Master the Art & Science of Focusing-Oriented Therapy
A Comprehensive 10-Month Clinical Intensive
Join our transformative program designed to elevate your therapeutic practice through an experiential and didactic approach.
Experience the Depth of Focusing-Oriented Therapy
Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) is a groundbreaking approach that empowers therapists and clients to access deeper layers of awareness and healing. Gendlin is the originator of FOT; Ann Weiser Cornell developed Inner Relationship Focusing.
FOT facilitates a profound connection with the body’s inner wisdom. This modality offers therapists a unique framework to guide clients through their personal journeys, fostering self-discovery and emotional resilience. By integrating FOT into your practice, you can offer clients the transformative experience of being truly heard and understood, unlocking their potential for profound personal growth.
Explore Our Focusing Oriented Therapy Curriculum
Master Core Micro-Skills
Develop the foundational clinical skills of FOT: welcoming presence, focusing reflection, backstitching, the ABCs of Inner Awareness, and the art of inviting your client from “talking about” into “sensing within.” These are the skills that make the difference between a good conversation and a transformative session.
Integrate Neuroscience Insights
Learn to guide clients into relationship with the parts of themselves that carry old pain, fear, and protection. In FOT, parts emerge as felt senses and are met with curiosity and compassion — not labeled or categorized. You’ll learn to help clients hold multiple inner experiences with the warmth and spaciousness that allows organic integration.
Facilitate Inner Relationship Processes
Learn to guide clients into relationship with the parts of themselves that carry old pain, fear, and protection. In FOT, parts emerge as felt senses and are met with curiosity and compassion — not labeled or categorized. You’ll learn to help clients hold multiple inner experiences with the warmth and spaciousness that allows organic integration.
Apply Specialized Techniques
Explore how FOT adapts for populations often considered difficult to reach: clients with trauma histories, adults with ADHD, men with low interoceptive and emotional awareness, couples in crisis, and clients who have been in other therapies for years without real change. You’ll learn to bring FOT to people who would never sign up for “focusing.”
Training Logistics
Program Details
Live, interactive Zoom sessions with both instructors present. We meet once a month on Saturday mornings for two hours, over 10 months (approximately 11–12 calendar months to allow for holidays and breaks). Each session combines didactic teaching, live clinical demonstration, experiential practice in dyads, and group consultation.Between sessions, participants complete assigned readings, practice in focusing partnerships, and apply skills with their own clients. The program is designed to integrate into your professional schedule while building skills progressively. Next cohort: Fall 2026 (September/October start). Group size is limited to ensure individualized attention.
Tuition: $1,800 for the full program (20 contact hours across 10 sessions). Payment plans available. Early-bird rate of $1,600 for applications received by July 31, 2026.Certification recordings:
To receive FOT certification through The International Focusing Institute (TIFI), participants must be licensed therapists and submit three session recordings for individual review and feedback. Recording review is $200 per session, scheduled separately after the training program. Coaches may receive certification as a Focusing Professional
Certification Requirements
To achieve FOT certification through The International Focusing Institute, participants demonstrate their proficiency through three session recordings — preferably video — showcasing your ability to work with clients in a focusing-oriented way. These recordings should reflect the full range of skills taught in the program: welcoming presence, recognizing and deepening the felt sense, working with inner relationship, and meeting clients where they are. We specifically look for sessions with clients who don’t naturally “take to” focusing — because that’s the real clinical skill. Each recording receives detailed individual feedback and supervision.
Session Submission
Participants are expected to submit three session recordings for evaluation. These recordings should demonstrate your ability to integrate Focusing techniques effectively within therapeutic settings. The review process is designed to provide constructive feedback, enhancing your skills and ensuring you meet the certification standards.
Review Process
Each submitted session will be meticulously reviewed by our experienced team. Feedback will focus on your application of Focusing principles, helping you refine your approach and ensure your readiness for certification.
Certification Criteria
Certification will be awarded based on your demonstrated proficiency in applying Focusing-oriented techniques. The recordings should reflect your ability to facilitate meaningful client interactions and support their therapeutic journey.
Join Our Certification Program
Are you an experienced focuser or psychotherapist eager to deepen your practice? Register now for our exclusive Focusing-Oriented Therapy Certification Program. Please complete the sign-up form to express your interest and tell us about your experience with Focusing and psychotherapy. We look forward to welcoming you to our learning community.
Join Our Fall (Sept/Oct) 2026 Cohort
Are you an experienced focuser or psychotherapist eager to deepen your practice? Register now for our exclusive Focusing-Oriented Therapy Certification Program. We invite you to be part of an exclusive group of therapists eager to deepen their practice with Focusing-Oriented Therapy. Our September 2026 cohort offers a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals and integrate cutting-edge techniques into your therapeutic work. This is your chance to transform your practice and offer clients a profound experience of self-discovery and healing. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to advance your career and make a lasting impact. Click the button below to secure your spot and embark on this transformative journey with us.
Common Questions About Our Training Program
Our FAQ section provides detailed answers to common inquiries about our training, curriculum, and certification process. We aim to address any concerns you may have as you consider integrating Focusing-Oriented Therapy into your practice.
What is the structure of the FOT course?
The program runs over 10 months, with monthly two-hour live sessions on Saturday mornings via Zoom. Both instructors are present for every session. Between sessions, participants engage in assigned readings, focusing partnerships, and practice applying skills with their own clients. The curriculum moves through four progressive phases, each building on the last.
How does the certification process work?
Certification is through The International Focusing Institute (TIFI). After completing the 10-month training, participants submit three session recordings that demonstrate their ability to work in a focusing-oriented way with real clients. Each recording receives individual supervision and detailed feedback ($200 per session). Certification is awarded based on demonstrated proficiency, not simply course completion.
What topics are covered in the curriculum?
The curriculum covers four progressive phases: (1) The neuroscience foundations of embodied awareness and how they validate Gendlin’s discoveries; (2) Core clinical micro-skills including assessing clients from an FOT experiential perspective, the ABCs, welcoming presence, focusing reflection, backstitching, and assessment using the Experiencing Scale; (3) Advanced skills including non-counteraction, non-vivisection, working with embodied parts and inner relationship; (4) Specialized applications for anxiety, trauma, ADHD, relationships and clients with both low and strong interoceptive awareness.
Who is this program for?
This training is designed for licensed therapists, clinical social workers, psychologists, counselors, and coaches who want to deepen their clinical work with an embodied, experiential approach. It’s ideal both for practitioners who already know Focusing and want to learn how to integrate it into real clinical work, and for experienced therapists from other modalities who are drawn to body-oriented, relational approaches. A foundation in Focusing is required— contact us if you’re unsure whether your background is a good fit.
