The World of Focusing

The Focusing process was developed by award-winning psychologist and philosopher Eugene Gendlin out of research into successful psychotherapy and his philosophy of the implicit. His best-selling book, Focusing was first published in 1978. Since then, Focusing has spread all around the world as a process used to enhance people’s lives in countless ways.

Ann Weiser Cornell was one of Gendlin’s early students, starting in 1972. After teaching with him for a number of years, she began developing her own approach to teaching Focusing, calling it “Inner Relationship Focusing.” After she was joined in that process by Barbara McGavin, she and Barbara also developed “Treasure Maps to the Soul,” an application of IR Focusing to life’s most difficult issues.

One of the most striking applications of IR Focusing is how it is being taught in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Dr. Pat Omidian and her students, supported by Nina Joy Lawrence, in a community-health model.

The primary resource for Focusers all over the world is the Focusing Institute, the nonprofit organization founded by Eugene Gendlin. It is presently based in New York and the director is Mary Hendricks Gendlin. The Institute operates a website with a bookstore, archives of articles and research about Focusing, a Focusing training program, and certification of Focusing Trainers and Coordinators. Joining as a member connects you with the heart of the Focusing world! The Focusing Institute, 34 East Lane, Spring Valley NY 10977, 845-362-5222, www.focusing.org.

The International Focusing Conference is put on every year, usually in May, by local groups of Focusing people. To find out when and where the next Focusing Conferences are, see www.focusing.org/conference.html.

The Institute for Bio-Spiritual Research was started by two Jesuit priests, Peter A. Campbell and Edwin M. McMahon. They too have a worldwide network of people applying Focusing to daily life, families, schools, and especially spirituality. www.biospiritual.org