Dates:Saturdays, September 26; October 3, 17, and 24, 2026

Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT / Click here for time zone converter

Cost (USD$)

Includes all 4 sessions and lifetime course access. Individual sessions not available for purchase.

Early Bird Special
 Regular Cost
$100.
Discounted cost when you register before July 17.
 $125.
Regular cost after promotion ends

Registration Deadline: September 19, 2026

About the series 

We are excited to offer this rejuvenating 4-session series!  Each session will include one main Theme-based FOAT exercise integrating Focusing with user-friendly methods for arts expression. Through this FOAT practice group, small steps will cultivate access to your body’s creative wisdom, positive change, and growth will be nourished and supported. It will also enhance self-compassion and compassion toward others.

This group is open to people who are new to FOAT, Focusing, and the expressive arts, as well as experienced! If you wish to learn more about FOAT, click here.

All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing in the online course– so if you cannot attend the Live teleconferences, you can still access the material!

Certificates of Completion (not CE) will be sent at the conclusion of the series.

The 2026 schedule will be as follows (Click on each session for details!)

  • September 26: The Focusing Attitude: Being “Friendly” to Your Inner Experience

    The “Focusing Attitude” teaches us to bring a curious and “friendly” attitude toward our inner experience and creative expression– and helps to transform our inner critic. We will practice the Focusing Attitude– and then find a new “attitude” that we would like to bring into our lives (such as kindness, gentleness, compassion, etc.).

  • October 3: Peaceful Place

    Taking the time to focus on a peaceful place (a place you know or make up in your imagination) helps the body to relax and restore, which is helpful during times of stress. Focusing and the arts are integrated into the experience.

  • October 17: Clearing a Space with Arts

    Clearing a Space with Arts is an exercise that teaches how to identify stressors and to imagine setting them at a distance, outside of your body. It is based on Eugene Gendlin’s Clearing a Space exercise which has been researched showing its benefits for stress reduction. The exercise also helps us to access an inherent place of wellbeing that is always there. The arts are used to concretize and carry forward the benefits from the experience.

  • October 24: Source of Strength

    This FOAT® exercise helps to become aware of something in your life that is, or has been, a source of strength or support. We will take time to Focus on the source of strength, get a felt sense and symbol (a word, phrase, image, gesture, or sound) and express it through writing, art, movement, or sound. This Source of Strength can continue to nourish you in an ongoing way.


About the FOAT® Faculty 

Doreen Meister, MA, LMFT, is a Certified Focusing Trainer: Specialization in FOAT® (TIFI), Certified Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) Practitioner, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - specializing in creative arts expression, existential contemplative psychotherapy, mindfulness, and developmental trauma. For over 15 years, she has been helping adults connect with their natural, authentic resources to develop resilience, regulation, self-compassion and authenticity. Located in Oakland, California, her areas of training include: FOAT®, guided imagery, somatic touch for resilience and regulation, self-inquiry, and existential humanistic contemplative psychotherapy. Doreen has over 20 years mediation experience in non-dual traditions and expresses her creativity through jewelry design.

Please note: This course is not approved for CE.