the art of Focusing
this is a course for anyone who wants to go deeply into Focusing and the philosophy behind it, whether they are experienced Focusing practitioners or fairly new to the work
Dana ganihar | baruch brenner
The Art of Focusing – Part 2
Focusing is not only a healing practice — it also has the potential to shift our perception of life from a conditioned order to an emergent one.
To support this, over the years we have developed practices that expand our perspective and deepen the skillfulness of the Focusing process.
Throughout the course, we will learn and experience subtle steps that generate significant life processes. Furthermore, we will encounter unique concepts from Gendlin’s philosophy that open up the intricacy of the process beyond familiar understandings of Focusing and allow for entirely new steps.
What are situations? What does it mean to be in a situation?
How can we participate in their intricate unfolding?
Why does this give ‘Hope’?
Why is felt sense the way to become a co-creator in the unfolding of life?
How can we turn to a generative kind of silence —not only in formal Focusing sessions but also in everyday interactions?
How does a radical pause enable the transformation of the world?
How can we engage in the focusing process not from the personality, but from the unknown?
What is ‘metaphysical focusing’? Why is focusing a metaphysical action?
In Focusing as developed at the Shakio Institute, we focus not only on changing life situations but also on learning how focusing can transform the self and our ways of perceiving life.
Focusing is not just aimed at alleviating and providing a “better solution” for life problems, or just at uncovering the complexity inherent in every situation; all these do, in fact, take place as part of the focusing process, but focusing also teaches the person to recognize themselves as a ‘being in creation(ing)’. A being who is continually being created and is a partner to the process of their creation.
As well as being relevant to all of life and many specific areas such as health and education, Focusing is also particularly helpful for our contemplative spiritual journey and very relevant to spiritual companioning – for both companions and those they journey with.
Course Highlights
▪ “New self-understanding” – what are the processes that weave a new understanding? Why did Gendlin see this as the ‘fruit’ of Focusing?
▪ What are Focusing Prompts and Guidance, and how are they created from a state of wide and sensitive openness to processuality?
▪How do we distinguish between the regular self and the processuality beyond the self, between the focuser and the focuser’s focuser?
▪ How do we distinguish between a “feeling” that is a natural reaction to an event, and “felt meaning”?
▪ What is the mystery in feelings of “unease” and “reluctance”? How do we open them without losing them by resisting them? How can they be the gateway to a meaningful step?
▪ What is an image? How do we work with images in the Focusing process?
▪ Being interaction – What is listening? What is generative listening? skills of listening and resonating.
▪ Working with “Focusing blocks” and with junctions of transitioning from one order to another.
Who Is This Course For?
- This course is intended for individuals with prior experience in Focusing (at least a Basic Course).
- This course is a required component of the Focusing certification program of the Shakio Institute and the International Focusing Institute.
About the facilitators:
Dana and Baruch, the course instructors, are both certified coordinators by the International Focusing Institute. They have conducted many focusing courses (from basic to certification courses) individually and together for the general public, therapists, doctors, students, and lecturers in academia, and more.
course details
10 sessions on Wednesdays
course starts on
Dates: 25.6, 2.7, 9.7, 16.7, 23.7, 30.7, 6.8, 20.8, 27.8, 3.9
time: 12:00-14:00 (Israel), 11:00-13:00 (CET), 19:00-21:00 (Melbourne)
Price: 385 USD / approx. 600 AUD/approx. 340 EUR
Recordings of the sessions will be available for viewing only, for up to three months from the end of the course
For more information:
ABOUT US
Shakio is a space for collaborative exploration founded by Dana Ganihar, an experienced Focusing instructor and a teacher of the philosophy of Eugene Gendlin, and Baruch Brenner a multidisciplinary artist, rabbi and certified Focusing instructor who investigates and teaches performance art and Jewish mysticism.
Baruch Brenner is an Israeli Focusing facilitator, theater director, actor, singer, teacher and an ordained Orthodox Rabbi. Over the last 25 years, he has been a leading innovator in integrating Jewish and spiritual practices with experiential work in theatre, movement and vocal arts. He was the artistic director of the Vertigo lab in the eco-art village, and a research fellow and member of Jerzy Grotowski theater ensemble.
Dana Ganihar, M.Sc. is a teacher and researcher certified as a Focusing Coordinator by the international focusing institute in New York. Over the last couple decades she has led numerous workshops and seminars exploring the work of psychologist and philosopher Eugene Gendlin: IBF – Instancing Based Focusing, PoI – Philosophy of the Implicit, and TAE – Thinking At the Edge.
Dana has initiated cooperative research exploring the potential impact of Focusing practices on diverse fields such as biology, architecture, creative writing and religion.
testimonials
“As someone who has had a basic understanding of Focusing, I have deeply appreciated the
unique approach which Dana and Baruch teach in their basic course. They go beyond
technique to a process of transforming the way we perceive life, ourselves and the rest of
creation. As with their Art of Prayer courses, I have found their teaching in the Basic
Focusing course invaluable for my personal journey, my work as a spiritual companion and
teacher in spiritual formation programmes, and as a Feldenkrais and embodied living
teacher.
Dana and Baruch are excellent teachers, highly skilled in working together to provide a rich
experience for their students, gradually building on aspects of the process with each lesson
so that our practice gradually becomes more intricate and rich.
I highly recommend this both as an introductory course for those new to Focusing, as well
as enriching and expanding the understanding and skill of those already experienced with it.
I look forward to continuing my study of Focusing with Dana and Baruch in further courses.”
Jennifer Guild, Melbourne Australia
“The Art of Focusing course with Dana and Baruch has changed my life. Through the Focusing process they teach I have discovered a relationship with the Divine, which I have been seeking for so many years. This process has taught me there is so much more to draw on when navigating life’s challenges. Focusing is taught artfully and prayerfully by Dana and Baruch and is now becoming a way of life for me. It is a very special course.”
Felicity Johns
Google