THE FOCUSING STUDIO
Growth, Change, and Well-Being Through Arts From The Felt Sense
The Focusing Studio offers arts engagement opportunities based on the Creative Arts and Culture (CACF) approach
We blend art from museums around the world with Felt Sense-Based Studio Art and intermodal Focusing. Our approach draws from person-centered and experiential art therapy frameworks, as well as creative and expressive arts
Services
Our services are online
1 : 1 Session
Formats
CACF # Art Therapy
Therapeutic art activities will help you create meaning by engaging with culture-sensitive art from museums around the world. You will create art responses by engaging with professional artwork in an artistic way based on your Focusing Felt Sense
CACF # Focusing-Oriented Therapy
Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy (FOT) promotes healing from past and present wounds. FOT with CACF can address cultural wounds through art references. You will practice art-oriented Slow-Looking to connect with your cutural heritage and inner self
CACF # Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)
Engaging with CACF through FOAT® toolkits will allow you to experience culturally sensitive sources with all your senses. You will express your Felt Sense to art from museums through mindfulness-based practices that include art-making, writing, movement and sound exploration
CACF # Positive Art-Based Counseling for Existential Well-Being
In Positive Art-Based Counseling for Existential Wellbeing, the focus is on positive psychology and the use of artwork from museum collections for meditating and reflecting on what makes life most worth living
Supervision for Professionals in the Helping Fields
This includes:
Supervision and supportive mentorship for FOT's, Focusing Trainers, Focusing Fascilitators, and Focusing trainees
Person-centred Creative Arts supervision for trainees of APCCA, Association for Person-centred Creative Arts
Workshops
We offer on-demand workshops, see the list below. To get updated, scroll down, click the 'Sign Me Up For Notifications' button, and type YES into the contact form
* What Color Is Your Sky? Bringing Dreams Into Reality
* Colour Sounds: Finding Soul Symphony
* Along The Growing Edge: Exploring The More Of Artistically
* Smash 'n Focus: Finding Healing Grounds
* Where To Find Creativity Within? Become Friends With Your Inner Critic
* Colours Of Decision: Forwarding Decision Making With The Arts
* Your Body Is Making Your Art: Introduction To FOAT®
* Creative Compassion for Peacebuilding
* Find The Art You Love
* Felt Art Journaling: Becoming Bold
* Drawing: Learn From The Bauhaus Founders
* Hand Lettering: From Letter Characters To Composition
Open Studio
The Open Studio time is a time for coming together. This is an opportunity to receive support for your artistic self-expression in a Focusing-informed way. Through Focusing and the studio community, you will find peace, joy, and a deeper connection to yourself
We want you to know that the Open Studio is a safe place. We believe that fully engaging with your artwork in a community setting and creating from the Felt Sense is key to nurturing your inner artist and soul
Throughout your time in the Open Studio, we will support you to focus on your well-being
You will explore and experiment with different types of expression stemming from your Felt Sense. You will find moments to pause and take a deep breath in between. Then you will approach your artistic expression freshly and deepen your experience
Each studio time will include an input on either Focusing or art, which will be announced in the monthly studio notifications
Please check the Support section below before attending
We recommend using your studio attendance for your Focusing training. Check out the FOCUSZART School (FZA) Skills and Certification trainings and contact us for further information
Support
Creativity Focusing Studio Time
To get the most out of your Creativity Focusing Time, please download this PDF:
How to listen to music online:
First mute yourself, then minimize the video conference window by clicking on "settings." You will see your host in a smaller window. Then, open your YouTube music link. This will ensure, that all participants hear the same music at the same time without any acoustic disturbances
In according the German data protection laws, we will be videoconferencing with the GDPR-complient software Alfaview. You can join our video conferenes with or without downloading the Alfaview app
EFA Community Art Table (CAT)
We would like to ask for your permission to post your artwork on the EFA Resources page. To accomplish this, we will insert your picture into a CAT article or blog post. By sharing our artwork, we can spread hope and inspire connection and growth within our EFA community. Thank you!
Don't hesitate to reach out to us
We support your efforts to make a better life for yourself
Our programs are designed to promote acceptance, authenticity, and personal growth by connecting art to life
Get In Touch
We are here to answer any question you may have
We offer free, 20-minute introductory video calls for one-on-one sessions. Type 1:1 into the contact form, and we will reach out to you
We email back within three business days
Therapeutic Understandings Used in the Creative Arts and Culture Focusing (CACF) Approach
Art Therapy and the Creative Arts
We have been trained in various European Art Therapy approaches with a concentration on Receptive Art Therapy, Person-Centered Creative Arts, and Dynamic Shape Drawing
Receptive art therapy involves working with aesthetic perception through receptive-active arts engagement. In museum settings, it is known as museum art therapy. This method forms the core foundation of the Creative Arts and Culture Focusing (CACF) framework
Person Centered Creative Arts has been pioneered as Person-Centred Art Therapy (PCAT) by Liesl Silverstone. Ani de la Prida, BA, MA, Adv.Dip., has advanced this approach to Person Centered Creative Arts. We use this method
Dynamic Shape Drawing is a practice of anthroposophic art therapy, developed by artist and special education teacher Hermann Kirchner (GER) and Waldorf school pioneer Rudolf Kutzli (CH). In Dynamic Shape Drawing, basic forms are transformed through rhythmic moving and swinging lines following breathing. We use this method for grounding, as well as for person-centered pre- and post-diagnosis
Expressive Arts Therapies
Focusing Oriented Expressive Arts Therapy (FOAT®) by Laury Rappaport, PHD, MFT, REAT, ART-BC, is a mindfulness based approach for positive growth and change integrating Focusing and the Expressive Arts. FOAT® applications are supported by publications and research. We use and teach this method
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy PCEAT has been created by Nathalie Rogers, PhD, REAT. We refer to the understanding of the multi-modal process named The Creative Connection
Sensorimotor Expressive Arts Therapy | Guided Drawing® by Cornelia Elbrecht, BA, MA (ART Ed), AthR, SEP, is a sensorimotor and body-focused art therapy for trauma release, using mindfulness, sensory awareness and trust in the guidance from within. We use this method
Trauma-informed Expressive Arts Therapy has been created by Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT. We refer to the understanding of the EXA traumatology
Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy by Prof. Dr. Dr. Paolo Knill and Prof. em. Stephen K. Levine, Ph.D., D.S.Sc, REAT involves all the arts. We refer to the theory of polyaesthetics and the practice of Intermodal Decentering (IDEC®)
Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy
Focusing as a method of the person-centered and experientail approach is a body-mind practice developed by Prof. Eugene Gendlin. Focusing explores personal issues, relationships and situations from felt experiencing. Focusing works with situational body awareness, which is mostly noticed from within. The Focusing process initiates organismic micro-changes, body shifts, and new steps towards life solutions
We learned from international renowned Focusing pioneers and teachers who developed a wide range of Focusing approaches: Intermodal Focusing Plus Focusing Network (FN), Integrative Focusing by René Maas, Inner Relationship Focusing by Ann Weiser Cornell, Existential Well-Being Counseling by Mia Leijssen, Wholebody Heartfelt Conversation by Kevin McEvenue, Focusing with the Whole Body by Astrid Schillings, Dynamic Expressive Focusing by René Veugelers, Experiential Collaging by Prof. Dr. Akira Ikemi, Focusing-Oriented Relational Psychotherapy by Lynn Preston. We use and teach these methods
Person-centered psychotherapy and counseling is a form of talk therapy with a wide range of applications today. These applications are discussed controversively as some of their concepts surpass the original concepts of PCT founder Carl Rogers. We have been trained to use PCT with understandings of existential, depth-oriented, behavioral and critical-marxist concepts to enhance the person-centered concept within a collaborative therapeutic relationship, and adapt to the client's individual needs. We use this method
When something comes, it grows through loving care for the very small and with respect for the very big that comes from the body's next right step. From there, we are guided as to whether to express or to keep company in silence
Freda Blob
Focus & Create
We offer opportunities to experience the benefits of Focusing, museum art, and the creative arts online and in person throughout Europe
Member of the British Focusing Association (BFA) and the European Focusing Association (EFA)
Go Spark Your Art!
ENGAGE. EXPRESS. EXPLORE.
Trust Your Felt Sense. It's A Work Of Art In The Making