Deepening Experiential Presence with Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF): Levels 1 & 2

Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF) is a powerful, experiential method that was developed by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. IRF enables therapists to enhance their therapeutic presence, support clients in accessing deeper emotional layers, and navigate challenging moments with clarity and compassion. Whether you are familiar with Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) or entirely new to it, this course offers practical tools and personal insights that can transform your approach to therapy.

IRF is more than a therapeutic technique — it is a systematic personal practice and a way of being. By developing a deeper connection with your own emotional experience, you will strengthen your ability to guide clients in their self-exploration. This course is designed to provide both a foundation for personal growth and the skills needed to integrate Focusing into your clinical practice, regardless of your therapeutic orientation. The core of this training lies in systematic practice with your focusing partner. This approach allows you to fully immerse yourself in the Focusing process by both experiencing and applying it in a meaningful way.

Participants will arrange tandem partners for practice between sessions (with support from the Swiss EFT Institute).


What You'll Gain:
1. Core Focusing Skills for Therapy:
• Learn how to stay present with unclear or complex emotions, both in yourself and in your clients.
• Master advanced listening techniques, including how to accompany clients in a non-directive yet deeply supportive way.
• Facilitate a client’s journey through emotional exploration without analyzing or problem-solving.

2. Tools for Personal Growth and Self-Care:
• Cultivate self-presence and learn to relate to your own emotions with compassion and curiosity.
• Practice techniques that not only benefit your clients but also nurture your own emotional well-being as a therapist.

3. Practical Application Across Modalities:
• Integrate IRF into your existing therapeutic framework, whether you practice CBT, psychodynamic therapy, family systems therapy, or any other approach.
• Discover how IRF can complement and enhance interventions you already use, helping clients achieve deeper emotional insight and change.

Course Dates and Structure:
Level 1: Encountering the Inner Relationship
Two full-day workshops to learn the essentials of Inner Relationship Focusing.
• Dates: 5th & 6th September (Friday & Saturday).
• Time: 09:00 to 17:00.

Level 2: Accompanying the Inner Relationship
Two additional full-day workshops, combined with weekly tandem practice, to refine your skills and address common challenges.
• Dates: 17th October & 21st November (Fridays).
• Time: 09:00 to 17:00.