Focusing Level 3: Focusing and Companioning – Paula Newman

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 | January 09, 2025

Part 2 | January 16, 2025

Part 3 | January 23, 2025

Part 4 | January 30, 2025

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, and I will introduce suggestions that can support and deepen the Focuser’s process. Focusing language is accepting and empathic. As you become more familiar with it, you may find that Focusing language is also helpful in your therapeutic work.

Level three’s theme ‘Benefits of Focusing in everyday life’ highlights some of the ways that Focusing can support and resource us emotionally and relationally. There are three topics: Pausing, listening to our body’s wisdom and Focusing with burnout.

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.

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Confidentiality

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

Course Materials

Downloadable pages are designed to accompany your learning. They include plenty of spaces for personal notes and can be kept as a record of your work. You will also find power points and reading and video suggestions to further your development.

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 –Revisiting stages in a Focusing session and paying particular attention to the first stage. You will be will be given examples of different types of Lead In with time for practice.

I will talk about Wholebody Focusing in greater detail and there will be a Wholebody Focusing exercise.

We begin our theme ‘Benefits of Focusing in everyday life’ with the topic ‘Pausing’.

PART 2 – Exploring the Companion’s role, including what you appreciate and find helpful in a Companion, and supportive suggestions which the Companion can offer to the Focuser.

Our theme ‘Benefits of Focusing in everyday life’ continues with the topic ‘Listening to our body’s wisdom’ and includes a group exercise.

PART 3 – Concentrating upon the making contact stage of a Focusing session. Incorporating a range of helpful suggestions which are offered to the Focuser in a sensitive way, using ‘cushions’

The topic is ‘Burnout’ and how Focusing can be helpful.

PART 4 – During part 4, we concentrate upon suggestions for the deepening and ending stages of a Focusing session.

The Focuser may become aware of one or more parts that have different perspectives. For example, an anxious part and an excited part. We will have an exercise to practice being in presence with both parts.

There will be an ending for Level 3 and I will tell you about Level 4.

Workshop Outcomes

• Deepen your practice as Focuser and Companion.
• Increase your understanding of the stages in a Focusing session.
• Practice using different types of Lead In.
• Greater understanding of the Companion’s role and practice offering supportive suggestions to the Focuser.
• Gaining further understandings and experiences of Wholebody Focusing.
  Seeing how Focusing can be of benefit in our everyday life, with various topics.

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ZOOM

This workshop will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.

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All the colleagues at ONLINEVENTS and the presenters we collaborate with are committed to working in a manner consistent with the BACP Ethical Framework, which can be accessed on the link below. When registering for this event you are agreeing to be present and interact in a manner that is consistent with this Framework.

https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

Paula Newman

Paula Newman

I am a BACP Accredited Counsellor and Supervisor of Individuals and Groups, with over twenty 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 and mentor. In addition to teaching the certificate course, I teach the BFA Practitioner training and offer guided Focusing sessions.

I am excited and passionate about Focusing, counselling and supervising. I hope that the enthusiasm I experience brings life and energy to my teaching.

X | @paulanewman930

Facebook | Paula Newman Counselling Services

Website | paulanewmancounsellingservices.co.uk