AI and the process of thinking with Donata Schoeller. The Living Process with Greg Madison. Episode 32.

This, 5th conversation with Donata, tackles the huge topic of AI - artificial intelligence, something that has now exploded into almost every area of human life. In our conversation, Donata stresses the importance of the process of thinking not just the outcome of thinking. Below are some points that feel most important and a link at the bottom to a document Donata offers as a summary. We both used chatGPT to help generate the points and the document and then refined what was produced so that it resonated with what we wanted to say, an instance of the use of AI that Donata is advocating!

* AI discussions often compare it to human intelligence, but we need to improve our understanding of human thinking to use AI for our benefit.

* Education should focus on understanding the process of thinking, not just output.

* Teachers need to create assignments that imply real engagement and can’t be easily done by AI, encouraging students to think. But how?

* Thinking is often seen as vague and hard, making AI a handy tool to avoid it.

* Eugene Gendlin’s methods show a grounded, embodied way of thinking that connects with real experiences.

* Hannah Arendt's political thinking stresses the need to use real experiences for clarity, encouraging engagement with life’s complexities, including emotions.

* Developing inclusive thinking needs courage and openness, with Gendlin’s methods helping with this.

* Joint attention and embodied resonance are key for cognitive growth, making thinking more inclusive, joyful, and trustworthy.

* Embodied thinkers are connected to the earth and other living processes, a concept educators should promote.

Episode 32. AI and the process of thinking, with Donata Schoeller: https://youtu.be/rBMkUm1hO_k

Dr Donata Schoeller is a philosopher who teaches internationally at various universities and is the academic director of the program "Training in Embodied Critical Thinking. In addition to her extensive work on Gendlin’s philosophy, Donata has also published on Gendlin’s philosophy and was involved in translating Gendlin’s text A Process Model into German. She teaches Thinking at the Edge and is a Focusing trainer offering courses in Switzerland, internationally, and online.

https://www.donataschoeller.com

The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:

https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/

Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk

Donata's document is here:

http://youtube.com/post/Ugkx1VV5L6mVxdVZa61ybP3wQijRBa071O_4?si=DiFoqe-SA8aFgDhq

#focusing #AI #thinking #Gendlin #The Living Process #Embodied #Philosophy of Embodied Critical Thinking

We Are Nature. Focusing and Ecotherapy with guest Adrian Harris and host Greg Madison. Episode 31

In this episode, Adrian and I share an intriguing conversation about how the body is our connection to the other-than-human and how this embodiment can lead to a deep form of eco-appreciation and activism. Adrian describes what he means by ecopaganism, ecopsychology and lists the 3 keys to ecotherapy self-practice. We also touch on the question of how therapy might expand if it is practiced in nature rather than within four walls. Adrian’s work compliments Gendlin’s statement, ‘In sensing ourselves, our bodies sense our physical environment and our inter-human situations’ (Gendlin, 2003. p.101).

Episode 31 with Adrian Harris: https://youtu.be/0xu6x9u0bl4?si=ruRtFeGq9iQ1m_lS

The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:

https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/

TLP YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQL

The Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk

Dr Adrian Harris is based in Exeter, UK, and works as a person-centred, FOT and Ecotherapist in person and online. He also has a blog, Bodymind Place and the podcast Embodied Pathways. He has worked as a psychedelic retreat facilitator, lead editor of The European Journal of Ecopsychology and has published numerous academic and popular articles. His PhD research was on The Wisdom of the Body: Embodied Knowing in Eco-Paganism and the Embodiment Resources website has more information on his academic work and his website below has information on courses and offerings.

https://adrianharris.org

Harris, Adrian. 2013. ‘Gendlin and ecopsychology: focusing in nature' in Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies Volume 12, Issue 4, 2013.

Fisher, A., 2002. 'Radical Ecopsychology: Psychology in the Service of Life'. State University of New York Press, Albany.

Ecopsychology: restoring the earth, healing the mind, 1995, edited by Theodore Roszak, Mary E. Gomes, and Allen D. Kanner. Sierra Club Books. San Francisco, CA.

This book includes Robert Greenway's chapter: ’The Wilderness Effect and Ecopsychology' and Chellis Glendinning on 'Technology trauma and the wild'.

Ollagnier-Beldame, M., (2025) 'Experiencing life and belonging to nature with Focusing', European Journal of Ecopsychology:
https://ecopsychology-journal.eu/v9/EJE_v9_Ollagnier-Beldame.pdf

'The Embodied Pathways of Connection' is Adrian’s ongoing overview project:
https://embodiedpathways.org/

Awakening to Embodied Living on The Living Process

In this episode Russell and I share a heartfelt discussion about the importance of the ‘physical body’ and of going ‘beyond’ it.

Russell talks of the development of his teacher Moshe Feldenkrais, his method and how ‘freedom’ was his main goal. Russell emphasised the important of ‘not-knowing’ and how this helps to navigate the edge between Guided Inquiry, Feldenkrais, Zen meditation and their integration into the practice of The Embodied Life. This is a learning programme offered by Russell and his wife Linda, influenced by over 50 years of immersion in these practices and his direct relationship with Feldenkrais, Gendlin and principle teachers in the Zen tradition.

Episode 30, The Living Process with guest Russell Delman

The Living Process - all episodes and podcast links:

https://www.londonfocusing.com/the-living-process/

YouTube video channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0TgN6iVu3n9d9q2l43z1xBMYY3p9FQL

The Living Process on the FOT Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx3FqA70kQWuHCHmEiZnkn1VcrRIPbcvk

Russell Delman

Russell Delman is a well-known and valued teacher within the disciplines of Zen Buddhist meditation and Feldenkrais. He is also known in the Focusing world as a unique embodiment practitioner who integrates all three of these practices in his international training of The Embodied Life. He and Gene Gendlin also shared a warm friendship and Focusing partnership for many years. Russell’s exploration of the crucial importance of awareness in body/mind perspectives and psychology began in 1970 .His subsequent journey included gestalt, yoga, the first Feldenkrais trainings, work at The Esalen Institute, Focusing, and many mind-body experiences and teachings. Russell and his wife Linda introduced Feldenkrais method to India where they worked with Mother Teresa and brain-injured children at her Mission in Kolkata. Russell says his life learnings are greatly enhanced by his long and loving relationship with Linda his wife and their journey as parents to their daughter, Liliana.

For more information on Russell’s extensive training programmes see The Embodied Life: https://theembodiedlife.org