focusing-oriented therapy
The process of focusing was discovered in the 1960’s by Professor Eugene Gendlin of the University of Chicago. He discovered that success in therapy had nothing to do with the type of therapy used or the skill of the therapist. Successful clients were not those who ‘stayed up in their heads’ when speaking about their difficulties, but those who were aware of the feelings and sensations in their bodies as they spoke.
Focusing starts with the body. When we have a problem there is always a ‘felt sense’ in the body about it. If we pay attention to the felt sense it will often take a shape and become a metaphor like those we see in dreams. These metaphors are full of meaning on many different levels. This image or vision will change during the process and it will tell us something – something that we need to know. It can be a way of contacting split-off parts of ourselves that we are ignoring or unaware of. Focusing is gentle but very powerful and gives lasting results.
Focusing is very helpful in the treatment of the symptoms of trauma. For example, it can be used when working with people who are violent as a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Ontario Correctional Institute ran Relating Without Violence (RWV) groups for twelve years with groups of male prisoners, the majority of whom met the formal criteria for PTSD. It was found that three-quarters of them were able to change from abusive to constructive interactions. Researchers (including Ralph Bierman, Ph.D.) showed that the men were less ready to attack once the fear of re-experiencing the pain and shame, to which they had been subjected during childhood trauma, had been alleviated. They were able to deal with strong emotions without having to mask them by expressing anger.
Focusing starts with the body. When we have a problem there is always a ‘felt sense’ in the body about it. If we pay attention to the felt sense it will often take a shape and become a metaphor like those we see in dreams. These metaphors are full of meaning on many different levels. This image or vision will change during the process and it will tell us something – something that we need to know. It can be a way of contacting split-off parts of ourselves that we are ignoring or unaware of. Focusing is gentle but very powerful and gives lasting results.
Focusing is very helpful in the treatment of the symptoms of trauma. For example, it can be used when working with people who are violent as a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Ontario Correctional Institute ran Relating Without Violence (RWV) groups for twelve years with groups of male prisoners, the majority of whom met the formal criteria for PTSD. It was found that three-quarters of them were able to change from abusive to constructive interactions. Researchers (including Ralph Bierman, Ph.D.) showed that the men were less ready to attack once the fear of re-experiencing the pain and shame, to which they had been subjected during childhood trauma, had been alleviated. They were able to deal with strong emotions without having to mask them by expressing anger.
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