Online life has helped us create new virtual communities.

More than a year ago I received the invitation to be part of a reflection group on children in the protection system in Spain, coordinated by Alberto Rodriguez and Javier Múgica and in which we participate Antonio Ferrandis, mi partner of CI Spirals Pepa Horno, Marta Llauradó and my almost double namesake F. Javier Romeu Soriano. After these months of online meetings and multiple emails and drafts, last week we jointly published the founding document, Renewing from within. Seven challenges and proposals to improve the child protection system in Spain. The text speaks for itself, and can be downloaded from web page of “Renewing from within”.

Here I want to talk about something a little different: of the process itself. And I'll sum it up in three words: community, growth and awareness.

Community is what we have been creating. It has a part of chance, having met for child protection issues in different spaces. But it also has a part of intention. Make room for online meetings. Write each one their part of the document and revise the texts of the rest. share views, concerns and possible responses. Little by little we have been deepening our relationships, developing a common language that incorporates our different personalities and sensitivities. And we believe that part of the improvements in the protection system go precisely through creating community in many other spaces, with the kids, girls and adolescents and their families, within professional teams and intervention networks.

Further, we have advanced with a perspective of growth. Each person in our group has been collaborating and accompanying processes of the protection system for many years. That's why we can talk about the shortcomings, of the weak points that harm children, girls and adolescents and the families whom it is intended to protect. But we also remember the progress, the changes, sometimes very small, that make some aspects improve. That is why the document wants to collect both the challenges that we see in Spain and some proposals that we know, by personal or professional experience, that have worked before. And this process also makes us who reflect in a group grow.

Why, in the end, It is about developing the consciousness. when we have a “conscious gaze”, as my good friend says and partner at CI Spirals Pepa Horno, we see reality in a deeper way. We identify what happens in children, girls and adolescents and their families, but also in the professional teams and in the systems that would have to provide them with protection and support. And we also recognize what happens inside us, to channel intuitions and sensations towards concrete proposals that improve the lives of many people. We can't do this alone, we need a safe environment, community, help us move forward, to ask ourselves new questions and discover new answers.

From here I send my thanks to this magnificent team, and to life for making it possible.

And I invite you to read the document and pay attention to the following steps (we will be publishing monthly blog entries to continue delving into the different proposals). I see you on the website “Renewing from within”.

in celebration,

F. Javier Romeo

Eugene Gendlin, official image of the International Focusing Institute.

Eugene (“Gene”) Gendlin has died yesterday 1 May 2017 ninety years old, and me, as the entire community of Focusing, I am moved by his death, and while grateful for all your contributions.

Eugene Gendlin was born 25 December 1926 in Vienna, Austria, and he escaped from Nazi persecution achieving reach US 1939. born American, He ended up graduating in philosophy and earned his doctorate after working for more than a decade in collaboration with Carl Rogers at the University of Chicago. The result of his dual training as a philosopher and as a psychotherapist, their contribution is extensive.

Gendlin always insisted that there had “created” the Focusing, a process of self-awareness and emotional and psychological healing through bodily sensations, but only “he had discovered a few steps to make the process more accessible”. It is now a tool used in psychotherapy and in many other areas. And all his discoveries are accompanied by a strong intellectual scaffolding, Philosophy of the Implicit.

In 1985 created what is now the International Focusing Institute (The International Focusing Institute) to give continuity to all these lines of work, which brings together more than 2000 professionals and supporters around the world, and where he has bequeathed his entire library that can be accessed online (the Gendlin Online Library).

Despite his advanced age, health problems and the death of his wife Mary Hendricks-Gendlin two years ago, Gendlin had remained active within its capabilities, writing articles and participating in training by phone.

In my case, Aside from having read his books and articles, I have had the pleasure and honor to participate in several “Conversations from the edge with Gene [Gendlin] In y [Weiser Cornell]”, the latter organized (watch my ideas September Conversation–October of 2016). For me it was a privilege to talk to him directly, with its warmth and brilliance despite their pain and difficulties, perceiving their interest in each person and the world, and very interested in knowing how his legacy continued. And I was impressed by his presence when he accompanied me on a process of focusing on one of the last conversations.

International Focusing Institute has enabled a special page that honor the memory of Gene Gendlin (www.EugeneGendlin.com), and from here I invite you to participate, Read other people's comments or add your own experiences. I certainly feel a lot of sadness at this loss, while I celebrate having met Gene Gendlin's work over the years and have been able to talk to him live on several occasions. I feel part of his legacy, and I hope to convey with warmth, inspired by him.

In celebration and mourning,

F. Javier Romeo

Upgrade 14 August 2017: I wrote an entry about three tributes to Gene Gendlin in which I participated, which completes the shared dimension at Community level.

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

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.

Most disputes can be resolved in a satisfactory and beneficial way for all parties, provided that the necessary resources and time are dedicated. That's my personal and professional experience years learning, practicing and transmitting Nonviolent Communication. It's as basic (not easy) as the necessary conditions for that resolution occurs. For me there are several must-haves, which can be summarized as follows:

• An appropriate methodology, to allow all parties involved feel safe and respected in their rights.
• Professionals with experiential training in mediation and deep listening skills and “translation” messages to make them easier to listen to each person.
• A supportive community restorative processes, devoting time, spaces, human Resources, training…
• People willing to resolve conflicts in a way that ultimately all parties feel heard and that all parties leave satisfied with the solution.

So for me it is a joy to share the resources developed by a large community of people in the neighborhood are Gotleu in Palma de Mallorca (Mallorca), They are collecting and how they have worked each of those elements.

In this video you can see how they have been involved, with the revitalization of Institute for Coexistence and School Success (the Institute for Coexistence and School Success in Castilian) Government of the Balearic Islands, from the faculty of schools of Primary Education, Elementary and Secondary, students of all ages, the families, and Social Services, police, University and other significant social groups. A mosaic of voices, We make us an idea of ​​the experiences of the creation of that network security in a socially vulnerable environment, and we see some results.

For a more systematic view, is the publication containing the fundamentals. Published in Catalan, Castilian and English as part of a European project this subject, the Guide to improve coexistence with Restorative Practices / Guide Mejoramos coexistence with the practices restorative develops the theoretical aspects of Restorative Practices, more accurate data and provides concrete examples and suggestions for further reading for more information.

And to deepen the Restorative Circles, a practice of conflict resolution originated in the social dimension Nonviolent Communication, you can read the interesting monograph Justice and Restorative Practices. Restorative Circles and their application in various fields, written by Vicenç Rul·lan, a trainer who I have the pleasure of meeting, on the video and in the Guide, and he is a member of the Association of Restorative Justice Practices and Islands (to page Castilian and in Catalan, with several resources more). A good introduction, to further deepen this particular model. And you can also watch videos (English) on the official website of the creator of the Restorative Circles, Dominic Barter, RestorativeCircles.org.

Who have done some training of interpersonal communication with me you have seen that ground mention this issue of Restorative Practices. I hope these resources illustrate a little better what you have heard me and I hope to awaken your creativity and your imagination to continue discovering more effective and deeper ways to resolve conflicts in the educational environment, and in any other area.

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

Taking advantage of spring begins today, More Authentic Connection has already Twitter, ConexMasAutent, where they appear different entries published, as well as recommendations and other matters of interest Focusing, interpersonal communication based on Nonviolent Communication, personal development in general and psychotherapy.

I hope that is helpful.

Xavier

psychotherapy It has an essential part of training in depth, and at the same time is very enriching to learn new approaches, new techniques, new ways to raise emerging issues. Updating and continuing training are part of the good practice of psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy Networker It is for me a very useful resource to be the day psychotherapy. Apart from other resources (videos, texts, specific numbers…), This organization publishes a journal that appears bimonthly in both paper and electronic format (Free access for two years), and each number has a thread, with articles by professionals who have worked on the topic of the month, and with very interesting references (in fact I have already bought several books after reading some articles, and I am very satisfied).

The website has many resources, and from here I want to recommend some articles and issues that seem particularly novel.

• The November and December 2013, with the theme “Our Habits, Ourselves. Can the Circle Be Broken?” (“our habits, and ourselves. Can you break the circle?”), a number with ideas on how to break the vicious circles in psychotherapy, with an article Ann Weiser Cornell, Psychotherapy specialist orientation Focusing with whom I have formed, “Something New, Here and Now. Breaking Free of Habitual” (“Something new, here and now. Getting rid usual”).
• The May and June 2014, with the theme “Treating Trauma. What Are We Missing?” (“Treating trauma. What we are missing?”), with innovative lines for intervention in trauma as the article Janina Fisher “Putting the Pieces Together. 25 Years of Learning Trauma Treatment” (“Piecing together. Twenty-five years learning to treat trauma”).
• The September and October 2014, with the theme “There and Not There. Growing Up in an Age of Distraction” (“There and not there. How to grow in the age of distraction”), with essential items like “Getting Unhooked. Connecting with Traumatized Kids Who Push Your Buttons” (“Disengaging from the hook. How you connect with children and traumatized girls that make you jump defenses”) the Martha Straus.

I leave you with good reading and I hope you enjoy it.

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