Dr. Helene Brenner

Certified Focusing-Oriented Therapist

Focusing Institute Certifying Coordinator

Certified Focusing Trainer

Personal Statement

Focusing Oriented Therapy has been my passion and primary therapeutic modality for over three decades. Since beginning my FOT journey in 1989 during my doctoral training, these powerful concepts and methods have become interwoven into the very fiber of who I am as a therapist, supervisor, and human being.

My deep commitment to FOT stems from witnessing its transformative power—the way it allows people to access their authentic inner voice and create lives aligned with their deepest truths. I specialize in helping individuals who have accomplished much in their external lives yet feel disconnected from their deeper, truer selves. Through FOT, I guide clients to work through long-standing issues, increase vitality, and achieve meaningful goals by listening to and following their inner wisdom.

As a Certifying Coordinator for both Focusing and Focusing-Oriented Therapy, I bring extensive expertise in training and supervising emerging FOT therapists. My approach integrates FOT with complementary modalities including EMDR, AEDP, and parts work, creating a comprehensive therapeutic experience that honors both the somatic and emotional dimensions of healing.

I am particularly passionate about providing individual supervision to therapists seeking to deepen their FOT competency, helping them hone their natural strengths while expanding their clinical skills in this transformative approach.

Location:

New Market, Maryland, USA

Public Contact Details:

(301) 695-5858

www.helenebrenner.com

helenebrennerphd@gmail.com

Language:

English

Professional Details:

Professional memberships with licensing or registering bodies: 

  • Licensed Psychologist, Maryland (since 1993)

  • Psychology E-Passport holder authorized for teletherapy practice in 32+ states through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT)

  • States include: Maryland, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Washington D.C.

Academic and training qualifications:

  • Ph.D. in Counseling/Clinical Psychology, University of Denver (1990)

  • Trained directly with Eugene Gendlin and Mary McGuire in Focusing Oriented Therapy (1993)

  • Certified Focusing Trainer (1993)

  • Four-year Associate Faculty position with Focusing Resources, teaching FOT courses (2012-2016)

  • Extensive training in Inner Relationship Focusing with Ann Weiser Cornell

Therapeutic services:

Individual psychotherapy/counselling,Online/Zoom (or other) sessions

Areas of special interest or advanced training:

  • Certified by EMDRIA in EMDR

  • Advanced training in AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

  • MentorCoach Advanced Coaching Training for Psychologists and Psychotherapists

  • Expertise in integrating EMDR trauma therapy, parts work, IFS, and Bruce Ecker’s Coherence Narrative Therapy with FOT

Trainings Offered:

I offer training in Focusing-oriented Therapy (for professionals), psychologists

I have been offering Focusing-oriented teletherapy and coaching by Zoom since 2016 to clients throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. Since 2020 my therapeutic work has been exclusively by Zoom. Almost all of my clients and I have discovered that working this way can be just as healing, personal, and effective as meeting in person.

Publications:

 I Know I’m in There Somewhere: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Her Inner Voice and Living a Life of Authenticity (Penguin, 2003) – combines FOT philosophy with practical guidance for accessing inner wisdom

Currently completing second book on Emotional Awareness and Healing

Brenner, H., & Letich, L. (2022, August 26). Focusing: A step beyond mindfulness meditation. Psychology Today.

Letich, L and Brenner, H.G. (2014) “Applying Attachment Theory and Interventions to Focusing Therapy.” In Madison, G. (ed)

Beyond the Talking Cure: Theory and Practice of Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, pp. 84-97. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers


Ongoing Publications:

H. G., & Cornell, A. W. (2013). “Setting the stage: Getting ready to bring focusing into client sessions.” In A. W. Cornell, Focusing in clinical practice: The essence of change (Chapter 2). W. W. Norton & Company.

Co-author with Larry Letich: Psychology Today blog “The Art of Feeling: How to be Connected to Yourself in a Disconnected World”

Created “My Inner Voice App” for iPhone and guided meditation CDs

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Permission:
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