach is essential …
What is Antiracism?
What is ‘antiracism’? Antiracism is a collection of antiracist policies which leads to racial equality substantiated by antiracist ideology. Ibram X. Kendi – Source The following two talks provide excellent frameworks for clarifying just why whiteness and belonging to a western culture makes thinking about White supremacy, let alone talking about it just so difficult, …
Gottman Level 1 and 2 Couples training
I have recently completed Level 1 and 2 of the Gottman Method as they give a clear assessment, framework and interventions to help me with the couples I work with. The Gottman Method is based on decades of research which proves what behaviours are more likely to make a couple separate, live miserably together and which …
Focusing in New Zealand – Creating Community And Connection
Facilitated with my supervisor Heather Roger’s discussed the difficulty and our desire to see much more of a Focusing Community in Australia and New Zealand but because we are separated by huge distances we meet rarely. Also given that the Focusing Institute is based in New York it really is the worst time in the …
The first Weekend Introduction to Internal Family Systems in Auckland.
Internal Family Systems is the work of Richard Schwartz PhD and was taught to us in Auckland by Simon d’Orsogna It was exciting to join therapists so soon after my arrival in Auckland and celebrate being a Provisionally Registered Therapist here and Learn more about IFS. Internal Family Systems gives a structure for individual, couples …
Radical Ecopsychology and Focusing
After meeting Jan Winhall at the Focusing Weeklong I was surprised to open Andy Fisher’s ‘Radical Ecopsychology’ and find her thanked on the first few pages. And maybe I shouldn’t have been, I know her training centre is in a beautiful setting but more than this Focusing gives an opportunity to engage with ourselves and …
Focusing mentoring and study groups
While I have been travelling in South America I have been able to stay connected with the Focusing community by attending the Weeklong in Chile and the International Conference in Mexico. I have also been active in two very different focusing groups. One is as a mentor on Charlotte Howorth’s new two-year online training programme. …