Course Description

Level 1: Foundations and Approaches of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) provides a solid foundation of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) with an emphasis on deepening one’s embodied knowing of the main FOAT approaches– Focusing Attitude, Theme-Directed FOAT®, Clearing a Space with Arts, FOAT® Check-in, Working on an Issue, Self-Focusing, and Compassionate Listening. Trainees will also expand their understanding of the core concepts, skills and philosophy of Focusing, developed by Eugene Gendlin– felt sense, symbol/handle, felt shift, and life forward direction.

Learning FOAT and Focusing in Level 1 emphasizes learning the exercises for oneself– in order to understand deeply how the felt sense, creativity, and the body’s wisdom interacts and unfolds, while also being grounded in FOAT theories. The FOAT Partnership and small group practices during Level 1 open the doorway to learn about others’ processes and also provides a foundation for facilitation skills that are continued in Level 2.

Target Audience: Psychologists, Creative Arts Therapists, Psychoanalysts, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, MFTs, Counselors, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Educators. 

Location: Online via Zoom.

Date and Time:  In Level 1, there are 8 Live Group Meetings that are held via Zoom.

Dates (2025): These dates are valid for the U.S.– please use a time converter to determine if the meeting dates will be the same for your timezone!

• March 19
• April 2, 16, 30
• May 14, 28
• June 11, 25
  
  

Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) / Click here for time zone converter

Level 1 Course Cost: 

• Early bird: Discount available through February 14, 2025
  
  • Pay in full: $900. 
  • Monthly payment plan: $225/month for 4 months
• Regular Price: Valid after February 14, 2025
  
  • Pay in full: $1000
  • Monthly payment plan: $250/month for 4 months

Registration Information: To obtain CEs, please register prior to the registration deadline of March 12, 2025 (one week before the first Live Zoom Group Meeting). Click here to see full registration page.

Faculty: Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC, REAT

Assisted by Carla Walmsley-Esteves, MA, BSc (Hons) and Karen Quatsoe, BFA. Number of Assistant Faculty will be based on number of registrants.

Course Content Level: Beginner

Course Objectives

Participants will be able to:

1. Describe the history of the development of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®). 
2. Summarize the history of Focusing developed by Eugene Gendlin and its research basis.
3. Identify and name the core concepts in Focusing– felt sense, symbol/handle, felt shift.
4. Explain what the Focusing Attitude is.
5. Describe the foundational principles of FOAT®.
6. Explain the difference between ARTS-Focusing and FOCUSING-Arts approaches.
7. State the basic FOAT® step.
8. Summarize the significance of the Focusing Attitude in relation to the felt sense and creative expression.
9. Describe what a FOAT® Check-in is.
10. Describe the basic approach of Theme-Directed FOAT®.
11. List 3 benefits of a Theme-Directed FOAT® approach.
12. List 3 Theme-Directed FOAT® exercises for enhancing resilience.
13. Describe what Compassionate Listening is.
14. Explain what a simple verbal listening reflection is.
15. Describe how to offer a reflection through the arts-image, gesture, and/or sound.
16. Practice listening reflections with Focusing and Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®).
17. Define the meaning of intermodal expressive arts.
18. Name the founder of the process “Creative Connection®”.
19. Compare 2 intermodal methods: Dialogue and “Gestalt”.
20. Describe the origins and development of Eugene Gendlin's Clearing a Space.
21. Identify 2 methods for Clearing a Space with Arts.
22. Describe the benefits of each of the 4 approaches to Clearing a Space with Arts: non-directive, directive, concrete, and hybrid.
23. List 2 FOAT® exercises that use “working with steps”.
24. Name 2 questions that can be used in "Working on an Issue".
25. Demonstrate compassionate presence within a FOAT® Partnership Practice exercise.

Satisfactory Completion for CEs: This training is approved for 22 CE hours. Participants must have paid the Level 1 course tuition fee and CE fee ($45), signed in and attended the entirety of the 8 Live Zoom Group Meetings, and completed the CE Evaluation. Full attendance is required (there is no partial CE). 

Cancellation Policy: All refund requests are subject to review by the Focusing and Expressive Arts Institute Training Director.

• Requests made 21 days or more before the registration deadline for a given course, you will be given a refund of 95% of your registration fee (please note we take 5% for administrative/transactional fees), or the option to apply the full registration fee as credit towards your account for future program costs. 
• Requests made between 7 to 20 days before the registration deadline will be given a refund of 50% of your registration fee, or the option to apply the full registration fee as credit towards your account for future program costs. 
• Any requests made within 6 days or less before the registration deadline are non-refundable but you will be given the option to apply the full registration fee as credit towards your account for future program costs. 

Grievance Policy: For questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected].

Disability Accommodations: To request accommodations, contact [email protected].

Disclosure Statement: There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.