Untangling: From Stuck to Alive through Cultivating Embodied Empathic Presence

When we’re stuck—unable to move forward in our lives—we are often caught in a “Tangle.” These recurring inner conflicts, paralysing patterns, or contradictory impulses aren’t just psychological phenomena; they are carried in our bodies as a frozen interruption of life. Untangling offers a different way to understand your stuckness—not as something permanently wrong with you or your life, but as a “stoppage” of life energy that can resume and flow again.

Workshop Content

• Core Approach: The Untangling method is a radical relationship-oriented, body-based approach to inner work. It combines Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing with a profound understanding of inner Parts and what they need for healing and transformation.
• Learning Experience: The workshop blends theoretical understanding with practical exercises. Participants will alternate between exercises, demonstrations, and time for their own processes. You will leave with an experience of the fundamentals of this method, usable for yourself and in work with others.
• Powers of Presence: Discover how the “Powers of Presence” create the precise kind of attention your Parts need and how you can cultivate and strengthen your capacity for Presence.

Who Should Attend

This workshop is suitable for anyone working with themselves or others who seeks a compassionate, body- oriented approach to inner processes. Prior knowledge of Focusing or parts-work is helpful, but not required. Deepening engagement with the book is recommended but not necessary. The workshop will be held in English, with occasional German clarification if needed.

About the Facilitator

Barbara McGavin has, together with Ann Weiser Cornell, been developing and refining how to use Focusing in some of the most difficult areas of life since 1994. Untangling has grown out of this and is the core of her Inner Relationship Focusing practice. Barbara has a background in humanistic psychology, teaching, fine art, and graphic design.

Reference

McGavin, B., & Weiser Cornell, A. (2024). Untangling: How you can transform what’s impossibly stuck. Calluna Press.