integrativefocusing.com

What It Is

Integrative Focusing Therapy offers Focusing-Oriented Therapy (FOT) training for therapists. The program was created by Jan Winhall, Leslie Ellis, and Serge Prengel, and consists of four courses. Each course can be taken separately; therapists who complete all four courses may apply for FOT certification through The International Focusing Institute.

Core Courses and Format

The courses emphasize experiential learning rather than traditional exam-oriented training. The training includes personal process work, class participation, conceptual learning, supervision, peer Focusing practice, and pre-class recordings or reading materials. The four tracks cover body- and relationship-oriented FOT, mindfulness and active change, embodied experiential dreamwork, and trauma and addiction treatment integrated with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model. The courses are suitable for different levels of Focusing experience, and therapists with no prior background can also participate.

Pricing and Certification

The main website text does not disclose the price of each individual course; it only states that pricing can be viewed on the registration page for each specific course. In terms of certification, after completing the full set of courses, therapists become eligible to apply for TIFI certification and must become TIFI members and pay a certification fee. The text lists the certification fee as USD 500 for the United States, USD 375 for Canada and many European countries, and lower in some countries. Completing the full set of courses while continuing to work takes about two years.

Pros and Cons

The advantages are that the course structure is flexible, individual courses can be taken à la carte, and the certification pathway is clear. The instructors’ areas of expertise are complementary, covering trauma, bodily experience, dreams, mindfulness, and polyvagal theory, making the program well suited to clinically integrative learning. There are no tests; the courses emphasize participation and personal transformation, which gives them practical value for clinical practitioners.

The drawbacks are limited pricing transparency, and non-therapists cannot qualify for FOT certification even if they participate. Completing the full program also takes a relatively long time and requires substantial commitment to class attendance, personal therapy experience, and peer practice. In addition, course times are mainly arranged for North American and European time zones, so learners in China may face time difference issues.

Who It’s For and Access from China

This program is best suited to psychotherapists, counselors, and professionals who want to incorporate Focusing, body-oriented approaches, and trauma-informed methods into their practice. Coaches and health professionals may also participate, but certification eligibility is limited. The main text does not specify accessibility from mainland China; actual connectivity and the experience with Zoom and email subscriptions need to be tested independently.