.png)
Upcoming FOAT Trainings, Workshops, and Events
In addition, see Approved FOAT® Trainings listings below
International Focusing Conference - Vienna 2026 In-person Event: Vienna, Austria
June 3 - 7, 2026
Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®): 50 Years Unfolding Around the World
Panel: Laury Rappaport (US), Evelyn Ammon & Frances Ingouville (Guatemala), Elisa Wai Hing Cheng & Katherine Kwok (Hong Kong), and Yoshiko Kosaka (Japan). Hosted by The International Focusing Institute (TIFI).
The development of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) began in 1977, with the support of Gene and Mary— when Laury Rappaport had a felt sense that Focusing was a perfect match with expressive arts. In its 49 years carrying forward, FOAT® has become an established profession. This international panel will share highlights of how FOAT has unfolded in the U.S., Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Myanmar, and the Philippines— applied in psychotherapy, children in hospice, a rural community in the Highlands of Guatemala, special education, parenting, and community wellness. It will also include FOAT® at universities and in research.
SIOP Asia Congress 2026 In-person Event: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
June 25 - 28, 2026
FOAT: A Trauma-Informed and Culturally Sensitive Non-Pharmacological Approach to Pediatric Pain Management in Psycho-Oncology
Presented by Carolyn T. Tongco, MA, RPsy, REACE® at the SIOP Asia Congress 2026
This presentation explores Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts as a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approach to pediatric pain management in psycho-oncology. Through drawing, storytelling, imagery, and play, children are supported in expressing and understanding the felt sense of their pain. Clinical case studies from the Philippines demonstrate how pain can be transformed into meaningful symbols and narratives that foster coping and resilience. The approach helped children reduce distress, increase emotional expression, and regain a sense of control during challenging medical experiences. Findings highlight the value of integrating expressive arts and child life practices into holistic pediatric cancer care.
Expressive Therapies Summit Sedona (LIVE) In-person Event: Sedona, Arizona
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 9:00am - 4:00pm MST
Cultivating Self-Compassion and Accessing the Body's Wisdom through Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)
Presented by Laury Rappaport, Ph.D., LMFT, ATR-BC, REAT and Doreen Meister, MA, LMFT. Hosted by Expressive Therapies Summit.
Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) is a mindfulness-based, somatic approach that integrates Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing with the expressive arts. Developed over more than 40 years, FOAT® has been applied with individuals, groups, couples, families, and organizations– and can be adapted to different populations. This Master Class is didactic and experiential– providing an introduction to FOAT® including its history and development, foundational principles, main approaches, and primary methods.
To understand FOAT®, it is essential to understand the underlying framework of Focusing. The Focusing concepts– Focusing Attitude, felt sense, and handle/symbol– will be presented with an experiential exercise on nature. Participants will learn the two main approaches: ARTS-Focusing, which emphasizes grounding and safety before inward listening, and FOCUSING-Arts, which supports expressing a felt sense through creative modalities. The training highlights:
-
A Theme-Directed FOAT® approach for resourcing and resilience, including a self-compassion practice
-
FOAT Check-In and Ask What It Needs: A foundational method for psychotherapy and counseling, as well as one’s own self-awareness, and self-care
-
Carrying Forward: an exercise that helps to identify small, concrete steps that support growth and change
Includes clinical examples, along with intermodal application through dialogue, Gestalt, and felt sense.
Risk: FOAT® emphasizes safety first; The FOAT Check-in invites mindfully checking in with oneself, which poses a slight risk depending on how you are. To minimize risk, all experiential activities are optional, with guidance provided for self-care. Eligible for 5.5 Clock/Credit Hours: NBCC, ATCB, SWNYS, NY LMHC, NY LCAT, NY LMFT
FOAT Institute Series Online | Zoom
Saturdays: September 26; October 3, 17, 24, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT
FOAT® Tools I: Foundations for Enhancing Resilience 2026
Facilitated by Doreen Meister, MA, LMFT. Hosted by the FOAT Institute.
We are excited to offer this rejuvenating 4-session series! Each session will include one main Theme-based FOAT exercise integrating Focusing with user-friendly methods for arts expression. Through this FOAT practice group, small steps will cultivate access to your body’s creative wisdom, positive change, and growth will be nourished and supported. It will also enhance self-compassion and compassion toward others. This group is open to people who are new to FOAT, Focusing, and the expressive arts, as well as experienced!
-
September 26: The Focusing Attitude: Being “Friendly” to Your Inner Experience
-
October 3: Peaceful Place
-
October 17: Clearing a Space with Arts
-
October 24: Source of Strength
All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing in the online course– so if you cannot attend the Live teleconferences, you can still access the material! Note: Not NBCC CE Eligible.
FOAT International Community: Japan In-person Event: Kamakura Daibutsu-den Kotoku-in Temple
Language: Japanese
September 26, 2026 10:00am - 4:00pm JST
FOAT® Retreat in Kamakura 2026
Organized by: FOAT® Study Group lead by lecturer Yoshiko Kosaka, Ph.D.
フォーカシング指向表現アーツ(FOAT®)の手法を用いて、自分が持っているリソースを確かめ、レジリエンス（回復力）を高めるワークを行います。今の身体で感じることを、動きや音、クレヨンや水彩などの画材を使って自由に表現していきます。その後、参加者同士でペアやグループで分かち合う時間を取ります。
鎌倉・高徳院の静かな環境で、ゆっくりとご自身と向き合い、身体を動かしていくことができます。いずれも、身体の声に耳を傾けながら、やりたくないことはやらなくてOKです。自分自身とその場の安全を守りながら過ごします。会場の詳細については、申し込まれた方にご案内いたします。
Roots, Branches, and Wings Series Online | Zoom
Monday, October 19, 2026 12:30 - 2:30pm PDT (Time zone converter)
Focusing and Sandtray Practices in the Expressive Arts Therapy Tradition
Presented by Deborah Armstrong, Ph.D., LMFT-S, RPT-S, REAT, REACE, CFP; Hosted by the FOAT Institute
This presentation will introduce participants to Focusing and Sandtray, along with their integration with expressive arts. It will include a brief overview of the historical and more recent legacies that have provided the foundation for these approaches to be respected and practiced in the field of psychotherapy. Both directive and nondirective approaches will be presented, along with recommended materials for practicing Sandtray in therapy. There will also be a brief discussion on how Focusing, Sandtray, and Expressive Arts Therapy are experiences that foster neural integration within the body-brain, and how that is a critical ingredient to cultivate wellbeing. An experiential component will be offered, including: Focusing to access a felt sense, extending and deepening it through Sandtray, and allowing the embodied call to unfold further through expressive arts. The workshop will conclude with an opportunity to ask questions or share about curiosities.
Note: Due to the expansive nature of these topics, please be aware that working with Focusing or Sandtray requires more than this kind of introduction and is more about dipping one’s toes into the landscape, rather than swimming in the deep ends.
If you cannot attend the Live presentation via Zoom, the recording will be available for you to watch at your convenience for up to 2 months!
Live attendance eligible for 2 NBCC CE Hours
Roots, Branches, and Wings Series Online | Zoom
Monday, November 16, 2026 12:30 - 2:30pm PDT (Time zone converter)
Exploring the Expressive Therapies Continuum as a Framework for Creative Arts Therapies
Presented by Lisa D. Hinz, Ph.D., ATR-BC®; Hosted by the FOAT Institute
This presentation invites participants to engage in an in-depth exploration of the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC), guiding them through its concepts with both intellectual insight and creative engagement. Through carefully structured instructional material, participants will gain a clear understanding of the ETC and its practical applications in expressive practices. The presentation will also include an illustrative art-based experiential exercise, offering an opportunity to directly engage with the concepts being presented. Real-world case studies will further enrich the learning process, demonstrating how the ETC can be applied, deepening participants’ understanding through practical examples. Dedicated time for questions will create a collaborative learning environment.
If you cannot attend the Live presentation via Zoom, the recording will be available for you to watch at your convenience for up to 2 months!
Live attendance eligible for 2 NBCC CE Hours
FOAT® Training Program Online | Zoom
8 Meetings; Begins March 2027 10:30am - 1:30pm PT / 1:30 - 4:30pm ET
Level 1: Foundations and Approaches of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)
Facilitated by Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC, REAT; Hosted by the FOAT Institute
This course provides a solid foundation of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) with an emphasis on deepening one’s embodied knowing of the main FOAT approaches– Focusing Attitude, Theme-Directed FOAT®, Clearing a Space with Arts, FOAT® Check-in, Working on an Issue, Self-Focusing, and Compassionate Listening. Trainees will also expand their understanding of the core concepts, skills and philosophy of Focusing, developed by Eugene Gendlin– felt sense, symbol/handle, felt shift, and life forward direction.
Learning FOAT and Focusing in Level 1 emphasizes learning the exercises for oneself– in order to understand deeply how the felt sense, creativity, and the body’s wisdom interacts and unfolds, while also being grounded in FOAT theories. The FOAT Partnership and small group practices during Level 1 open the doorway to learn about others’ processes and also provides a foundation for facilitation skills that are continued in Level 2. For information on the Focusing and Expressive Arts Institute's Levels 1 - 4 FOAT® Training Program, click here.
Prerequisite: Introductory level FOAT® course or workshop. This can be through a FOAT course taught at an educational institution, Introduction to Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) Self-Study (3 CE), or similar FOAT offering with the approval of the Training Director.
Eligible for 22 NBCC CE Hours
More details and registration will be posted at a later date!
Approved FOAT® Trainings
The following courses meet the content, ethical standards, and faculty level competency of FOAT® Training. These are administered by the Faculty offering that training (not the FOAT Institute). For questions, please contact the Faculty for the respective course.
Faculty: Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC, REAT; lynn@expressiveyou.me
Language: English
March 4 - June 10, 2026
Level 1: Foundations and Approaches of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®)
Lynn Pollock, MA, LMHC, REAT; through Expressive You
This training provides a solid foundation of Focusing-Oriented Expressive Arts (FOAT®) with an emphasis on deepening one’s embodied knowing of the main FOAT approaches– Focusing Attitude, Theme-Directed FOAT®, Clearing a Space with Arts, FOAT® Check-in, Working on an Issue, Self-Focusing, and Compassionate Listening. Trainees will also expand their understanding of the core concepts, skills and philosophy of Focusing, developed by Eugene Gendlin– felt sense, symbol/handle, felt shift, and life forward direction.
Learning FOAT and Focusing in Level 1 emphasizes learning the exercises for oneself– in order to understand deeply how the felt sense, creativity, and the body’s wisdom interacts and unfolds, while also being grounded in FOAT theories. The FOAT Partnership and small group practices during Level 1 open the doorway to learn about others’ processes and also provides a foundation for facilitation skills that are continued in Level 2
Eligible for 22 NBCC CE Hours (purchased separately)
This training meets the requirements of REAT.
Click the button below to visit the course page to learn more!
Faculty: Yoshiko Kosaka, Ph.D.; ykosakapb@gmail.com
Language: Japanese
October 10, 2026 - March 13, 2027
FOAT® Experiential Course (Level 1)
Yoshiko Kosaka, Ph.D.; through FOAT® Study Group
このコースは、フォーカシング指向表現アーツセラピー（FOAT®）の基本的なエクササイズを体験するコースです。
全11回、オンライン（各２時間）です。
芸術表現を用いたフォーカシングを体験し、学ぶことができます。また、エクササイズを通して体験したことを参加者同士で分かち合う時間を持ちます。分かち合いを通じて、芸術表現体験を聴く時のあり方について入門的な学びを得ることができます。
Click the button below to visit the course page to learn more!
