Focusing Level 5: Action Blocks - Paula Newman

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

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

Dates

Part 1: 07 September

Part 2: 14 September

Part 3: 21 September

Part 4: 28 September

​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 five, 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 – Trauma day 1

Over the next two weeks, participants will look at trauma from a Focusing perspective. On day one the emphasis is upon meanings, understandings and experiences of trauma. There will be mention of symptoms and we will also look at Focusing from various theoretical viewpoints.

PART 2 – Trauma day 2

We will continue working with trauma theory. The value of being self-in-presence as therapists whilst working with trauma issues will be emphasised. We will look at how we find our grounding and there will be various grounding exercises for you to try out.

PART 3 – Action Blocks

An action block refers to something that you want to do and yet you do not do it. There is the feeling that you cannot do it. We will look at what is happening internally to prevent us from carrying out the action. Participants will discover how we can work with action blocks in a Focusing way that is enabling and also increases self- understanding and self-awareness.

PART 4 – Next Steps

As we come to the end of the Focusing certificate there will be time for participants to review their own process and opportunity to consider incorporating Focusing within therapy practice. We will look at continuing the Focusing journey and I will provide information about further training and useful websites.

Workshop Outcomes

• Exploring meanings, understandings and experiences of trauma

• Understanding trauma from a Focusing perspective

• Looking at the importance of grounding as therapists

• Will have had the opportunity to try out various grounding exercises

• Gain understandings of action blocks and what is happening internally to prevent actions from being carried out

• Discover how we can work with action blocks in a Focusing way

• As Companion, supporting a Focuser who is working with an action block

• Opportunity to review your process and to look at how you might continue your Focusing journey

• Consider ways of incorporating Focusing within your therapy practice

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.

TWITTER | @paulanewman930

FACEBOOK | Paula Newman Counselling Services

Website | paulanewmancounsellingservices.co.uk