BFA Certificate in Focusing Skills 

For people interested in personal and professional growth

The Training 

The online programme has been developed over several years. I hope that you will enjoy both the learning and the group experience. There are five Focusing levels which form the British Focusing Association Certificate in Focusing Skills. Each level is carefully designed to build upon previous learning and includes a combination of theory, practice and group discussion.


Learning is in a friendly, confidential setting and includes working in small groups and pairs. You will be encouraged to form Focusing partnerships for extra practice. Many people stay in their partnerships after the programme. You will receive downloadable 'pages' with Power Points, reading suggestions, exercises and space for your notes.


Once you have completed the Certificate you can apply for the professional Practitioner Training. Upon qualification you can:

Offer guided Focusing sessions for payment

Include Focusing in other practices such as counselling and coaching

Teach Focusing one to one 

Become a member of the British Focusing association

Five Focusing Levels

Level 1, Discovering Focusing

Introduction to Focusing and companioning.

Experiencing the felt sense and enabling fresh insights and meanings to emerge.

Cultivating Self-in-Presence, working with overwhelm, stress and anxiety. 

Understanding Trauma from a Focusing perspective.

Wholebody Focusing, grounding through movement and contact with the environment. 

Level 2, Deepening your Focusing

Eugene Gendlin's six Focusing movements.

See how Focusing can help with physical issues.

Explore the concept of Living Forward Energy.

Practice Focusing and Companioning.

Further your understandings and experiences of Wholebody Focusing.

Level 3, Focusing and Companioning

Advancing your Focusing and Companioning skills.

The Language of Focusing, which is sensitive, accepting and empathic. 

Benefits of Focusing for Everyday Life. There will be three topics: The power of pausing; Listening to our body's wisdom; Focusing with burnout.

Level 4, The inner Critic

Understanding and working with the Inner Critic.

Addressing common challenges that can arise during a Focusing session.

Focusing and symbols.

Focusing with a dream: You will be invited to bring a dream of your own to work with in a group exercise.

Level 5, Continuing your Focusing Journey

Exploring theories and experiences of trauma. The importance of being self-in-presence, and exercises that can help with grounding.

Working with Action Blocks: When we want to do something and feel stuck. 

Reviewing your Focusing journey and how Focusing can continue to support you. With useful information and resources.

Personal and Professional Benefits

Accessing your inner wisdom: Focusing allows you to tap into a deeper level of knowing beyond your thoughts and emotions.


Deepens self-awareness: Greater understanding of yourself, your needs and wants. This can help with decision making. Professionally there can be deeper awareness of how you experience clients and therapeutic relationships.


Emotional regulation: Focusing can help you develop the ability to manage difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed. This can be beneficial both personally and professionally.


Many people find that Focusing helps with physical pain.


Greater self-acceptance: Through Focusing and Companioning you can learn to accept all parts of yourself, including those that are challenging and uncomfortable.


Improved relationships: By developing your listening and presence skills, you can deepen your connections with others, in personal and professional relationships.

Helpful Details

is previous experience of focusing necessary?

You do not need to have had any experience of Focusing to start the training.

Is it possible to Focus on your own?

Once you have learnt the basics you can try Focusing alone. Some people prefer this whilst others prefer the support of a Companion or guide.

How can I meet other Focusers?

There is a world-wide Focusing community. Activities include Focusing partnerships, learning and conferences. There is information on the British Focusing Association Website.

Contact Paula

All enquires are usually answered within 24 hours, and all contact is strictly confidential.