Theoretical Symposium

Sunday Dec​ember 28, 2025 ​3:30 p.m. EST

A FOCUSING THEORETICAL SYMPOSIUM  https://www.focusingtherapy.org/news

TITLE: Felt Sense Formation ​i​n relation to Inhibition & Encouragement

SUB-TITLE: An experiential crossing of Eugene Gendlin and Moshé Feldenkrais informed by Jan Winhall

INSPIRATION: During her first class of FORGE Module 2, Lynn Preston brought together a diverse array of participants, teaching us to articulate step by step, and suddenly we formed a cohesive group. I found it truly remarkable to see this unfold and began thinking about applications into theory – Inhibition and Encouragement in action.
Noting Module 2 of the Focusing-Oriented Relating in Group Environments Structure and Spontaneity: The Group and the Individual.

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PROGRAMME​ DEC 28, 2025:
A) The theory we will be working with and furthering:

For our second Theoretical Symposium on Sunday December 28, 2025 we will consider what happens in that moment just before focusing deepens. Experiential explorations will be offered in light of the following three models, bringing coherence to our study and discussion:
* Felt Sense Formation and Perfect Feedback Object – Eugene Gendlin
* Inhibition & Encouragement – Moshé Feldenkrais
* Focusing as ‘Intervening Variable’ – Jan Winhall

B) Our purpose will be for people to connect emotionally and physically with the theme as well as intellectually. The session will be about helping each of us individually and as a group, think further about something that is carrying forward.

1) An exploration of the moment on the way to ‘felt sense FORMATION and subsequent shift is important because:
* We learn to honour people’s differences and patterns by being aware of that pivotal moment.

2) How three theorists (Gendlin, Feldenkrais, Winhall) are speaking to our theme:

* Quotes below and a brief Feldenkrais exploration will weave our understanding.  We may imagine the diverse participants in Lynn Preston’s FORGE Module 2 class or our students or clients, to discover elements of their unique moments on the way to focusing deeply.

2a) *Felt Sense Formation and Perfect Feedback Object – Eugene Gendlin 

“One cannot solve a problem any old way. There cannot be a feedback object, a carrying forward of a complexity any old way.

The CHANGE in the FORMATION is not the same as the change inherent in feeling the direct referent once it is there. The formation is murky–then suddenly the FURTHER formation is what the direct referent FALLS OUT FROM as a stable object or datum. For some seconds or minutes sometimes months, the falling out does not occur. It is nothing like turning and reflecting on what is there waiting. It is a very special formation. When it falls out, every bit of that sequence is exactly what the previous bit required, and the object made by that sequence is a PERFECT FEEDBACK OBJECT.” (emphasis added Katarina Halm)    – Eugene Gendlin, Relevance and Perfect Feedback Object in A Process Model (1997 d)

Relevance and Perfect Feedback Object – Gendlin 1997 slide

2b) *Inhibition & Encouragement – Moshé Feldenkrais

“it is important to pay close attention to every improvement and to assimilate it after every series of movements. We thus get a DOUBLE effect on our sensing capacity: the INHIBITION of the previous, automatic pattern of movement, which now feels wrong, heavy, and less comfortable, and the ENCOURAGEMENT of the new pattern, which will appear more acceptable, more flowing, and more satisfactory. The insight thus obtained is not an intellectual one—proven, understood, and convincing—but a matter of deeper sensing, the fruit of individual EXPERIENCE. It is important to know and understand the CONNECTION between the CHANGE and its CAUSES in order to ENCOURAGE one to repeat the experience with sufficient accuracy under similar conditions to reinforce its effect and impress the improvement deeply on our senses.” — Moshé Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (1972) pages 127-128 (emphasis added K​. Halm) (1972)

*Inhibition & Encouragement – Moshé Feldenkrais 1972 slide

2b-2)  *Encouraging Autonomy / Empowering Autonomy –Ralph Strauch

“I see the core of Moshé’s teaching as encouraging autonomy – teaching us to look within ourselves for answers rather than seeking them from any external authority, including him, and guiding us to acquire the skills needed to assure that the answers we find in ourselves will be good ones.  The objective of ATM, for example, is not to learn the “right” way to act, but to become aware and sensitive enough to allow appropriate forms of action to emerge organically for us.  We should explore ways of more fully applying this principle in other aspects of our work and lives, and in the ways we train others to continue that work”  (R.  Strauch, personal communication with the Yachats planning group, November 4, 2013).  Ralph Strauch explores this idea in greater depth at his (2009) article soon to added Empowering Autonomy

  *Encouraging Autonomy : Empowering Autonomy – Ralph Strauch (2009:2013)

2c) * Focusing as ‘Intervening Variable’ – Jan Winhall 

A pdf with three lovely graphics: Focusing as ‘Intervening Variable’ ©Jan Winhall 2022 FSPM (Katarina Halm project 2025)

Katarina’s Listing at Jan Winhall’s FSPM Facilitators Page 

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Welcoming Comments and Questions in Advance.
Katarina Halm [email protected]

GCFP (Feldenkrais®), CFP (Focusing)
Web: thinkinginmovement.ca
Web: feldenkraisinclusioninitiative.org
W​r​itings:​ https://independent.academia.edu/KatarinaHalm
​Katarina’s Background includes:

• M.A. ITP (Institute of Transpersonal Psychology)  the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 1994 (Resonance and Dissonance in the Learning Process)
• Study and practicum in community psychotherapy with R.D.Laing, John Heaton and Francis Huxley in London, England, 1982-1984

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​Noting a lesson Thursday December 25, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. EST (one hour)
Katarina Awareness Through Movement Lesson 7 The Carriage of the Head Affects the State of the Musculature, ‘ATM book’ Moshé Feldenkrais
please let us know if you wish to follow the recording and notes
Email: [email protected]
Telephone 1 604 263 9123