You don’t need to be a therapist or have other formal credentials in order to become a Focusing Teacher/Practitioner.
You just need to go through the training process and demonstrate your ability to provide safe and empowering Focusing experiences for others, both one-to-one and in groups.
At the end of the program – having met the requirements – you will receive Certification as a Focusing Professional from The Focusing Institute, the international nonprofit organization. Ann Weiser Cornell and Focusing Resources are authorized to offer this certification.
This program is offered once yearly starting in October, days of the week and times vary. The prerequisite for entering certification training is Path to Lasting Change Parts One and Two (or the equivalent) with an Inner Relationship Focusing teacher.
Although this is the planned schedule, it is not guaranteed that a particular teacher will teach the week listed. Topics are also subject to change. Click the “+” or “-” to expand each year.
Year One
In addition to the classroom meetings described below, Year One includes:
- Demonstrations of Facilitating Focusing, a 3-week phone class taught by Ann Weiser Cornell (can be taken any of several times during the year)
- Assisting at Focusing classes taught at Focusing Resources or by other teachers
- Beginning to work with practice clients and receive supervision and feedback
- Beginning to receive six guided sessions from mentors (three with each mentor over the whole training)
- Treasure Maps to the Soul retreat or Getting Free course (usually begun or scheduled by the end of the first year)
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Year One: October 2024 – June 2025 |
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October 10. Led by Ann with other Teachers and Co-Mentors. Participants will pair for Focusing partnership each week with a different trainee from the course until each trainee has met with each other trainee. Consultative support triads will then be formed. |
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October 17. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell
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October 24. Led by Peter Gill |
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October 31. Led by Barbara McGavin |
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November 7. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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November 14. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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November 21. Led by Barbara McGavin |
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December 5. Led by Helene Brenner |
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December 12. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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January 2, 2025. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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January 9. Led by Emily Agnew |
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January 16. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell and Lee Miller Focusing-oriented supervision/consultation. How to do your own Focusing on (and learn from) doing practice client sessions. How to give each other support in triads. |
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January 23. Consultative Triads meet |
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January 30. Led by Barbara McGavin |
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February 6. Consultative Triads meet |
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February 13. Led by Emily Agnew. |
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February 20. Consultative Triads meet |
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February 27. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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March 6. Consultative Triads meet |
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March 13. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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March 20. Consultative Triads meet |
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March 27. Led by Emily Agnew |
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April 3. Consultative Triads meet |
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April 10. Led by Helene Brenner |
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April 17. Consultative Triads meet |
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April 24. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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May 1 Consultative Triads meet |
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May 8. Led by Barbara McGavin Start with Why. A process of inquiry in which trainees sense into their own deepest purpose for doing this work, and draw from that a sense of how to communicate about it. |
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May 15. Consultative Triads meet |
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May 22. Led by Barbara McGavin |
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May 29. Consultative Triads meet |
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June 5. Consultative Triads meet |
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June 12. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
Year Two
In addition to the classroom meetings described below, Year Two includes:
- Carrying out a Focusing Project to explore some aspect of Focusing (eg Focusing in schools, Focusing and creativity, Focusing and chronic pain, Focusing combined with some other method)
- Teaching a Level One (12-hour) Focusing class
- Developing materials for communicating with one’s intended audience
- Continuing to work with practice clients and receive supervision and feedback
- Continuing to have sessions with Mentors
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Year Two: September 2025 – May 2026 |
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September 18, 2025. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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September 25. Consultative Triads meet |
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October 2. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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October 9. Consultative Triads meet |
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October 16. Led by Emily Agnew |
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October 23. Consultative Triads meet |
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October 30. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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November 6. Consultative Triads meet |
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November 13. Led by Peter Gill |
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November 20. Consultative Triads meet |
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December 4. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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December 11, 2025. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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January 8, 2026. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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January 15. Consultative Triads meet |
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January 22. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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January 29. Consultative Triads meet |
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February 5. Led by Barbara McGavin |
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February 12. Consultative Triads meet |
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February 19. Led by Nina Joy Lawrence and Pat Omidian |
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February 26. Consultative Triads meet |
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March 5. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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March 12. Consultative Triads meet |
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March 19. Led by Emily Agnew |
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March 26. Consultative Triads meet |
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April 2. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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April 9. Consultative Triads meet |
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April 16. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell |
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April 23. Consultative Triads meet |
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April 30. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell and Co-Mentors |
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May 7. Led by Ann Weiser Cornell and Co-Mentors |
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May 14. Consultative Triads meet |
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May 21, 2026. Led by Ann with other Teachers and Co-Mentors. |
Completion of the program:
In addition to completing the classroom two-year program, trainees also need to complete other requirements, and this can take longer than the end of the classroom program in accord with individual needs. There is no need for everyone to “graduate” together.
Checklist of final requirements:
- Complete 50 practice sessions, at least half of which have been reported on to Mentors
- Teach a Level One course
- Complete Focusing Project
- When all other requirements have been completed, have the final Milestone Session with the two mentors
Deadlines
Note: these are final deadlines. There are great benefits to completing the steps well before these deadlines.
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August 1 |
Schedule a chat with Ann by or before this date to explore whether the program meets your needs and access the Application form in time to complete it before the early enrollment deadline below. |
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August 8 |
Early Enrollment Application Deadline – get in your application by this date to enroll early, securing your spot and getting access to program materials in advance |
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August 29 |
Final Application Deadline – Must have a chat with Ann in order to receive the application form. |
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September 5 |
Registration Closes – final payment deadline |
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October 10 |
Class begins |
Want a free taste of our program?
Join Ann Weiser Cornell, with Barbara McGavin and other program teachers for a 90-minute Open House Webinar all about the Two-Year Certification Program.
When: May 16 at 10am – 11:30am Pacific time
You’ll:
- Get a chance to share your own goals and questions
- Find out if this program is right for you
- Learn about the different components of the program and how they integrate
- Enjoy the exciting prospect of this new group forming
Can’t make this time? Sign up to receive a replay to watch at your convenience.
Step 1. Have a 20-Minute Chat
Ann can help you explore whether the program meets your needs.
Step 2. Complete Your Application
A link to our program application is provided after you have your chat with Ann.
Step 3. Click Here to Register or See Course Details (do not register until you've completed Steps 1 and 2)
Certification as a Focusing Professional
$7,500.00
Dates: October 10, 2024 to May 21, 2026
Time: Thursdays; 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Pacific
Taught by Ann Weiser Cornell and Additional Program Faculty
Payment and additional details
Cost: $7500
Pay in full or in 12 installments. Installment plans include processing fees. Choose payment plan option at checkout.
Don’t Miss Out: The last day to register is September 5
Prerequisite: Completion of Level Four or Your Path to Lasting Change, Part Two Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF) Training. Application approved by the Training Coordinator.
What is Included in Your Program Fees
Included:
- Year One Course (includes facilitating one-to-one Focusing sessions with people who know Focusing and new people)
- Year Two Course (includes Teaching Groups and Communicating about your work)
- Demonstrations of Facilitating Focusing
- Mentor & Co-Mentor Fees (includes 3 milestone sessions)
- 3 Mentor Sessions with Ann
- 3 Mentor Sessions with Co-Mentor
- Help in finding Practice Clients
- Practice Client Feedback
- 3 Observations of Sessions with Focusing clients
- Support forming Peer Partnerships for Consultation, Marketing & Teaching
- Additional Support & Training for Path to Lasting Change, Part One Assistants
- Teacher’s Manual (digital download, PDF files)
- Focusing in Clinical Practice book
Paid Separately:
- Treasure Maps to the Soul or Getting Free course
- Focusing Institute Fees
- Travel costs for in-person workshops
- Phone charges
- Membership in Zoom.us
Additional Information
Continuing Education Credit& Record of Completion
Two-year program meets the qualifications for 78 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Focusing Resources, CAMFT Approved CE Provider #62524. 44 CE Credits are awarded for completion of Year One, and 34 CE Credits are awarded for completion of Year Two. (Demonstrations of Facilitating Focusing class and the Treasure Maps retreat also award CE Credits when taken.)
Focusing Resources is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs. Focusing Resources maintains responsibility for this course and its content.
There is a $25 administrative fee for CE Credits. Records of Completion are awarded at the end of each year of the program upon completion of all requirements and the course evaluation for that year. (If you don’t want CE Credits but would like a Record of Completion, the $25 fee does still apply.)
Program Cancellation Policy
Any student may withdraw from the Training within one week (7 days) after the first training class meeting and receive an eighty (80) percent refund of the tuition. This refers to the total tuition payable including by installment plan. No refunds will be granted after the first week of training.
Students will be held to this agreement, regardless of future attendance and/or completion of the training. In extraordinary circumstances,we will consider requests for refunds or release from the payment contract. However, the final decision in such matters will rest with Focusing Resources, Inc.
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is a requirement of the program. Participants should plan to attend 80% of the scheduled classes for Year One and Year Two curriculum.
This roughly translates into being able to miss no more than 8 class meetings over the course of two years.
When Something Doesn't Go As You'd Hoped...
We are always open to discussing experiences with our courses that didn’t work for you or didn’t go the way you expected. Depending on the circumstances, you may want to email your course instructor, the staff member in charge of your course, or Ann Weiser Cornell. Email addresses for all these people will be supplied on registration. We will work with you to find a way to meet your needs.
"The course far exceeded my expectations. Ann is the most generous teacher I've encountered in all the various courses I have taken. The level of safety she provides allowed me to blossom and thrive in a way I had never experienced before. I am deeply grateful for the entire program."
"Being in the certification program has brought me many things that I expected: among them new friends, a deeper understanding of myself, better listening skills, and more competence in focusing. The class is brilliantly designed and masterfully taught. Ann guides us through the learning process with skill and compassion and the mentors bring added depth through the sharing and support of their years of experience. It is an outstanding training."
"The Inner Relationship Certification Program was for me a skillful, in depth and thorough unpacking
of the magic and power of focusing altogether. As a health care provider, the wealth of resources that I received,
are invaluable and continue to inform my work in further supporting my clients, with their deepest longings, needs and purpose in life.The teachers are excellent in that they are so passionate and knowledgeable about Focusing and are so willing and generous to share this understanding with us throughout the program.
I highly recommend this certification program for anyone wishing to explore Focusing at its best!"
"From the readings, which seem so simple but are so very deep and rich, the classes which are alive with sharing, practice, and gentle but expert guidance, to the way Ann and Barbara are living examples of this way of walking in the world, I am so grateful. What is demonstrated and cultivated here in this course is so profoundly respectful of each human person’s capacity to come into relationship with all they are experiencing within and create the conditions for an ever unfolding, dynamic process that is at once expansive, life-saving, and life-giving, it is no wonder that I have already grown so much in my capacity to walk with others and guide them in this Focusing way; it is no wonder that my own process has deepened so richly since I began this course only a few short months ago. I am so glad that I gave myself this gift, it has opened me to the wonder and awe of each person I encounter and meet in this way, including myself, who I meet ever freshly. And in a world of people starving for this way of holding themselves and others in Presence, this course is providing me with an ever deepening capacity to walk with others and guide them as they open into the ever unfolding world of experience within them. And, as I write this, I realize this is just the beginning."
Is this a training for therapists?
No, it isn’t a training for therapists, although therapists may find it valuable. The curriculum centers on facilitating sessions that are explicitly Focusing sessions, and teaching Focusing to groups, and does not include bringing Focusing into other kinds of practice.
I am not sure I can make the class times. Can I take the course another way?
No, sorry, this is an intensive program with a high commitment to your own training and to the other students, your cohort. If you don’t think you can make at least 80% of the classes, better to find a different program.
How is this different from the certification offered by the International Focusing Institute?
Actually, this IS a certification offered by the International Focusing Institute. We are one of the organizations that they have authorized to give their certification. Specific programs will differ and it’s good to interview the directors of any two programs that you are deciding between. We’ll be happy to tell you all about ours… but we are not experts in theirs… so do ask them!
