Ann Weiser Cornell – Speaker, Author, Teacher

Engage Ann to present a keynote speech, convention breakout, motivational program, presentation, seminar, or workshop.

Ann has spoken at numerous conferences around the globe: from Switzerland to Australia to Hawaii to Argentina. She has shared the stage with other notable speakers, such as Rick Hanson, Nathaniel Granger, Jr., Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Dan Siegel, and Richard Schwartz.

She is pleased to be able to bring her inspirational and transformational message to audiences of all types, including psychotherapists, coaches, work communities, and anyone interested in living a more empowered and fulfilling life. Do you stop yourself from being your best self? Do you have an inner voice that seems to undermine your success? Hear Ann’s inspiring message that “There are no enemies inside” and learn how to be as big as the world needs you to be.

Some Popular Presentation Topics

The Three Secrets of the Inner Critic

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Are you your own worst enemy? If you’re like most of us, you treat yourself more harshly than you treat anyone else. All your life you’ve heard that relentless voice in your head that says, “You’ll never make it” and “There is something wrong with you.” Inner critics cause needless suffering and prevent us from living our full potential.

Would you believe that nothing in you wants to hurt you? That every part of you is doing its best to help you? And that inner critics can transform and melt away? In this inspiring and life-changing presentation, Ann Weiser Cornell reveals the three “secrets” of the inner critic – secrets that shift our sense of empowerment and possibility as we get in touch with our true inner resources.

How to Trust Your Desires

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Desire is juicy… we love to follow our desires! But can we trust them? What about all those times that following our desires got us in trouble? How can we tell the difference between the desires that lead us down the path of disaster, and our true desires that point us toward our unique, joyful contribution to a fuller life for all?

Starting with her own stories, Ann Weiser Cornell shows how a special kind of body awareness can help us tell the difference between desires that can be trusted and those that lead us astray, without getting caught up in “right” and “wrong.” The result: a greater sense of living forward joyfully, guided from within.

Focusing in Clinical Practice: Facilitating Breakthrough Moments in Therapy

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When our clients are stuck, it can seem as if they’re going in endless circles or digging deeper in a hole they can’t get out of. It’s obvious that thinking and analyzing doesn’t help. Research into successful therapy shows that it’s possible for our clients to have a fresh, immediate experience that takes them outside the box of their narrow, frozen ways of experiencing life. It’s called a felt sense… and it leads to breakthrough experiences even for clients who feel hopeless and at a dead end.

In this practical and empowering presentation, Ann Weiser Cornell shows how to recognize and support the felt senses that our clients are having naturally, and how to create opportunities for felt senses to form in clients who are out of touch with themselves. You’ll learn moves that you can bring into your client sessions immediately, no matter what your modality of therapy, to empower your clients to live their fuller lives.

Get Bigger Than What’s Bugging You

Do you have too many stresses to think straight? Are you on emotional overload? If you’ve ever struggled with anything like this, you know from experience that our strong emotional states can sometimes feel like they’re taking us over. You feel small, overwhelmed…or maybe you have thoughts of not being able to handle it. Whatever you’re going through…you’ve tried talking yourself out of the feelings, but they persist anyway.

There is another possibility.

The secret is to get bigger. Ann Weiser Cornell created this inspiring talk full of examples and practices to show you exactly how to do it. The good news is that these practices are not hard – they’re easy to bring  into your daily life. Have Ann come talk to your group or organization about how you can change your life to be calmer, more manageable and a lot more fun.

> Booking Information: Find out how to book Ann for in-person engagements, virtual interviews, or guest blogging opportunities

A few places Ann has presented…

Selected Talks & Events

2023 Speaking Engagements

  • “Healthy Boundaries, Self-Esteem, and Breaking Free from Childhood Trauma” presentation at the Breaking Free from Childhood Trauma Online Masterclass with Avaiya University. April 10-16, 2023.
  • Faculty for Embody Lab’s Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate Program. Also featuring: Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Dan Siegel, Manuela Mischke-Reeds, Kai Cheng Thom, and more.  February 13 to June 8, 2023.
  • “A Conversation with Ann & Barbara about Inner Relationship Focusing & Untangling.” Deutsche Focusing Gesellschaft (DFG), virtual event. Ann Weiser Cornell & Barbara McGavin. January 18, 2023.
  • Inner Relationship Focusing workshop provided as part of Noga Maivar’s Focusing and Family Constellation program in Israel (virtual event). February 9, 2023.
  • Inner Relationship Focusing for therapists. Earth Circles Counseling Center, Oakland, CA. February 12, 2023.
  • Conference keynote speaker at Focusing Momentum, a German Focusing conference. February 17, 2023.
  • Program faculty for The Embody Lab’s Somatic Attachment Therapy Certificate program. March 16, 21, 23, 28, 2023.
  • “The Radical Acceptance of Everything: There are no enemies inside.” Part of the Shanghai Focusing lecture series “Focusing as embodied wisdom and love.” May 8, 2023.
  • Q&A on Focusing for The Ecuador EFT Institute. July 2, 2023

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Selected Past Speaking Engagements

  • Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change. Earth Circles Counseling Center, Oakland, CA. June 9, 2019.
  • Common Ground: How to Mix Methods Without Losing Depth. Congress for the Dutch Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy Association, May 24, 2019
  • Bringing Focusing to Your Clients. Haight Ashbury Psychological Services, San Francisco, CA. June 11, 2018.
  • What’s Even Better Than Forgiveness? Online Forgiveness Conference, Jan 21 to Feb 4, 2018. Germany.
  • Grounding the Overwhelmed Client: Client-Empowering Skills for Emotional Regulation, 2017 International Focusing-Oriented Therapy Conference, June 22-25 in Garrison NY.
  • Body Wisdom for an Integrated Life. Wisdom 2.0 Conference, New Ventures West “Integration Lounge.” February 19, 2017.
  • Grounding the Overwhelmed Client. La Cheim Behavioral Health Services, Oakland, CA. January 5, 2017.
  • Bringing Focusing to Your Clients. Haight Ashbury Psychological Services, San Francisco, CA. December 12 & 19, 2016.
  • The Power of Focusing. John F. Kennedy University, Pleasant Hill, CA, October 27, 2016.
  • Inviting Breakthrough Moments with Focusing. Professional Training at Santa Clara County Psychological Association, Santa Clara, CA, October 15, 2016.
  • Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change. Professional Training at Palouse Continuing Education Consortium, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, September 12, 2016.
  • Grounding the Overwhelmed Client: Client-Empowering Skills for Emotional Regulation. Presentation at the 2016 Psychotherapy Networker Symposium in Washington, DC. March 17-20, 2016.
  • Appetite, Desire, and Longing: Releasing the Power of Wanting. Presentation at the 2016 Sexuality, Spirituality and the Body; The Art and Science of Somatic Psychotherapy Conference with USABP in Providence, RI. July 21-23, 2016.
  • Presenter at the USABP Somatic Psychology Conference at the Kripalu Center in Stockbridge, MA, November 2015
  • FISS 2015: Focusing Institute Summer School. The Garrison Institute, Garrison, NY, August 2015
  • Speaker at the International Focusing Conference, Seattle, WA, July 2015
  • “Get Bigger Than What’s Bugging You” for Rossmoor Wellness Group, Walnut Creek, CA, October 2014
  • “Breakthrough Moments in Therapy: Facilitating Felt Senses” for LA California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, Los Angeles, CA, June 2014
  • Presenter at Third International Conference on Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapies, Stony Point, NY, May 2014
  • Keynote Speaker at Society for Humanistic Psychology 7th Annual Conference, Palo Alto, CA, March 2014
  • “Trauma, the Process Model, and Self-in-Presence: How Focusing is Essential for Releasing Trauma,” at the Twentieth International Focusing Conference, Montreal, PQ Canada, May 2008
  • “Inner Relationship Focusing in Therapy,” at the American Psychological Association Conference (Division 32: Humanistic Psychology), San Francisco, CA, August 2007
  • “Getting Unstuck: Facilitating Focusing,” at NICABM (National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine), Hilton Head, SC, December 2006

 Virtual Events & Guest Blogging

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Want Ann to be a part of your telesummit, online interview series, or blog?

Invite Ann Today!

Recent Virtual Events:

  • Beyond Empty Nest podcast, interview with Jodi Silverman. Episode title – Overcoming Overwhelm: How to Set Calm, Clear & Compassionate Boundaries
  • #WiseGirl podcast, interview with Francesca Maximé. 
  • Using the Focusing Method to Manage Pain and Overwhelming Emotions. Listen to Ann talk about Focusing & Pain with Shelly Jackson and the Painiac Podcast.
  • Focusing & the Art of Leadership. Listen to Ann on the Vital Presence Podcast with Sally Fox. Episode airs November 30, 2015.
  • Letting Your Deeper Self Guide Your Life. Part of the Dance of Surrender Telesummit with Jodi Thomas. Begins November 16, 2015.
  • The Power of Empathy and Focusing video interview with Edwin Rutsch, founder of the Center for  Building a Culture of Empathy.
  • Break Free from Shame and Self-Blame. Part of the Art and Soul of Peaceful Living: Essential Wisdom to Discover your Freedom, Peace and Joy so you can Soulfully Live your Life. Telesummit with Dannette Lynn. Begins June 19, 2015.
  • Being Compassionately Fearless: How to Befriend Your Fears. Part of the Pulling the Plug on Panic: How to Break the Cycle of Fear and Finally Have a Life You Love Telesummit with Melissa Aiudi. May 28 to June 18, 2015.
  • Freedom from Shame and Inadequacy: Transforming Your Inner Critic, A View Through Two Lenses. Webinar with Jay Earley and Ann Weiser Cornell. April 21, 2015.
  • Webinar with USABP. Ann talks to somatic-oriented therapists about The Constricted Body: Helping Clients Turn Around Shame, Self-Blame and Resistance. March 30, 2015.
  • University of Southern Queensland School of Psychology, Counseling, and Community, professional development presentation on Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change. March 13, 2015.
  • Guest speaker on The Aware Show NeuroSummit III. Ann discusses how to Let Your Body Rewire Your Mind.
  • Online Events UK, an evening with Ann discussing Focusing and the Therapist’s Use of Self: Presence and the Use of Embodiment in Client Sessions. February 15, 2015.
  • New Ventures West Book Study Group guest speaker talk on Focusing in Clinical Practice. January 6, 2015.
  • Guest Blogging. You’re Not Bad; You’re Crying Out for Help.  Tiny Buddha. August 18, 2014 
  • Guest Blogging. How Emotional Hurts and Wounds Affect Our Relationships.  Authentic Woman Cafe. August 4, 2014 
  • Ann Weiser Cornell shares 30 years of marketing experience with podcast host Kimberly Maska. Click here to listen. July 17, 2014
  • Online Events UK featured an evening with Ann discussing her latest book, Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change. May 25, 2014

Excerpts of Past Talks

Ann Weiser Cornell offers the riveting story of the complete healing of her writer’s block and what that taught her about the power of radical acceptance and interested curiosity. This talk is divided into two parts above.

 

 

“We cannot fix ourselves, and no one else can fix us.” But change is possible, and Ann Weiser Cornell shares the core secret of change from 40 years of searching: radical acceptance of the dark places.

 

What People Are Saying

LACAMFT“I can’t thank you enough for the wonderful presentation you gave to our Los Angeles CAMFT Somatic Therapies Special Interest Group… It was an excellent presentation and your command of the subject is clearly broad, well-honed and impressive.

This is exactly the kind of material we are happy to present to our members as they look to increase their knowledge of the possibilities within the somatic therapeutic world.”

–Cathy Graf, MA, MFT, SEP, Chairperson, LA-CAMFT Somatic Therapies Special Interest Group

Robert D. Sheeler“Ann Weiser Cornell is at the leading edge of taking Focusing to the next level with the somato-linguistic pathways she has developed that help people get right to the heart of things, and in a substantially high percentage of cases get someone in touch with their larger wisdom directly.”

–Robert D. Sheeler, MD, Mayo Clinic, Minneapolis, MN

 

Nora-Wayman“Thank you so much for nurturing focusing along and creating such a beautifully accessible way to learn it.  I think it is not only best thing since sliced bread….  it is the best thing since bread itself.  Thank you, thank you!”

–Nora Wayman, LCSW, Bend, OR

 

“Ann Weiser Cornell is a fantastic guest speaker.  She is warm and personable, intellectually sophisticated and down to earth, consummately professional and deeply human.  Many of our students were moved by her presentation and demonstration of the work — not just for their development as therapists-in-the-making, but for their own process of personal self-inquiry. Ann is a true pioneer in the field and perhaps the principal current torchbearer of Gendlin’s fundamental work — moving it ever forward through clarification, discernment and attention to linguistic nuance.  She is and remains a gift to the field of somatics.”  

— Albert Wong, PhD, Director of Somatic Psychology, JFK University

Book Ann for Your Event

Ann’s Availability

We’re so glad you’re interested in booking Ann for your event! The easiest way to move forward is to send us an email. We’ll schedule an initial chat to determine the needs of your organization. Please include a contact name, as well as the preferred method of communication, possible dates, location, and what you’re interested in. Or, feel free to call our offices at (510) 225-0690. Any member of our staff is happy to assist you with your needs.

Ann’s Professional Biography

Ann Weiser Cornell PhD is an internationally known author and seminar leader who has been working with the Focusing process – and working closely with Eugene Gendlin – since 1972. Ann has given presentations and trainings in Focusing for psychotherapists at the American Psychological Association, the Psychotherapy Networker Conference, the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine, the National Institute for the Psychotherapies, and the Cape Cod Institute. Ann’s latest book is Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change.

Download a printable version of Ann’s bio and resume here.

Ann’s More Personal Biography

Ann Weiser Cornell believes in the radical acceptance of everything inside us, and loves to help people get free of what is blocking them from becoming and living their full potential. She tells her own inspiring story of becoming free of writer’s block by turning with compassion toward the blocking part. Through her talks, Ann touches the heart and inspires the mind to a sense of fresh possibilities. Ann has thirty years’ experience helping people shift their relationship to difficult life situations and move forward in new ways. She is the author of The Power of Focusing and The Radical Acceptance of Everything. Ann’s latest book is Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change.

To download Ann’s Speaker resume and personal bio, click here.

Hear More of What Ann Has Shared About Focusing

Selected Publications

Power-Of-Focusing“Ann Weiser Cornell’s The Power of Focusing clarifies an essential human skill many of us have forgotten, and takes it a quantum leap farther along its evolutionary path. Here are germinal teachings and deep human wisdom expressed in a way that can improve anyone’s emotions, well-being, life.”

— Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior and The Laws of Spirit

 

 

Focusing in Clinical Practice: The Essence of Change, by Ann Weiser Cornell

“Since Eugene Gendlin’s landmark book Focusing, first published in 1978, there has been too little in the way of clinical application of his seminal work. In her thorough, illuminating book, Ann Weiser Cornell fills this need. She clearly outlines the essence of change, explaining how it emerges from the client’s relationship with
his or her living–sensing body. She demonstrates, step by step, just how these innate transformative moments occur and how we can guide our clients in that direction. It is ‘magic’ made simple, pure and simple.”

—  Peter A. Levine, PhD, author of In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness and Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma; recipient of the USABP Lifetime Achievement Award

 

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“Ann Weiser Cornell has been teaching for many years in many countries and is well known worldwide. In her previous book and her manuals she has created new specific and accessible instructions for Focusing as well as for the teachers of Focusing. In person and through her students and writings she has given Focusing to far more people than any other single individual. She is a powerful force in making the world better. She has gone on to create different new processes in new dimensions, which are included in this book.”

— Eugene Gendlin, author of Focusing

In addition to The Power of Focusing and The Radical Acceptance of Everything, Ann has written numerous articles on Focusing.

Selected Articles

Get Bigger Than What’s Bugging You
Five simple and powerful practices for getting calmer, getting smarter, getting bigger than your problems, taught by Ann Weiser Cornell and Lucinda Hayden in a one-hour phone course with guided exercises and lots of examples, for beginners and experienced Focusers alike.

Get Clear and Move Forward with Focusing
Remarkably, it’s in the very places where we feel uneasy and unclear that we can find the energy and wisdom to move forward. This introductory seminar includes a guided Focusing exercise that has been described as “transformational.”

Focusing and Pain (and Other Symptoms)
Focusing has gifts for people in pain, whether acute or chronic. If you’re enduring symptoms of any kind of illness or condition, Focusing is not a cure… but it can help you tap into your body’s resources for healing and relief.

Working with Clients Who Are Experiencing Traumatic States Like Overwhelm, Panic Attacks, or Anxiety with Ann Weiser Cornell & Glenn Fleisch
States of overwhelm (traumatic states) can arise at any point in therapy, from the very beginning to experiences that emerge once a therapeutic bond has been established. In this seminar you will learn seven specific ways to use Focusing to allow people to find relief from and healing in states of overwhelm such as anxiety, panic, and trauma.