Focusing was first developed in 1960 – early 70s by Dr Eugene Gendlin (a philosopher and psychotherapist) and others in Chicago, following on from his work with Carl Rogers and University of Chicago professor Richard McKeon, a philosopher.

Gene and his colleagues spent 15 years finding out just what made psychotherapy successful for some people and unsuccessful for others. Their discovery was that people who benefited most from therapy had the ability to touch a territory that is not clear, a vague sense, still unformed intuitive feeling and put this sensing (which Gene names the ‘felt sense’) as it unfolds into words and images.

Focusing is a way of being present to the life within us, and how that life wants to live. Gene showed us how to be open in such a way that the “more that is there (within) but not yet formed” can emerge as the next right steps in relation to another.