Group Process and Shared-Field Focusing Interactions:
Thoughts and Experiences
Prepared collaboratively by the
New York Metro Focusing Planning Group
www.nymetrofocusing.org
Last updated: July 19, 2015
NY Metro Focusing meetings offer an opportunity to engage in a felt-sensing, interactive exploration of topics of interest. We value diversity and welcome everyone’s voice. Our conversational process encourages slowing down, listening from a felt-sensing place, and letting what we hear resonate within to bring something new and fresh, both within ourselves and within the group.
This handout describes what we are trying to do and what we have learned about how to do it. It was developed originally to serve as guidelines for prospective facilitators of our public programs. We prepared it in felt-sensing, interactive conversation. We invite you to read from a felt-sensing place in yourself as well, and to respond as you are moved to do so.
What we try to do
Since its inception eight years ago, the New York Metro Focusing group has been working to develop programs that not only touch on the topic of Focusing in some way but actually, in themselves, manifest a Focusing process.
Our priority is to give people a context to be present with themselves and one another in a felt-sensing way. This priority derives from our belief in the power of Focusing to engender forward movement. We want our events to provide – to ourselves and to our guests – the opportunity for forward movement in our lives.
We are also motivated by the conviction that these conversational felt-sensing explorations build connections and community by fostering the shared energy field.
We try to create the opportunity for a group of individuals not only to explore and learn about the topic of the evening, but also
What we have learned about how to do it
No doubt there are many ways for these things to happen. By way of attempting to articulate what we are discovering about group process, we describe here roughly two “styles” of event that we have witnessed or developed and that we think can work well. Although explorations are always learning experiences, for now we are calling these two styles Exploratory Conversations and Experiential Learnings.
Exploratory Conversations are centered around a universal topic with which everyone has experience. They are facilitated by a leader, but at their core they are felt-sensing conversations co-created among Focusing peers. The facilitator brings a well-thought-out and deep personal connection to the topic and guides the group in a felt-sensing way, so that the experience is a rich one for the individual participants and for the group as a whole. Throughout the exploration, the facilitator remains open and alive to what arises within her- or himself as well, and is part of the emerging conversation.
Experiential Learnings are centered around a topic about which the facilitator intends to impart knowledge that participants may not have heard before. These programs are closer to the typical style of presentation or workshop that an expert may have given in another context. Even so, we are looking for an event that not only teaches new material and how it relates to Focusing, but also embodies and expresses a Focusing orientation. This is fostered by:
We have learned that in order to accomplish these goals, a facilitator is likely to be able to cover less didactic material than in a presentation or workshop of similar length that he or she might have given in other contexts. We believe this offers three benefits: the facilitator need not feel rushed or pressured; the participants’ experience can be deeper; and the experience more nearly echoes Eugene Gendlin’s process model.
There could be other successful styles or forms. A facilitator could, for example, lead a shorter experiential learning session followed by substantial group conversation. We are also open to the possibility of an event structure we have never seen before. Whatever the structure, a defining characteristic would be that everyone present is be interacting, both with one another and within themselves – listening, speaking, and in mutual silence.
Felt-sense listening is of primary importance. We come to this apparently simple statement after closely considering the conditions that optimize group process. When people listen deeply within themselves, their inner experience can take shape and their act of listening contributes to the shared experience of the group. If they choose to speak about their own experience, doing so from that place of listening allows them to communicate something authentic and particular. When they listen deeply to one another, they are engaged with each other. When they respond to one another – whether verbally or non-verbally – from that place of listening, their deep engagement is more likely to be perceived.
We have discovered some specific approaches that seem to work well. We include them here in the spirit of sharing the fruits of our efforts and inviting your thoughts in our ongoing investigation of group process.
We invite you to the table:
These guidelines are a work in progress.
What strategies do you have as a facilitator to add to these?
What feedback do you have for us?
You may reach us at: contact@nymflists.com
Thank you!
Thoughts and Experiences
Prepared collaboratively by the
New York Metro Focusing Planning Group
www.nymetrofocusing.org
Last updated: July 19, 2015
NY Metro Focusing meetings offer an opportunity to engage in a felt-sensing, interactive exploration of topics of interest. We value diversity and welcome everyone’s voice. Our conversational process encourages slowing down, listening from a felt-sensing place, and letting what we hear resonate within to bring something new and fresh, both within ourselves and within the group.
This handout describes what we are trying to do and what we have learned about how to do it. It was developed originally to serve as guidelines for prospective facilitators of our public programs. We prepared it in felt-sensing, interactive conversation. We invite you to read from a felt-sensing place in yourself as well, and to respond as you are moved to do so.
What we try to do
Since its inception eight years ago, the New York Metro Focusing group has been working to develop programs that not only touch on the topic of Focusing in some way but actually, in themselves, manifest a Focusing process.
Our priority is to give people a context to be present with themselves and one another in a felt-sensing way. This priority derives from our belief in the power of Focusing to engender forward movement. We want our events to provide – to ourselves and to our guests – the opportunity for forward movement in our lives.
We are also motivated by the conviction that these conversational felt-sensing explorations build connections and community by fostering the shared energy field.
We try to create the opportunity for a group of individuals not only to explore and learn about the topic of the evening, but also
- to go within with what is being heard or witnessed, letting it resonate and noticing what comes,
- to share what has come if it feels right to do so, and thus
- to experience together whatever may emerge.
What we have learned about how to do it
No doubt there are many ways for these things to happen. By way of attempting to articulate what we are discovering about group process, we describe here roughly two “styles” of event that we have witnessed or developed and that we think can work well. Although explorations are always learning experiences, for now we are calling these two styles Exploratory Conversations and Experiential Learnings.
Exploratory Conversations are centered around a universal topic with which everyone has experience. They are facilitated by a leader, but at their core they are felt-sensing conversations co-created among Focusing peers. The facilitator brings a well-thought-out and deep personal connection to the topic and guides the group in a felt-sensing way, so that the experience is a rich one for the individual participants and for the group as a whole. Throughout the exploration, the facilitator remains open and alive to what arises within her- or himself as well, and is part of the emerging conversation.
Experiential Learnings are centered around a topic about which the facilitator intends to impart knowledge that participants may not have heard before. These programs are closer to the typical style of presentation or workshop that an expert may have given in another context. Even so, we are looking for an event that not only teaches new material and how it relates to Focusing, but also embodies and expresses a Focusing orientation. This is fostered by:
- beginning with an attunement, the theme and tone of which carry through the evening
- maintaining a pace that gives spacious time for felt sensing
- including Focusing-type exercises
- supporting inter-relatedness through group conversation
We have learned that in order to accomplish these goals, a facilitator is likely to be able to cover less didactic material than in a presentation or workshop of similar length that he or she might have given in other contexts. We believe this offers three benefits: the facilitator need not feel rushed or pressured; the participants’ experience can be deeper; and the experience more nearly echoes Eugene Gendlin’s process model.
There could be other successful styles or forms. A facilitator could, for example, lead a shorter experiential learning session followed by substantial group conversation. We are also open to the possibility of an event structure we have never seen before. Whatever the structure, a defining characteristic would be that everyone present is be interacting, both with one another and within themselves – listening, speaking, and in mutual silence.
Felt-sense listening is of primary importance. We come to this apparently simple statement after closely considering the conditions that optimize group process. When people listen deeply within themselves, their inner experience can take shape and their act of listening contributes to the shared experience of the group. If they choose to speak about their own experience, doing so from that place of listening allows them to communicate something authentic and particular. When they listen deeply to one another, they are engaged with each other. When they respond to one another – whether verbally or non-verbally – from that place of listening, their deep engagement is more likely to be perceived.
We have discovered some specific approaches that seem to work well. We include them here in the spirit of sharing the fruits of our efforts and inviting your thoughts in our ongoing investigation of group process.
- Throughout the program, the facilitator can give guidance that encourages, and can also model, felt sensing and listening.
- Instead of inviting people to share what has come for them, a facilitator might make the suggestion for people to pause and notice where they are now and speak from the felt sense as they are ready.
- Rather than giving each person a set turn to speak, the flow of conversational process that naturally emerges from meaningful expression can be encouraged.
- At the same time, people can be reminded to maintain space for each other, and they can be supported in this with suggestions to attend freshly to what is happening within and with one another: Is it time to shift? Is it enough for now?
- When participants are working on their own or in breakout groups, they tend to feel safer and more connected if the facilitator maintains contact during those times, for example by softly speaking an occasional instruction, invitation or encouragement.
- If there are breakout groups, it is important to bring the collective together again afterwards with enough time for a conversation to evolve. .
We invite you to the table:
These guidelines are a work in progress.
What strategies do you have as a facilitator to add to these?
What feedback do you have for us?
You may reach us at: contact@nymflists.com
Thank you!
