I’m happy to announce The Living Process, Episode 34 with Schema Therapist Janis Briedis.

In this episode Janis and I discuss the ways in which the body and the level of immediate experience can enhance the schema therapy approach and psychotherapy in general. Janis talks about the usefulness of having a ‘top-down’ theoretical approach that interacts with a ‘bottom-up’ experiential resonance and confirmation. He also speaks about different ‘modes’ of experiencing - what we often refer to as ‘parts’ in FOT. We can each have ‘healthy adult’ modes, ‘child modes’, as well as established schemas (life patterns, habitual ways of feeling and perceiving) that often develop in early life.

We notice that there is a lot of familiarity between a FOT and a body-based schema approach, sometimes with different language yet often pointing at similar phenomena. Janis and his colleague, Dr Helen Startup, are co-directors of The Schema Therapy School, offering training in body-based schema therapy for therapists across Europe.

Janis Briedis

Janis was originally trained in the UK as an existential psychotherapist. He has also completed training in Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Therapy. He was previously trained as a massage therapist so his interest in body approaches is long-standing. He has a personal passion for dance, 5 Rhythms, and Movement Therapies. He is experienced in various theories and approaches to trauma work and includes training in this area. For more information on training programmes see The Schema Therapy School: https://schematherapyschool.co.uk

Episode 34: Janis Briedis. https://youtu.be/GSqXsnYeDbU

The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:

https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/

Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk

#experiential #thelivingprocess #focusing #trauma #gendlin #schematherapy #CBT #Bodytherapy #somatic experiencing

Meaning and the Intimate Moment with guest Russell Delman on The Living Process, episode 33 with host Greg Madison. In this episode Russell and I share another deep connection discussing the meaning of 'meaning' and what is the path of a meaningful life? In exploring this topic we touch on those moments in life where living itself feels like 'enough' and the intimate feeling of such moments. We also talk about the role of the physical body in these profound experiences, touching on Focusing, Zen practice and everyday living. Russell navigates the edge between Guided Inquiry, Feldenkrais, Zen meditation, and their integration into the practice of The Embodied Life, a learning programme offered by Russell and his wife Linda, influenced by over 50 years of immersion in these practices and his direct relationship with Feldenkrais, Gendlin, and principle teachers in the Zen tradition. Russell DelmanRussell Delman is a well-known and valued teacher within the disciplines of Zen Buddhist meditation and Feldenkrais. He is also known in the Focusing world as a unique embodiment practitioner who integrates all three of these practices in his international training of The Embodied Life. He and Gene Gendlin also shared a warm friendship and Focusing partnership for many years. Russell’s exploration of the crucial importance of awareness in body/mind perspectives and psychology began in 1970. His subsequent journey included gestalt, yoga, the first Feldenkrais trainings, work at The Esalen Institute, Focusing, and many mind-body experiences and teachings. For more information on Russell’s extensive training programmes see The Embodied Life: https://theembodiedlife.orgEpisode 33: Russell Delman. https://youtu.be/Xa1z2o320pAThe Living Process - all episodes and podcast links: The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk#experiential #thelivingprocess #focusing #spiritualawakening #Russelldelman #feldenkrais #gendlin #zen

AI and the process of thinking with Donata Schoeller. The Living Process with Greg Madison. Episode 32.

This, 5th conversation with Donata, tackles the huge topic of AI - artificial intelligence, something that has now exploded into almost every area of human life. In our conversation, Donata stresses the importance of the process of thinking not just the outcome of thinking. Below are some points that feel most important and a link at the bottom to a document Donata offers as a summary. We both used chatGPT to help generate the points and the document and then refined what was produced so that it resonated with what we wanted to say, an instance of the use of AI that Donata is advocating!

* AI discussions often compare it to human intelligence, but we need to improve our understanding of human thinking to use AI for our benefit.

* Education should focus on understanding the process of thinking, not just output.

* Teachers need to create assignments that imply real engagement and can’t be easily done by AI, encouraging students to think. But how?

* Thinking is often seen as vague and hard, making AI a handy tool to avoid it.

* Eugene Gendlin’s methods show a grounded, embodied way of thinking that connects with real experiences.

* Hannah Arendt's political thinking stresses the need to use real experiences for clarity, encouraging engagement with life’s complexities, including emotions.

* Developing inclusive thinking needs courage and openness, with Gendlin’s methods helping with this.

* Joint attention and embodied resonance are key for cognitive growth, making thinking more inclusive, joyful, and trustworthy.

* Embodied thinkers are connected to the earth and other living processes, a concept educators should promote.

Episode 32. AI and the process of thinking, with Donata Schoeller: https://youtu.be/rBMkUm1hO_k

Dr Donata Schoeller is a philosopher who teaches internationally at various universities and is the academic director of the program "Training in Embodied Critical Thinking. In addition to her extensive work on Gendlin’s philosophy, Donata has also published on Gendlin’s philosophy and was involved in translating Gendlin’s text A Process Model into German. She teaches Thinking at the Edge and is a Focusing trainer offering courses in Switzerland, internationally, and online.

https://www.donataschoeller.com

The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:

https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/

Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk

Donata's document is here:

http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx1VV5L6mVxdVZa61ybP3wQijRBa071O_4?si=DiFoqe-SA8aFgDhq

#focusing #AI #thinking #Gendlin #The Living Process #Embodied #Philosophy of Embodied Critical Thinking