New England Chapter

New England Chapter:

The New England Chapter consists of the Genesis Spiritual Life and Retreat Center, Holy Family Monastery Retreat Center and the Spiritual Life Center.

Program Offerings:

Online: Monthly BSF Supervision at Genesis

An invitation from Genesis Spiritual Life Center to join us via Zoom for BioSpiritual Focusing Companioning Practice and Supervision during the next year.

The nature of the evening is such that we arrive, take a moment for grounding, and then offer it up to the group as to who would like to practice as companion and who might like to be companioned. We will have the ability to break out into smaller groups on given nights. After the focusing session, we all come back to the space for discussion and questions that allow for deeper learning of the practice.

For the year 2025, the remaining dates are as follows:

The third Monday of every month, from 5:00 to 6:30 pm EST

Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, May 19, June 16, July 21,

August 18, Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 and Dec. 15.

An email will be sent as a reminder just prior to the next scheduled meeting.

Please contact Mike Smoolca at msmoolca@hotmail.com to be added to the email list.

For any other questions, please contact Donna O’Connor at deejam@comcast.net.

Register: Genesis

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Offered by the Sprirtual Life Center, 76 Sherman Ave, Hartford CT.

Sept 23, Oct 21, Nov 18 2025 ,Jan 20. Feb 17, Mar 17 2026 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET. – Becoming a BioSpiritual Focusing Companion – Companioning Basics (Level 3) with Nancy Benben and Mike Smoolca Experienced BioSpiritual Focusing practitioners and teachers, Mike Smoolca and Nancy Benben will offer a comprehensive 6-session program focused on developing BioSpiritual Focusing companions. This is aimed at all those wishing to learn the dynamics of effective and confident companioning. This program has a prerequisite of completion of a BSF Book Study and Practicum or equivalent. This session is currently full, but a waitlist is being taken should slots become available and to establish a priority for future offerings. You can email me to be added to this waitlist.

A BioSpiritual Focusing Approach to Supervision for Spiritual Direction Nancy Benben and Mike Smoolca on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm to 8:00pm, beginning September 2025. Additional information will be available soon. Using BioSpiritual Focusing during spiritual companionship can open the door to new insights and deep noticings of the movement of the Spirit. Using it in the context of peer supervision can be equally powerful. If you are familiar with BioSpiritual Focus and would like to hone your skills within the supportive peer supervision circle, please join facilitators

Register

March 6-8, 2026, Learning and Opening to the Body’s Experience of Living in God – BioSpiritual Focusing weekend Retreat with Nancy Benben, Donna O’Connor, and Mike Smoolca

BioSpiritual Focusing Immersion Experience (2026-2027)

With Dawn Turgeon, Mike Smoolca, Donna O’Connor and Nancy Benben

When: January 1, 2026 – June 19, 2027

Discover the wisdom your body longs to share. Wrap yourself in the study and experience of BioSpiritual Focusing.

The BioSpiritual Focusing Immersion Experience is an 18‑month journey of embodied spirituality and self‑discovery. Rooted in the pioneering work of Dr. Eugene Gendlin and further developed by Fr. Peter Campbell and Fr. Ed McMahon, for the purpose of deepening one’s spirituality, BioSpiritual Focusing invites gentle awareness of the felt sense—the subtle stirrings within the body that carry meaning, memory, and the mystery of the Divine.

BioSpiritual Focusing (BSF) is a guided contemplative practice that helps individuals connect with their inner wisdom by intentionally noticing and nurturing the body’s subtle felt-senses, rather than relying solely on thoughts or emotions. Through quiet attention, participants learn to be present to sensations or feelings that arise within, offering them gentle presence and compassion. This process can foster a deeper sense of wholeness, self-understanding, and healing, while enhancing one’s spiritual awareness and ability to experience grace in daily life.

With the support of a guide and through compassionate presence, participants learn to listen to these inner movements as pathways to healing, grace, and deepened connection—with self, with others, and with God. More than a program, we invite you to fully engage yourself in an experience that cultivates everyday mysticism and an embodied way of living.

The experience unfolds step by step, beginning with an introductory retreat, continuing with a BSF book study, and culminating with BSF Companionship training, ultimately equipping you to accompany others in this transformative practice. Along the way, you’ll share in retreats, a book study, days of presence, monthly focusing circles, and one‑on‑one sessions.

Program* Components:

BSF Days of Presence (3 separate days)
BSF Book Study Practicum (10 weekly sessions)
Weeklong BSF Retreat (5 days)
BSF Companionship Training (6 monthly sessions)
BSF Community Gathering (1 day)
Monthly Focusing Circle
Monthly One-on-One Peer BSF

Optional components at reduced cost:

Companioning Supervision
Individual sessions with an experienced leader
Silent directed retreats.

If you feel called to explore BioSpiritual Focusing more deeply—and to grow into the sacred story held within your body—the BioSpiritual Focusing Immersion Experience offers a profoundly transformative path.

Program Cost: $1,575

* The BioSpiritual Focusing Immersion Experience brings together a series of programs from the Genesis calendar (BSF Days of Presence, BSF Book Study Practicum, Weeklong BSF Retreat, BSF Companionship Training). You can learn more about each program offering by visiting each programs description on the “Our Programs” page.

Location: Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center Address, 53 Mill Street, Westfield, MA, USA

Contact: Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center
genesis@genesisspiritualcenter.org
413-562-3627

Cost: $1,575.00 – Program Price – 18 months
Register now