by Bernadette Shepherd
Date: 11th-12th May 2024
Facilitated by: Mary Jennings, Margaret Quinn and Tom Larkin
Venue: Dominican Retreat centre, Tallaght, Dublin
Title of workshop: Deeper Presence – More Possibilities, enriching our understanding and practice of focusing.
This workshop was a wonderful collaborative focusing weekend workshop, underpinned by lively interactive discussion and demonstrations. Set amidst beautiful magical and peaceful grounds which enhanced the workshop Focusing principles.
The main theme of the weekend was the way in which the process of focusing help me in everyday life. The three presenters Mary, Margaret and Tom made complex theoretical approaches come alive through engaging delivery, live demonstrations and interactive activities; all were received well by the group. It was powerful to observe these demonstrations delivered by experts whose quality of presence deepened the groups understanding of the techniques and spirit of Focusing. The interactive nature of the workshop enabled me to practice with other participants, and challenge myself to establish new habits, I have since been able to translate these new approaches into everyday life and ork.
The presenters created a safe environment enabling a deeper connection amongst the participants and with the material itself. The participants who were brought together in this workshop were from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, this diversity brought a quality of presence and aliveness to the discussions.
This was a very full, exciting and alive workshop, with engaging presenters who embodied the theory and practice of Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing theory practice and philosophy.
Thank you Margaret, Mary and Tom for such an inspirational and experiential weekend.
