A deep sense of honor and a clear feeling of humility and shyness arise in me as I share this interview. I can clearly feel the responsibility of talking about the work I do on “Focusing and how to work experientially with issues of violence” (“Focusing and how to work experientially with violence”), as the English title of the conversation says. It is an important topic for me (I work a lot on it through Spiral Consulting Children, the consultancy specialized in Child Protection of which I am a founding partner), and trying to convey all the nuances is always a challenge.

International Focusing Institute (The International Focusing Institute, the organization that coordinates at an international level the activities related to training and dissemination of Focusing) promotes “Conversations” (English) with Focusing professionals from around the world. Serge Prengel, a Focusing Trainer and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapist whom I met at the International Focusing Conference 2016 Cambridge (United Kingdom), acts as host, and he does it in a very Focusing way - with an empathic reflex, with pauses, allowing new ideas to emerge and unfold at their own pace–.

In this “Conversation” you will find that we discuss topics such as the following:

• Violence as a stopped process (“Something would have to have happened to move the situation forward, but it didn't happen, so that the process is blocked”).
• Damage defines violence, and the damage is experienced from the body.
• Find a “handle” (“handle”) for violence (identify her) is the first step to get out of it: For this, it is necessary to become aware of the cultural patterns that make us normalize violence.
• The role of power in violence.
• Affection coupled with care as a way to avoid violence –and the bodily dimension that can be achieved through Focusing–.
• Detection and intervention in cases of violence in Child Protection.
• A message of hope regarding the possibilities of healing and transforming violence, and Focusing as a magnificent tool to do it.

And if you want to experience how to transform the experience of violence from the body through Focusing, I am available for specific sessions the for psychotherapy in Madrid.

I hope you can find some ideas that inspire your own experiential work on violence, and I would love to hear your reactions to it.

F. Javier Romeo-Biedma

Read this post in English

A deep sense of honour and a distinct feeling of humility and shyness come to me when I share this interview. I can feel clearly the responsibility of talking about the work I do about “Focusing and how to work experientially with violence”, as the title of the conversation says. It is an important subject for me (I work a lot about it through Spiral Consulting Children, the international consulting firm specializing in Child Protection I co-founded), and trying to convey all its nuances is always a challenge.

The International Focusing Institute (the organization that coordinates internationally Focusing activities related to training and diffusion) fosters bimonthly “Conversations” with Focusing professionals all over the world. Serge Prengel, a Focusing Trainer and Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapist that I met at the International Focusing Conference 2016 in Cambridge (UK), acts as the host, and he does so in a very Focusing way –reflecting, with pauses, letting new ideas appear and develop in their own time.

In this “Conversation” you will find discussed issues like the following ones:

• Violence as a stopped process (“Something should have happened to carry forward a situation, and it did not occur, so the process gets stuck”).
• Harm defines violence, and harm is lived from the body.
• Finding a handle for violence (identifying it) is the first step out of it: becoming aware of our cultural patterns that normalize violence.
• The role of power in violence.
• Affection linked to care as a way to avoid violence –and the bodily dimension that can be reached through Focusing.
• Violence detection and intervention in Child Protection.
• A message of hope about healing and transforming violence, and Focusing as a wonderful tool to do it.

I hope that you will find an idea or two that might inspire your own experiential work about violence, and I will love to hear from you about it.

F. Javier Romeo-Biedma

Read this entry in Spanish (although the interview itself is in English).

Continuing in the line of the previous entry, and closely related to her, is my appointment as a member of International Relations within the Board of Directors of the Spanish Institute of Focusing, one more element of the calls to action that have emerged from my participation in the International Conference on Focusing in Cambridge (United Kingdom) last july 2016.

As commented in that entrance, in the Focusing Spanish Institute we understand that, as well as the action of teaching and accompaniment with Focusing is mostly individual, each with his style and sensitivity, and always within the publicly agreed criteria and competencies, However, all organizational and participation action must come from collegiate structures.

Therefore, when they invited me to participate in the International Focusing Institute Membership Committee based in New York (The International Focusing Institute), I put this position at the disposal of the Spanish Institute of Focusing, to be occupied by anyone as representation from Spain. What would be my surprise when I was invited to assume a vowel linked to International Relations within the Board of Directors and to accept that same international position. I accepted the proposal, the appropriate steps contemplated in the statutes have been taken and I have recently been appointed a member.

I am very excited to be able to contribute to the Focusing community in Spain, from which I have received so much. Since the beginning of my training in 2009, the National Days, Summer School, the supervisions, the Diploma and titles of Certified Trainer and Certified Focusing Guided Psychotherapist and all contacts and growth contexts, I have definitely been set up as a Focusing professional (and as a person).

And in this series of invitations to action (as it says Isabel Gascón, my referral coordinator, the “seventh step” de Focusing: “And what does all this invite you to?”), It seems to me that it is time to also contribute from this position, as long as my work is useful and constructive. It is a challenge to work with and at the service of so many people I know, with riches inside that place me in a situation of humility and learning.

So also from this new position I am at your service, hoping to contribute to the international knowledge of the richness of the Focusing that we do around here, and also to contribute ideas and suggestions from other places that come from this condition of international relations.

F. Javier Romeo

As I already commented in another entry, have participated in the Focusing International Conference in Cambridge (United Kingdom) last july 2016 has meant many new openings, new ways, new ways to incorporate Focusing into my life and to share it. Consciousness, and also calls to action.

It has been very surprising for me to have been invited to be part of the Membership Committee (Membership Committee) of International Focusing Institute based in New York (The International Focusing Institute). This committee is a merely advisory body (does not make decisions) and basically made up of volunteers, that advises the governing bodies on all matters that have to do with being a member of the Institute: how to favor membership, how to make its value visible, how to facilitate participation between members. Their task is to look at the members and discover emerging needs and spaces for collaboration.. It is a very international committee, with videoconference meetings and specific work teams. It is such a new group that it still does not have its own section in the Institute website. And me, that I have enjoyed the benefits of membership since 2010, first as a Trainer in Training, and later as a Certified Trainer (2012) and as a Certified Focusing Guidance Psychotherapist (2014), I receive as an honor to be able to contribute to other people and to the structure of the Institute.

For me it is essential to follow the line of work of the Focusing Spanish Institute, in which we work in training, accompaniment or other fields of Focusing on an individual level, but in which relations with other groups and entities are decided collectively. Thus, I sent the invitation to the Board of Directors of the Instituto Español de Focusing and recently I have also been appointed vowel for International Relations, to be able to assume the position in the Membership Committee.

So that, I have already started reading the materials (a lot has been generated in just over a year of existence) and I have participated in a meeting. I hope to continue contributing to the world of Focusing in this way. And if you have recommendations or suggestions regarding membership of the International Institute of Focusing, I will be happy to hear them.

At your service in a new way,

F. Javier Romeo

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 said in the “Welcome to the blog”, The idea is that this blog is intended to serve as a repository of resources, so are all kinds of materials and suggestions for creating a More Authentic Connection with others and with our inner world. As will be plenty of variety, I want to explain here the different labels that I use to categorize the entries.

• CNV: all entries that relate to the Nonviolent Communication, either explicitly that I seem to have that “NVC consciousness”.
• Texts CNV: entries relating to books, specific articles and documents Nonviolent Communication.
• Focusing: all entries that are pertinent to the Focusing or something very similar.
• Focusing en Madrid: they will gather in Madrid formations on Focusing Area (for example, Miraflores de la Sierra, an hour from Madrid).
• Textos Focusing: entries relating to books, specific articles and documents Focusing.
• CI Spirals: no tickets that are closely related to my work in Spiral Consulting Children in matters of affection, protection and interpersonal communication, and I also mention in this blog.
• Other Texts: no books, articles and documents, without being explicitly in any of the proposed disciplines, general have an affinity and a value that leads me to mention them in this blog.
• Webs: web pages, blog and online resources.
• Videos: general videos, combined with other tags that require their content.
• Movies: documentaries and films, both based on fact and fiction, seem relevant to me I want to develop sensitivity to this blog.
• Narrative: novels (and stories and children's literature) that allow us to cultivate a taste of empathy with the Nonviolent Communication and the Focusing.
• Experiences: Sometimes life brings surprises, experiences that make us rethink our priorities and confirm our intuitions, and these events will gather under this heading.
• For boys and girls: resources that can be used directly or indirectly with children.
• For Teens: resources that can be used directly or indirectly with teens.
• Agenda actual and Agenda filed: impart training to most closed groups and organized, but on the rare occasions when I open formations specific to the general public or hang them with these tags, “Agenda actual” until it is completed and “Agenda filed” when it has passed the date of the event, but for the record and can see the parameters of the training provided.

As you can see, many categories are intertwined. The interesting thing is that everyone can find something to investigate and find it useful and interesting. And some other things will be added.

To build on!