Abstract
This study explored the application of the counselling technique called Focusing, with three subjects each attending four counselling sessions.A background view of Focusing identified major contributions from existential, experiential and transpersonal fields of psychology associated with the phenomenological school of counselling therapy.
Naturalistic inquiry was used as a method to devise a cumulative exploration of self-acceptance and experiencing. The Focusing technique, first devised by Eugene Gendlin in the 1960’s, was modified prior to the main study and then implemented as a combined counselling/training intervention. A grounded theory procedure provided the basis of a qualitative methodological examination for the study and triangulation was effected using quantitative instruments to examine an empirical outcome of the intervention for self acceptance.
The Focusing intervention was developed as a prepared script elicited by the researcher, followed by unstructured debriefing which included embedded questions about acceptance of self and the subject’s process of experiencing during the intervention.
Prior to commencement of the study, the researcher held some ideas but no preconceived assumptions about the outcome of the intervention in terms of its effect upon subject self-acceptance and experiencing.
Upon analysis of the quantitative and qualitative results, it was concluded that exposure to a counselling process such as Focusing affects openness to and awareness of potential breadth, depth and expression of individual experiencing. Empirical measures of self-acceptance produced inconclusive results in pre- and post-testing, being more adequately explored in the outcomes of qualitative analyses. During the course of the study, five innovative methods of investigation were utilised and found to be suitable for further development towards future research.
| Date of Award | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Sally Guggenheimer (Supervisor) |
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