Level three is the third of five Focusing levels which form the British Focusing Association Certificate in Focusing Skills.

You will need to complete level’s one and two before joining the level three training

Dates

Part 1 11th November 2020

Part 2 18th November 2020

Part 3 25th November 2020

Part 4 2nd December 2020

Focusing is a gentle way of paying ourselves attention and deepening self-awareness. It trusts that our body knows and can tell us what we need for physical and emotional health.

During Level three, the emphasis is upon developing your Focusing and Companioning skills. We will look at the stages of a Focusing session in more detail, including an extra stage that has not yet been mentioned. Level three introduces suggestions that can help the Focuser to listen inwards with acceptance, empathy and compassion. Focusing language and its benefits are essential. You might find that some of the Focusing language that you learn is also relevant to your therapeutic work.

There will be group discussions, experiential work in pairs and Wholebody Focusing exercises.

Focusing partnerships are encouraged and there will be opportunities to discuss your experiences of Focusing and Companioning.

Confidentiality

Please keep everything of a personal nature confidential. This applies to all group discussions and to all Focusing and Companioning partnerships.

Workshop Structure

There will be a combination of theory, group discussion, exercises and Focusing practice. The course is divided into four parts, each with a particular theme as follows:

PART 1 – During part 1 we revisit the stages in a Focusing session, paying particular attention to the first stage. You will be given several examples of different types of lead in, with time for practice. There will also be a Wholebody Focusing Exercise.

PART 2 – We consider the role of the Companion in more depth. You will learn about supportive suggestions which the Companion can offer to the Focuser.

PART 3 – I will introduce suggestions that can be helpful at the making contact and settling in stages. We also revisit partial selves and Companioning with delicate parts.

PART 4 – During part 4 we concentrate upon suggestions that can be helpful at the deepening and ending stages of a Focusing session. There will be a Wholebody Focusing Exercise and time for an ending.

Workshop Outcomes

- Deepening your practice as Focuser and Companion

- Increasing your understandings of the five stages in a Focusing session.

- You will now have several examples of different types of lead in which you can refer to.

- Opportunities to practice using different types of lead in as Focuser and Companion

- Increasing your understandings about the role of the Companion

- Learning about supportive suggestions which the Companion can offer to the Focuser, and the use of ‘cushions.

- You will have had practice offering suggestions as Companion

- You will have had practice asking for suggestions as Focuser

- Increasing your understandings and experiences of Wholebody Focusing

Paula Newman

I am a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor and Supervisor of Individuals and Groups with over nineteen years of therapeutic experience. I counsel individuals, couples and families and supervise experienced and trainee practitioners. I have been Focusing for several years and am registered with the British Focusing Association as a Focusing trainer. In addition to teaching the certificate course I offer guided Focusing sessions.

I first became interested in counselling many years ago when it was briefly mentioned during a conversation. Nowadays counselling is a very important part of my professional life, however at the time I was barely aware of it.

There was no logical reason and yet I somehow knew that counselling was the right path for me. I was not even looking for a new direction as this happened during a particularly busy time in my life. Nonetheless the feeling was strong enough that

instead of being my usual cautious self I enrolled on a counselling training course.

Later I became involved with Focusing and discovered that my inner feeling of rightness was the ‘felt-sense’. I have learnt to respect it, and it has always served me well.​

I continue to feel excited and passionate about counselling, supervising and Focusing. I like to think that the enthusiasm that I experience brings life and energy to my teaching.

Paula Newman

TWITTER | @paulanewman930

FACEBOOK | Paula Newman Counselling Services

Website | paulanewmancounsellingservices.co.uk