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The Role of Experiencing in Psychotherapy: Attending to the “Bodily Felt Sense” of a Problem Makes Any Orientation More Effective

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Abstract

Focusing-Oriented Theory defines a new aspect of client experiencing – the bodily felt sense of a situation or problem. The felt sense is vague at first, sensed directly but not yet in explicit words or images. It is neither drowning in strong emotions nor is it just thinking. The chapter shows examples of how to help a client find this level and how to respond to it. When the felt sense is responded to little steps inwardly arise directly from the client's own process. It is proposed that the Philosophy of the Implicit which underlies this model, can unify our different orientations by showing us how to use any theory experientially. The client is always invited to check any therapist suggested move for resonance in the body and a sense of life being carried forward.

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Correspondence to Marion N. Hendricks.

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Hendricks, M.N. The Role of Experiencing in Psychotherapy: Attending to the “Bodily Felt Sense” of a Problem Makes Any Orientation More Effective. J Contemp Psychother 37, 41–46 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-006-9033-x

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