The Focalizing Institute originated from a retreat held in 1985 by psychologist Michael Picucci at the Villa Veritas Foundation. Michael had worked with Villa Veritas for years when organizers approached him to speak with a group of 50 people in addictions recovery about sex and sexuality. Seldom a focus of his at the time, the workshop was overwhelmingly well received and Michael's approach to recovery and sexuality sparked a flurry of invites to run workshops all over the Northeast at centers like Kirpalu, Omega and more. 

Emerging in parallel with these workshops, a group of individuals who were in attendance at the original Villa Veritas event established weekly meetings New York City. Inspired by Michael's process and their personal journeys of healing in community within AA and 12-Step programs, the group gained momentum and began attracting attendees that were not in recovery. In other words, the powerful healing process was transforming the lives of those suffering from non-substance related challenges of trauma, anxiety, depression and more.