I learned Focusing from Gendlins’s book of that title but never got into it until relatively recently when meeting others of the Focusing Community. Who knew there was one? Most of them learned from Ann Weiser Cornell and used her language and techniques. I remained a bit skeptical and stuck with Gendlin’s writings. I began reading his philosophy papers and books and preferred his way of phrasing things.
And so it was a surprise to find this book so readable and practically useful. It begins with a description of how she learned about Focusing , including the difficulties she had to overcome. I realized I had some similar problems starting out. Her explanations were uniformly clear (something I can’t say for Gene Gendlin’s philosophy papers) and I especially liked her chapter on trouble shooting.
Even she admits that for some, saying hello to a bodily felt sense, seems peculiar (suggesting one “acknowledge it” if saying hello feels too weird.) Nowadays, with therapy modalities like Internal Family Systems and Inner child work, treating yourself as a relationship of parts isn’t that far outside the mainstream.
In the end, Focusing is a practice and an experiential system and those who insist on approaching it through theory are missing out. I am therefore recommending that you put aside your fears of looking new agey and read this book and give it a try.