History of ExAF

The Foundation of Expressive Arts Focusing EXAF is European Focusing and its development within the person-centered and experiential approach

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Expressive Arts Focusing EXAF was developed from a person-centered and experiential standpoint

Unlike other uses of the term 'Expressive Arts Focusing' (Rappaport, 2021), Expressive Arts Focusing EXAF encompasses more than spontaneous expressive arts activities that lack inner guidance and may or may not lead to Focusing

Expressive Arts Focusing EXAF is intentional, implying a guided process that prepares clients for Felt Sense arts engagement

Taking time to understand the client's intentions is essential to establish a trusting therapeutic relationship that enables artistic and personal growth

The client's initial intention may be non-specific, such as finding stress relief and well-being or resilience. In all cases, setting an intention implies  slowing down, getting grounded, and coming to presence

We speak of "EXAF/FOAT® Plus" when EXAF toolkits include original FOAT® approaches in combination with original European Focusing Plus interventions. This term honors the different therapeutic approaches that are merged

Expressive Arts Focusing EXAF: Foundation in European Focusing Plus

INFOBOX Focusing Plus

Focusing Plus is a specific style of Focusing developed by the German-Swiss Focusing Network FN for exploring and processing structure-bound patterns

Focusing Plus draws on a variety of modalities and incorporates energetic bodywork and person-centred body psychotherapy approaches

Focusing Plus is rooted in the work of the early pioneers of the Focusing Network FN, formerly the International Focusing Network IFN, which was founded by Eugene Gendlin in 1980 and had a German spreaking branch in Munich. Focusing Coordinators from Germany, Switzerland and Austria published their Focusing Journal as early as 1981. Their ideas and practices have been extended and revised multiple times through various collaboration arrangements, and from 1988 on through collaboration with the GFK Institute for Person-centered Psychotherapy, Body Therapy and Focusing Zurich CH
   
Publications by IFN and GFK founder Ernst Juchli, GFK co-founder Christiane Geiser, Hans-Ulrich Schlünder (FN) and other FN/GFK co-writers have been produced continuously since the early days. Their articles, essays and creative writing projects resulted in two books, which were published by the GFK Institute Zurich and the Swiss Association for Psychotherapy SGfK in 2017

Focusing Plus is rooted in over 40 years of European Focusing tradition. It is the essential training guideline for the Focusing that we have been practicing and teaching since 1994 

EXAF Public Release

The Expressive Arts Focusing (EXAF) approach was first published on our former website (https://expressive-arts-focusing.jimdosite.com) on August 7, 2019

Since then, we have continuously refined exercises, tools and applications to share best practice with different audiences

We are excited to share our work in progress with you and would be grateful if you could help us improve our standards by leaving a testimonial or comment if you have attended one of our workshops or sessions. Thank you very much!

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