Focusing & listening

with Peter Afford

the psychology of the bodily felt sense

Focusing...
is a reflective practice that brings the mind back to its natural centre in the felt experience of the body. It restores emotional equilibrium, renews the spirit, and enables you to find your way forward in your work and in the rest of your life. Focusing can be used to think in fresh and creative ways, make decisions that feel 'right', resolve negative feelings that thinking alone does not change - and much more. It was originally developed by Dr Eugene Gendlin who wrote the first book on the subject.

Focusing can be practiced with a friend or partner, on your own, and in professional settings such as consultancy, coaching, counselling and therapy.

Listening
The 'inner listening' to the bodily felt sense in Focusing is complemented by the practice of listening and responding to others in empathic and sensitive ways. You learn to support them in their own inner listening to their bodily knowing and intuition. The 'experiential listening' skills of Focusing are profound and enriching to practice.

Workshops
Introductory workshops are held every 4 months or so in London, the next one is on October 24/25th. The Focusing Skills series of weekends kicked off on April 25/26th, if you missed that weekend but want to join the next one in the series on June 27/28th, you will need to have done an intro weekend and at least one individual catch-up session. Two thematic workshops are happening this summer: one on creative thinking on May 23rd/24th, the other on decision making on July 18/19th. Details of all these weekends are on the Workshops page.

'Body Brain'...
is the title for a new page on this site about my interest in neurobiology and its usefulness in thinking about Focusing and therapy. I have put up three pieces I've written in recent years on the subject. Click on the link in the menu on the left.

About myself
I have been practicing and teaching Focusing for more than 20 years. Originally, the method taught me to trust my feelings and my ability to respond empathically to others. Now, I practice it for personal and professional nourishment, teach the skills of Focusing and listening, and lean on both all the time in my work as a counsellor and therapist.

More information...
can be found by clicking on the headings listed on the left of this page.

Peter Afford
020 8673 1860
peter@focusing.co.uk

© Peter Afford 2009