Buildings and Bridges

Either of which can be either feminine or masculine, depending on the language you speak. But I was referring to the Ani Difranco song.

Any road up, What is Focusing?

Focusing is a body-centered process you can use to bring clarity and fresh air to all the life issues you face. Based on extensive research into successful personal change, Focusing gives you access to a deep level of knowing, leading to inner transformation you can feel immediately.

Focusing is a process of attending inwardly with non-judgmental presence. It is a self-help skill which can be used to find greater clarity, insight, centeredness, and inner peace. It can also be combined with therapy of all kinds to increase effectiveness. Focusing is used all over the world, and has been spreading steadily since Eugene Gendlin introduced it, based on research into successful psychotherapy, in the 1960s.

From Dr. Gendlin's book on the subject, called Focusing:

A therapist is not necessary in focusing. By yourself, or with a friend who knows how and when to keep quiet, you can achieve focusing results.

The most important rule for a therapist or friend to observe, in helping someone to focus, is to stay out of the focuser's way. Most therapists like to believe it is they who produce results, rather than a process in the patient. Therapists have much to offer and think this will make all the difference. There is always a strong temptation to analyze what the patient says, to make guesses about the nature of the problem, to lecture, to rearrange the person's situation.

But only your body knows your problems and where their cruxes lie. If I were your personal therapist, I would resist the powerful temptation to tell you things, as though I knew more about your problems than you do.

Was going to add emphasis to that passage, but realized I'd be either bolding or italicizing the entire thing.

Part of the focusing process involves, well, on the outside it looks like pauses, and saying things that contradict each other or don't seem to follow. This is normal and accepted.

Unfortunately, in standard Western/English/American conversation, this is ab-normal and not accepted.

Might have more to say on this later, since I keep dealing with people who can't -- or at least don't -- resist those temptations mentioned in the passage, but for now?

Deal.

Want to know more? You might could visit Focusing Resources, for a start, or some of the links at Milz - Psychotherapeutische Medizin, Coaching, Ganzheitliche Medizin.

Or go directly to the source at The Focusing Institute.