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Deepening Experiential Presence with Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF): Levels 1 & 2

Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF) is a powerful, experiential method that was developed by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. IRF enables therapists to enhance their therapeutic presence, support clients in accessing deeper emotional layers, and navigate challenging moments with clarity and compassion. Whether you are familiar with Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) or entirely new to it, this course offers practical tools and personal insights that can transform your approach to therapy.

Objective

IRF is more than a therapeutic technique — it is a systematic personal practice and a way of being. By developing a deeper connection with your own emotional experience, you will strengthen your ability to guide clients in their self-exploration. This course is designed to provide both a foundation for personal growth and the skills needed to integrate Focusing into your clinical practice, regardless of your therapeutic orientation. The core of this training lies in systematic practice with your focusing partner. This approach allows you to fully immerse yourself in the Focusing process by both experiencing and applying it in a meaningful way.


Course Structure:
• Level 1: Encountering the Inner Relationship
Two full-day workshops to learn the essentials of Inner Relationship Focusing.
• Dates: 5th & 6th September (Friday & Saturday).
• Time: 09:00 to 17:00.

• Level 2: Accompanying the Inner Relationship
Two additional full-day workshops, combined with weekly tandem practice, to refine your skills and address common challenges.
• Dates: 17th October & 21st November (Fridays).
• Time: 09:00 to 17:00.

Target Group

This course is ideal for therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals from all backgrounds who are:
• Seeking a practical method to deepen emotional connection and presence in therapy.
• Interested in developing their own emotional awareness and self-care practices
• Curious about how Focusing can enhance existing therapeutic techniques and client outcomes.

No prior knowledge of EFT is required to participate—Inner Relationship Focusing is a versatile skill that complements a wide range of therapeutic approaches.
Join us to discover how Inner Relationship Focusing can enrich your therapeutic practice, deepen your client relationships, and provide you with tools for personal and professional growth.

Method

Participants will arrange tandem partners for practice between sessions (with support from the Swiss EFT Institute).

Content

What You'll Gain:
1. Core Focusing Skills for Therapy:
• Learn how to stay present with unclear or complex emotions, both in yourself and in your clients.
• Master advanced listening techniques, including how to accompany clients in a non-directive yet deeply supportive way.
• Facilitate a client’s journey through emotional exploration without analyzing or problem-solving.

2. Tools for Personal Growth and Self-Care:
• Cultivate self-presence and learn to relate to your own emotions with compassion and curiosity.
• Practice techniques that not only benefit your clients but also nurture your own emotional well-being as a therapist.

3. Practical Application Across Modalities:
• Integrate IRF into your existing therapeutic framework, whether you practice CBT, psychodynamic therapy, family systems therapy, or any other approach.
• Discover how IRF can complement and enhance interventions you already use, helping clients achieve deeper emotional insight and change.

Trainers

Ph. D. Agathi Lakioti

Agathi Lakioti, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist/ psychotherapist and the founder and clinical director of the Hellenic Institute of Emotion-Focused Therapy (HiEFT) in Athens, Greece. She is a certified EFT therapist and supervisor, and a certified Focusing trainer and Focusing-Oriented Therapist by the International Focusing Institute. She studied psychology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and received her PhD in clinical psychology from Panteion University of Athens and her MSc in Person-Centred Counselling and Psychotherapy from the University of Strathclyde. Agathi teaches Inner Relationship Focusing classes and counselling and psychotherapy, Positive Psychology, and research methodology courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She has also been a trainer and supervisor in the Person-Centred approach for over 15 years. Agathi has been trained and certified in Inner Relationship Focusing by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin. She is especially interested in integrating Emotion-Focused Therapy and Inner Relationship Focusing and she is currently participating in several projects for that purpose. One of them is a qualitative study investigating the use of Focusing by experienced EFT therapists. Agathi is also working on the development of an advanced curriculum for the integration of IRF in therapy.

Assistants

Dr. phil. Emma Smith

Emma Schmied-Smith studied psychology at the University of Bern and received her doctorate under Prof. Klaus Grawe. After a postdoctoral year at King's College London, she completed integrative cognitive-behavioral therapy training at the University of Bern and has completed several advanced trainings in Emotion-Focused Therapy and Inner Relationship Focusing since 2009. She works as a psychotherapist in private practice in Bern and is a lecturer and supervisor in postgraduate psychotherapy continuing education at the University of Bern and at the Swiss Institute for Emotion-Focused Therapy. She isEFT certified international EFT trainer. Emma Smith is also on the board of IEFT Switzerland.

Practical Information

Course Dates

Level 1: September 5, 2025
Level 1: September 6, 2025
Level 2: October 17, 2025
Level 2: November 21, 2025

Times

09:00 to 17:00 (Online)

Language

English

Location

Online

Costs

790 CHF

Recognition

One credit corresponds to a 60-minute unit. Recognition is according to the guidelines of the respective professional society.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation of the binding registration by the participant is possible up to 50 days before the start of the course. In this case, only the administrative costs (CHF 50.-) will be charged. In case of withdrawal of the registration less than 50 days before the beginning of the course, the full amount of the course will be charged.

Contact

If you have questions, we gladly help you

Registration

Deepening Experiential Presence with Inner Relationship Focusing (IRF): Levels 1 & 2

Online

Registration deadline: 08.08.2025
The number of participants is limited. The course will only take place if there are enough registrations.