Focusing in Experiential Therapy in Couple and Family Therapy

Introduction

Developed by Eugene Gendlin (1982, 1996), focusing is a client-centered therapeutic technique used to assist clients in gaining better awareness and understanding of one’s internal bodily self. A psychotherapist and philosopher, Gendlin developed focusing out of curiosity for why some clients benefitted from therapy while others struggled to make progress. He found that clients who naturally spoke from a present, bodily felt position profited from treatment, regardless of what the therapist did (Gendlin 1982; Strohl n.d.). Concluding that clients often get stuck in their negative emotions without knowing how to use their bodies’ own naturally positive forces to move forward, Gendlin (1982, 1996) developed focusing as a tool to assist clients with directing their attention inward to the emotional and physical experiences that are often difficult to describe in a concrete way.

Theoretical Framework

The process of focusing suggests that individuals hold within themselves the...