REAF History

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

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The Receptive-Expressive Arts Focusing (REAF) program was developed from a person-centered and experiential standpoint. Originally called Expressive Arts Focusing (EXAF), the program evolved over five years to become what it is today

The origins of REAF lie in the innovative Focusing training programs developed by Focusing pioneers Christiane Geiser, Hejo Feuerstein, and the late Ernst Juchli. They were and are renowned person-centered and experiential psychotherapists, TIFI Certifying Coordinators and the co-founders of the German-Swiss Focusing Network (FN) and the German Focusing Association (DFG), respectively. Their work had a lasting influence on our Focusing style 

Since 1981, Ernst Juchli (FN) has taught cyclic processing in intermodal Focusing. His wife Christiane Geiser (FN) introduced us to the concept of structure-boundness and the use of museum art representatives in Focusing in 2003. In 2014, we learned about guided Focusing exercises related to imaginative art-making from Hejo Feuerstein (DFG)

Additionally, the work of René Maas, a renowned Dutch PCE psychotherapist and Certifying Coordinator, is incorporated into the REAF program. In 1997, he introduced us to his trauma-informed method of "Clearing a Space" in intermodal Focusing. His specific, person-centered approach to designing Focusing sessions influenced our Focusing style as well, shaping it toward equal-status interaction

We applied the teachings of these European Focusing pioneers ever since

Receptive-Expressive Arts Focusing REAF: 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 45 years of European Focusing tradition. It is the essential training guideline for the Focusing that we have been practicing and teaching since 1995 

REAF Public Release

Receptive-Expressive Arts Focusing , formerly known as 'Expressive Arts Focusing (EXAF)' (https://expressive-arts-focusing.jimdosite.com) was launched on our previous website on August 7, 2019.
Since then, we have continuously refined our exercises, tools, and applications in order to share this MAIF best practice program 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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