This article describes the experiential method of psychotherapy known as “focusing” (Gendlin, 1981, 1996) and discusses its relevance to transactional analysis. Using information available from the lived body, in the form of what is known as the “bodily felt sense,” focusing can, for example, provide more ready access to the Free Child, facilitate impasse clarification and decontamination of the Adult, and evoke a positive internal Parent. By undercutting theoretical complexity, focusing allows the therapist/consultant to set aside preconceived notions (i.e., to “think like a Martian”) and to let the change process emerge from within the client. This article explores the nature of psychological change, especially how to recognize it and what facilitates it.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerneE. (1975). What do you say after you say hello?: The psychology of human destiny.London: Corgi. (Original work published 1972).
2.
CampbellP. A.McMahonE. M. (1985). Biospirituality: Focusing as a way to grow.Chicago: Loyola University Press.
3.
CornellA. W. (1996). The power of focusing: A practical guide to self-healing.Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.
4.
CornellA. W.McGavinB. (2003). The focusing student's and companion's manual (Parts 1 & 2). Berke-x ley, CA: Calluna Press.
5.
CreaseR. (2004). Philosophy of science. The Folio: A Journal of Focusing and Experiential Therapy [Theme issue: Thinking at the edge: A new philosophical practice], 19(1), 32–42.
6.
GendlinE. T. (1964). Personality change. In WorchelP.ByrneD. (Eds.), A theory of personality change (pp. 102–148). New York: Wiley.
7.
GendlinE. T. (1981). Focusing (2nd ed.). New York: Bantam Books. (Original work published 1978).
8.
GendlinE. T. (1984). The client's client. In ShlienJ. M.LevantR. (Eds.), Client-centered therapy and the person-centered approach (pp. 76–107). New York: Praeger.
9.
GendlinE. T. (1986). Let your body interpret your dreams.Wilmette, IL: Chiron.
10.
GendlinE. T. (1996). Focusing-oriented psychotherapy: A manual of the experiential method.New York: Guilford.
11.
GendlinE. T.BeebeJ.CassensJ.KleinM.OberlanderM. (1968). Focusing ability in psychotherapy, personality, and creativity. In ShleinJ., (Ed.), Research in psychotherapy III (pp. 217–241). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
12.
GoodmanM. (2004a). Psyche and soma: The role of embodiment in human psychological development. Unpublished manuscript [doctoral qualufying paper], Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, CA.
13.
GoodmanM. (2004b). The three-fold body in cultural psychological research: A theory statement and directions for future research. Unpublished manuscript. Institute of Transpereonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California.
14.
GouldingR L.GouldingM. M. (1978). The power is in the patient.San Francisco: TA Press.
15.
HendricksM. (2001). Focusing-oriented/experiential psychotherapy. In CainD.SeemanJ. (Eds.), Humaistic psychotherapy: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 221–252). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Retrieved 12 December 2006 from www.focusing.org/research_basis.html.
16.
HinterkopfE. (1998). Integrating spirituality in counseling: A manual for using the experiential focusing method.Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.
17.
JamesM. (1974). Self-reparenting: Theory and process. Transactional Analysis Journal, 4(3), 32–39.
18.
JamesM. (1981). Breaking free: Self-reparenting for a new life.Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
19.
JohnsonD. (1992). Body: Recovering our sensual wisdom.Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books. (Original work published 1983).
20.
JoinesV. (1997). Accessing the natural child as the key to redecision therapy. In LennoxC. E. (Ed.), Redecision therapy: A brief, action-oriented approach (pp. 109–124). Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
21.
KatonahD. G. (1999). Felt sense and cognitive function. The Folio: A Journal of Focusing and Experiential Therapy [Theme issue: Focusing and medicine], 18(1), 140–144. Retrieved 14 December 2006 from www.focusing.org/cognitive.html.
22.
MacRaeD. (2002, 9 August). Global investing: Following your gut to win a mind game. Financial Times. Retrieved 14 December 2006 from www.marketfocusing.com/ft1.html.
PerlS. (1994). A writer's way of knowing: Guidelines for composing. In BrandA.GravesR. (Eds.), A writer's way of knowing: Writing and the domain beyond the cognitive (pp. 77–87). Portsmouth, NH: Boynton Cook.
25.
PerlS. (2003). Felt sense: Writing with the body.Toronto: Pearson Education Canada.
26.
PolanyiM. (1967). The tacit dimension.Garden City, NY: Anchor Doubleday.
27.
PolanyiM. (1974). Personal knowledge: Towards a postcritical philosophy.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
28.
ReichW. (1949). Character analysis (WolfeT. P., Trans.). New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux.
29.
StewartT. A. (2002, November). How to think with your gut; How the geniuses behind the Osbournes, the mini, Federal Express, and Starbucks followed their instincts and reached success. Business 2.0. Retrieved 14 December 2006 from www.marketfocusing.com/b20_I.html.
30.
SummervilleM. E. (1999). Listening from the heart to people living with cancer. The Folio: A Journal of Focusing and Experiential Therapy [Theme issue: Focusing and medicine], 18(1), 42–46. Retrieved 14 December 2006 from www.focusing.org/summerville.html.
31.
WalkerdenG. (2003). Crossing the process model and Tibetan Buddhism (specifically Dzogchen). Retrieved 16 April 2005 from http://focusing.org/crossing.htm.
32.
WhiteJ. D.WhiteT. (1975). Cultural scripting. Transactional Analysis Journal, 5(1), 12–23.
