A few weeks ago I returned from the IV International Conference Focusing Oriented Therapy (The 2017 International Focusing-Oriented Therapy Conference) which it took place in Garrison, New York (U.S) of 21 to the 25 de junio de 2017.

It has been a very enriching experience, full of shared learning spaces and meetings professionally and personally, included a tribute to Gene Gendlin.

For me it was an opportunity to learn more about various approaches to psychotherapy Focusing Oriented applied to my personal practice and professional:

• I really enjoyed the workshop prior to the conference given by Laury Rappaport “Integrate artistic expression from an orientation Focusing your clinical practice” (“Integrating Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) into Your Clinical Practice”).

• I learned a lot from the study group led by Nancy morning Falls “'I am not my trauma!’ – Focusing Orientation therapy for children, girls and young people who have experienced trauma” (“‘I’m Not My Trauma!’ — FOT for Children and Youth Who Have Experienced Trauma”).

And then all have been shorter workshops (two or three every afternoon), spaces that have been exploring new prospects for the therapeutic use of Focusing in a shorter format, and all conversations and meetings at meals, breaks and closure activities each day.

Back with many ideas to further explore the use of Focusing in psychotherapy and various lines of work to investigate in my practice. We will comment later.

And I also bring the feeling of a community alive and growing Focusing, looking for new processes and new developments to continue “carrying life forward”.

Group photo of participants at the Conference FOT (credit: The International Focusing Institute).

I hope to continue to share everything I learned.

F. Javier Romeo Biedma