This summer I had the pleasure of participating in the 27ª International Conference on Focusing of 2016 Cambridge (United Kingdom), organized by the British Focusing Association, and open to members of the International Focusing Institute (The International Focusing Institute) of all the world, an experience that has marked me for several reasons.

Overview of the International Conference on Focusing Photo Collection 2016. In general they include the most playful aspects, but they also reveal the moments of depth. And a magnificent photo appears that Blanca Ruiz has taken of me, from Spain, and that I have adopted for my profile (thanks, Blanca!).

To give some figures: we have been more than 250 participants of 30 countries at Robinson College, almost entirely dedicated to the Conference. Except in plenary meetings, where most of us were, during the workshop time we divided (each according to his choice) in more than fifteen simultaneous activities. And all orchestrated by a dedicated organizing team (of British Focusing Association,) what, before trying to solve my problems, first they listened to me, with typical focusing attention.

So the first experience has been to discover people and create community., in a very Focusing environment. I have met people who were participating for the first time in an international event like this, just like me. I have also put face, voice tone, relationship… to people I knew from references (their books, your articles, your web pages, your messages on the Focusing lists, the recommendations you had received…). Y, to my surprise, I have also been recognized by the Japanese psychotherapist Madoka Kawahara (Kawahara circle) who had read my article with great interest “Combining Focusing and Nonviolent Communication”, What a find! [And finally here it is translated into Japanese with the suggestive title Intersection of the focusing and the non-violent communication, thank you very much, Madoka!].

Anyway, what struck me the most was the kindness and fluidity of the treatment, both in group activities and in more individual interaction, at meals, in the breaks, in other activities. And the feeling of continuing to discover new and interesting people every time I began to have the feeling that “we had already seen everyone”. On a deeper level, now that a few weeks have passed, the first experience that I want to preserve is the sense of community within differences (And there were many differences, I assure!). Is to feel that we are working, doing research, suffering and enjoying to develop each our understanding of Focusing, and how to share it with other people.

The second experience, linked to the previous, has been experience creative connections with a lot of people. For our common interests. For understanding Focusing in a similar way or, Unlike, for understanding it in such different ways that they are complementary. For our areas of action. By simple connection personally. Now it's time to carry out the famous Aristotle quote, “the desire for friendship arises quickly, but friendship itself takes time”. I am already in contact with some people, I have others in my long list of pending contacts, but the intention to continue cultivating new ways for Focusing is there. It will be a bit like the relationships I already have in the Focusing community in Spain, but internationally.

The third experience has been an invitation to action. An invitation to action that arises both from within and without. Possible projects, collaborations to explore, new reading list, exercises to delve into, areas to discover… For the moment, things are lending to movement, and I'm flowing with them. I will talk about these and other things in other posts.

With the commitment to tell you more in future entries I leave you, with the recommendation that you visit the official website of the Conference while it is active, because it has many resources to explore (English).

Xavier

Upgrades (subsequent entries related to this):

Inside calls to action:

• My appointment to the Membership Committee of the International Institute of Focusing.
• And my appointment as a member for International Relations at the Spanish Institute of Focusing.

Other experiences:

• brush strokes (2) International Conference Focusing: the interest group Community Wellness Focusing.
• The Community Wellness Focusing Interest Group at the Focusing Conference in Cambridge (UK) 2016.

In line continue to celebrate the publication a year ago tales of Pepa Horno, my good friend and partner in Spiral Consulting Children (where we work on issues of affective education in childhood), This complements entry the previous one, referring to his book The language of trees. this story, The Wizard of thoughts, It has been published by the Editorial Phineus with illustrations Margarita now.

Pepa same account his intention for this book with the following words:

The Wizard of thoughts He speaks of fondling, and how caresses and massages serve to emotional self-regulation, for these children than adults say they still do not stop, who fail to sort their thoughts, or silence them or concentrate ... For these children have a "magic" trick to put some order within himself. In those thoughts that basically are but the fruit of his extraordinary sensitivity.

To this I add that it is a story that can be adapted perfectly to teach Focusing boys and girls for the following reasons:

• Presents a positive and welcome sight of thoughts, sensations, feelings, emotions and experiences in general with children (and we also have adults): what is within us it makes sense if you provide adequate listening.
• Children can do concrete things to pay attention to their internal experiences, so these calm down (and, although not explained in the story, Also to be deployed), and those who are around him can accompany.
• Internal experiences are accompanied by more effectively with any physical action. Pepa proposed in the story caresses the areas involved (head of the protagonist, in this case), but explained on the last page, “Words for the soul of adults”, there may be many other ways, whenever it involves the body.

So I heartily recommend this book as a way to present the Focusing in a manner adapted to children.

I hope you will like it as much as me,

Xavier

Mary Hendricks-Gendlin, photograph of The Focusing Institute.

Last 28 March 2015 Marion died (better known as “Mary”) N. Hendricks-Gendlin, an essential reference for the Focusing. I am among those who, without having known directly, We receive the inheritance of his work and his spirit.

Mary Hendricks-Gendlin fue, among other aspects of your life, psychologist, Focusing psychotherapist Orientation, founding member The Focusing Institute (Focusing Institute of New York) and director of it for many years. It has also been the partner of Gene Gendlin, who shaped the focusing process and continues to live, and the mother of Elissa, the daughter they had together.

For me the reference of Mary Hendricks-Gendlin comes mainly through Isabel Gascón, Focusing Spanish coordinator and my trainer Reference (after I certificate, I'm still learning it in every contact we have, personal or professional). Isabel Gascón, for its long history and its representation Focusing Institute Focusing Spanish for international issues (especially as vice president), He has had much contact with Mary, even in recent years, when Gene and Mary have left the address The Focusing Institute (Focusing Institute of New York). Precisely, a week before the death of Mary, in the National Conference Focusing 2015 Miraflores de la Sierra, Saturday 21, Isabel Gascón was commenting us several participants their experience of Mary and Gene, with love and tenderness, and from the admiration of all who have made both, supporting each other. I recommend reading the tribute of Isabel Gascón on their website.

Inheritance we receive not have known who directly takes many forms:

• A Focusing Institute solid, Mary and Gene have led to a transition to a new organization adjusted to the reality of international and multidisciplinary Focusing.
• Focusing international distribution, that she has been instrumental during his time as director. It seems essential to your article “Felt Sense Literacy” (also available in Spanish as “Literacy felt sense”), Focusing a moving vision as a force for social transformation.
• Support for the creation of such important aspects for Focusing and groups “Changes” (“changes”), Focusing groups sharing between practitioners.
• His current research in various areas of Focusing, Counseling and psychotherapy with Focusing and “Thinking At the Edge -TAE” (“Thinking From the Edge – PDB”).
• His concept “Revolutionary pause”, that is to give us time before acting, before to answer, to stop and see how our body lives every situation. In this way we can achieve greater authenticity of decisions. You can read his impressive article “Focusing as a Force for Peace: The Revolutionary Pause” (English only for now), wherein the first lines are poignant in its simplicity and depth, and where the rest of the text develops from different points of view the concept of “Revolutionary pause”.

From here goes my gratitude to Mary Hendricks-Gendlin and my tribute to his life and his work, who have also touched my life. And my love and care to Gene Gendlin and to all those who have loved Mary, and they have lost not only an essential professional, but also to a master, companion and dear friend, as revealed by the comments of the tribute page The Focusing Institute.

With respect and care,

Xavier

A successful British writer, Jasper White, decides at the age of forty not to write novels again. What will you do with your need to keep writing “something”? You still have the need to name, of using words to shape things that need to be expressed. So you decide to become “copyist”. He will make portraits of living people. And it won't make any description. How will you capture the essence of a person in words?

Thus begins the magnificent novel Mr White from the renowned Italian writer Alessandro Baricco (1958). Apart from its undeniable literary quality, to whom we are interested in him Focusing this novel gives us a novel vision of the symbolization of experience, nuclear for Focusing processes. Mr White, the main writer, is found on the front pages by chance at a portrait exhibition, and when reading the gallery's catalog, he is surprised to know how the painter of the paintings works. Mr Gwyn discovers something special:

Jasper Gwyn thought it must have taken a lot of time, a certain exile, as well as the dissolution of many resistances. He did not think of any technical tricks, nor did the painter's eventual mastery seem important., it only occurred to him that a patient action had set himself a goal, and in the end what he had managed to obtain was take back home to that man with a mustache. It seemed a very beautiful gesture. (Page 36)

And from there he embarks on an adventure in which he prepares a space taking care of all sensory aspects and creates an atmosphere where he can take portraits.. Capture the essence of a person in such a way that, como says Baricco, take the person home. It is inevitable to think about the Focusing process, and how through a welcoming and friendly presence it helps to symbolize the experience, so that the process is carried forward (a little closer to home, as Baricco would say). And regarding the process of symbolizing, offers a surprising opening (that I will not reveal here, because that belongs to the development of the novel itself).

For all this, essential for people interested in the Focusing process.

I am sure that at least it will help you to ask many new questions. And if you know other novels (or movies) that inspire us regarding Focusing, Nonviolent Communication or psychotherapy, Tell me about them and I will make your entries.

I wish you a pleasant reading,

Xavier

Bibliographic data: Baricco, Alessandro (2011): Mr White. Milan: Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore. Translation into Spanish by Xavier González Rovira (2012): Mr White. Barcelona: Anagram. Go to Anagrama publishing house, where you can read the first pages of the novel.

One of the basic recommendations for those who already know the Focusing and want to continue advancing in their practice is the Gendlin's Practical Manual of Focusing, published by the Editorial Desclée in 2007. Carlos Alemany, introducer of Focusing in Spain, coordinated the edition of the book as a collaboration of sixteen Spanish-speaking Focusing professionals in homage to Eugene Gendlin, Focusing creator, for its eightieth anniversary.

The book is a current tour of the practice and teaching of Focusing divided into three parts. The part “I. Articles: Bases for understanding Gendlin's model” proposes a historical vision of the process of creating Focusing, with a comparison with other humanist models, very interesting to understand the concepts in a more subtle and precise way.

The part “II. Hands-on workshops and applications” offers a wide assortment of examples of how Focusing is applied in different situations (with the positives, with dreams, with the duels, with stress, with music, with movement…), that help to broaden views on the broad scope and creative and innovative possibilities in the practice of Focusing.

By last, the part “III: Appendices” collects a comparison of basic Focusing guides, bibliography and reference centers worldwide.

I recommend this book for people who already know something about Focusing (for example, who have read Gendlin's book Focusing. Process and technique of Focusing or who have done Level II or Level III within the training recognized by the Spanish Institute of Focusing), since it allows to delve into concepts in a pleasant way and discover new uses in a suggestive way, that help them create their own applications. Independent chapter structure allows skip reading, according to interests and priorities, in a light and fluid way.

You can read the index and introduction at the book's website at Editorial Desclée (there is also a copy saved here).

I wish you an enriching reading,

Xavier

As well as The Focusing Institute (Focusing Institute of New York) has the ultimate responsibility for certifications at the international level, the Focusing Spanish Institute, also known as the Spanish Association of Focusing Carlos Alemany, coordinates and supervises training actions in Focusing in Spain and streamlines its dissemination.

website of the Spanish Institute of Focusing, recently modernized, has several important resources to learn about Focusing in general and its dissemination in Spain:

• Explaining what Focusing is is something complex, since it is an experiential process, that is only fully understood when one has lived. However, in section “Focusing is” some interesting definitions and guidance are given.
• To better understand Focusing, in section “Resources” book references are offered, videos and audio recordings, all materials in Spanish.
• For those who want to know how to train in Focusing in Spain, in the section of “Training” can be found from the complete training program endorsed by the Spanish Institute of Focusing (and recognized by the Focusing Institute of New York) to courses and workshops organized geographically and by subject, continuously updated.
• In “About us” the structure of the Spanish Institute of Focusing is collected, at the same time that you can search for those who are part of it (for those who are curious to find me, am in this page as a certified trainer).
• By last, the “News” offer information on events of national impact, mainly special trainings and news about publications and events.

I encourage you to browse and discover the different resources offered by the page.

I hope you find it as useful and practical as it is for me.

Xavier

A basic resource to know Focusing is the website of the New York Focusing Institute, The Focusing Institute. The Institute is the entity that coordinates at the international level the dissemination of Focusing and the international certification of Focusing professionals. With this intention, the website has abundant resources within the most relevant aspects.

It has a section in español, where several introductory texts about Focusing and some applications appear, including my article “Combining Focusing and Nonviolent Communication: Reflecting deeper implications for”.

the main page, what is in english, has different sections, including:

• How to learn Focusing (Learn Focusing).
• What is being done in the Focusing community (Felt Community), with a newsletter (Newsletter) that appears several times a year and The Folio. A Journal for Focusing and Experiential Therapy, the official academic journal.
• Focusing applications and combinations in different environments and for different audiences (Focusing and…).
• The online store (Focusing Store), where you can see buy from the main books, videos and audios, although most of the texts in Spanish are better found on the website of the Focusing Spanish Institute.

The Eugene Gendlin Online Library is especially interesting (Gendlin Online Library), where you can open access to the original version (in english or german) of hundreds of articles you have published the main author of Focusing, and where you can also read a lot about the more philosophical aspect of this tool, the Philosophy of the Implicit (The Philosophy of the Implicit).

I invite you to investigate and discover resources on this page, dedicating the time it deserves.

I hope you find it as enriching as it is for me.

Xavier

I am happy to share this article that The Focusing Institute has published in The Folio. A Journal for Focusing and Experiential Therapy, its academic journal, in its volume 25 of 2014. My paper “Crossing Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting for deeper implications“ appeared at the beginning of 2014 and it has just been published digitally with free access and PDF format in the official website of The Folio.

Download the article in English, “Crossing Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting for deeper implications”.

Download the Spanish version of the article, “Combining Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting deeper implications for”.

[Update February 9th 2017] Download the Japanese version of the article, “The intersection of the focusing and the non-violent communication - towards the deeper implications tell-back”, and read the story of its translation (in Spanish) by Madoka Kawahara (Kawahara circle) y Mako Hikasa (Mako Hikasa). thank you very much!

I leave here the abstract:

ABSTRACT

Both Focusing and Nonviolent Communication (NVC) are based on the idea that people get insights and their inner processes get carried forward when some of their words are reflected. Reflection enhances connection both with oneself and with the companion. And reflection brings deeper implications, as implied aspects come into existence and become conscious.

However, Focusing and Nonviolent Communication put the stress on reflecting different aspects of the original communication. Focusing follows felt senses in the body as a new way to create new meaning. Nonviolent Communication tries to find the universal needs that are at the core of every human action. Focusing and Nonviolent Communication have been crossed in different ways (a short revision of some crossings is explored in this paper). Focusing can be enriched by introducing a new awareness for needs, especially when Asking. And Nonviolent Communication can be enhanced by a new sensitiveness to the original expressions of the person –not just trying to “translate” everything, but also valuing habitual language as metaphors.

When both processes are combined and the companion/therapist reflects aspects of both levels of awareness, the person achieves relevant results as deep implications emerge.

Keywords: Focusing, Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Empathy, Reflect, Crossing.

For Spanish speakers, Go to this post in Spanish.

I hope that you will enjoy it and I will love reading your comments,

Xavier

With great joy I share this article that I published The Focusing Institute (International Focusing Institute based in New York) volume 25 corresponding to 2014 of The Folio. A Journal for Focusing and Experiential Therapy, official academic journal. Appeared in the paper version earlier 2014, my article “Crossing Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting for deeper implications“ It has just been published in English in free access in PDF on the official website The Folio.

Download the original article in English, “Crossing Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting for deeper implications”.

Download the Spanish version of Article “Combining Focusing and Nonviolent Communication. Reflecting deeper implications for”.

[update 9 February 2017] Download the Japanese version of the article “The intersection of the focusing and the non-violent communication - towards the deeper implications tell-back” and see the translation history.

And I also leave the initial summary:

SUMMARY

Focusing as both Nonviolent Communication (CNV) They are based on the idea that people get insights and our processes are carried forward when we reflect some of our words. The reflection power connection of the person with herself and who accompanies. And the reflection carries deeper implications while the implicit aspects open to their own existence and are recognized consciously.

However, Focusing and Nonviolent Communication They emphasize reflect different aspects of the original communication. Focusing follows heartfelt feelings in the body as a new way to create new meaning. Nonviolent Communication tries to find the needs universal human that underlie every human action. Focusing and Nonviolent Communication They have combined (crossed) in different ways (a brief review of some combinations are explored in this article). Focusing can be enriched by introducing a new awareness of the needs, especially in passing Ask. And the Nonviolent Communication You can promote a new sensitivity to the original terms of person-not just trying to "translate" all, but also valuing the common language as a set of metaphors.

When the two processes are combined and when the listener as a coach or therapist reflects aspects of both levels of consciousness, the person achieves relevant results to emerge profound implications.

Keywords: Focusing, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) / Nonviolent Communication (CNV), Empathy, Reflect, Crossing/Cross / Combine.

For English speakers, go to this post in English.

I hope you enjoy it and be happy to read your comments,

Xavier

Upgrade 26 September 2014:

I had the honor of the Castilian version of my article appearing in the page in Spanish Focusing Institute in New York (The Focusing Institute). Thank you! Thank you very much!

Upgrade 9 February 2017:

Very grateful for the Japanese translation of Madoka Kawahara (Kawahara circle) y Mako Hikasa (Mako Hikasa). thank you very much! Aquí está la translation history.

As i count in a blog post from Spiral Consulting for Children, of which I am a member, between new year's resolutions, from Spiral Consulting Children we have proposed to publicize prevention and intervention tools in affectivity, protection and interpersonal communication that we are already using with children, girls and adolescents and what we recommend to families and professionals. Sometimes we recommend tools that have very little published in Spanish, or whose reference texts are difficult to obtain. Then we will give clues that we hope are indicative.

It is not the case of Focusing, the process and technique of body focus, which has abundant bibliography in Spanish. Focusing is a technique developed by Eugene Gendlin, experiential philosopher and humanistic psychotherapist, to consciously develop the ability to relate to our emotions in another way. Consists (explained in a few words) in using the references of the bodily sensations to work the emotions and the whole inner world (beliefs, internalized messages, recurring thoughts…). I am aware that explained like this it does not say much, and it is that Focusing is, basically, experiential, and that is why it can only be understood by experiencing it. Yes, once tested, most people recognize it as natural, something that “has happened to them at some point”, and with the Focusing technique we learn to use it when we want, and so it does not depend on our being with a special focus or capacity.

As with other techniques that I know, I approached Focusing on 2009 thinking about the applications it could have in the intervention with children, and yet I was captivated by the capabilities that it helped me discover in myself as a person and as a professional. If you are curious about this line of work, I have prepared two new formations, “Focusing and emotional education in children, and adolescents” and “Focusing and violence prevention in children, and adolescents” (both with recognition for official Focusing training, since I am recognized as Formador Certificado (Certified Trainer) by The Focusing Institute and for him Focusing Spanish Institute).

So to whet your appetite I recommend the magnificent book by Marta Stapert and Erik Verliefde Focusing con niños. The art of communicating with children and adolescents at school and at home, published by the Editorial Desclée in the Amae collection, supervised by the Spanish edition of Isabel Gascón and Lucía Ema, Focusing trainers and good friends of mine. Written by Marta Stapert, a child psychotherapist and Focusing coordinator, y Erik In love, a teacher, the book is a great introduction to Focusing for adults, while offering hands-on exercises and activities for people with children, girls and teenagers around, not only professionals from the therapeutic and educational fields, but also for families. Parents who have read it have found it very useful and practical, although there are some exercises that obviously improve a lot in a therapeutic setting.

Hope you enjoy the (you can take a look at some of the content on the publisher's website).

Xavier