British Focusing Association
Certificate in Focusing Skills
Focusing is a gentle practice that deepens self-awareness and supports self-acceptance, compassion and inner grounding. People in caring professions such as counselling and coaching often find that Focusing enhances their practice. Once you have learnt the basics you can work with many areas including physical pain, stress, the inner critic, decision making, anxiety, low mood, and trauma.
The Training
Accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapsts.
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. Each time we meet you will receive downloadable 'pages' with PowerPoints, reading suggestions, exercises and space for your notes.
Your Learning Group
Learning is in a warm, friendly and confidential setting and includes working in small groups and pairs. During the break, time is set aside for chatting and questions. You are welcome to join me, or to relax for a little longer before we continue with the next session. You will be encouraged to form Focusing partnerships for extra practice. Many people stay in their partnerships after the programme.
Support
My contact details are available to participants on the training. You are welcome to get in touch if you are having any difficulties with Focusing and for questions and extra support. Onlinevents are hosting the programme and can help with any technical issues.
Offering Focusing Professionally
Once you have completed the BFA Certificate in Focusing Skills, you can apply for the professional BFA Focusing Practitioner Training. Upon qualification you can: Offer guided Focusing sessions for payment; include Focusing in your practice, for example counselling and coaching; teach Focusing one to one; Become a member of the British Focusing association. Focusing Practitioner Training
Level one, Discovering Focusing
Introducing you to Focusing and companioning
* The Felt-sense: A vague bodily awareness that can be strengthened and developed enabling fresh insights and meanings to emerge.
* Cultivating Self-in-Presence: Being with difficult feelings and emotions in an accepting and compassionate manner which can reduce overwhelm, stress and anxiety.
* Understanding Trauma from a Focusing perspective: Seeing how Focusing principles can be applied to trauma work.
*Experiencing the Roles of Focuser and Companion: With practice in both roles.
* Focusing language: Supporting the Focuser to connect with their inner self, and to acknowledge feelings and experiences with acceptance and gentle curiosity.
* Wholebody Focusing: Engaging in a practice that emphasis grounding and healing through movement and contact with the environment.
Level Two, Deepening the Focusing Process
Level two exercises are designed to support working at a deeper level. At the same time the Focuser is in charge of their session, and each person is encouraged to work at their own pace. You will:
* Learn about Eugene Gendlin's six Focusing movements: Trying them out in a group exercise.
* Expand your understandings of the felt-sense: With ideas about the implicit, the explicit and the edge of awareness.
* See how Focusing can help with physical issues: Our topic is Focusing with Pain and physical Ailments.
* Explore the concept of "Living Forward Energy": You will be invited to work with this in a creative way.
* Further your understandings and experiences of Wholebody Focusing: With explanation and an exercise
Level Three, Focusing and Companioning
During level three the emphasis is upon advancing your Focusing and Companioning skills.
* Working with the four stages of a Focusing session: Introducing suggestions to support and deepen the Focuser's process at each stage.
* The Language of Focusing: Focusing language is sensitive, accepting and empathic. As you become more familiar with it, the language may enhance your therapeutic work
* Focusing in Everyday Life: Our theme "Benefits of Focusing in Everyday Life" looks at how Focusing can support us emotionally and in our relationships. Three key topics will be covered: the power of pausing, listening to our body's wisdom, and Focusing with burnout.
* Focusing Partnerships: Opportunities to discuss your experiences of Focusing and Companioning.
Level Four, Expanding Your Focusing Practice
Level Four broadens your experiences of Focusing.
* The Inner Critic: Exploring personal experiences and noticing what lies beneath harsh judgmets. Being in relationship with the inner Critic. Turning towards it with a compassionate attitude that enables change.
* Focusing Challenges: Addressing common challenges that can arise during a Focusing session. Discussing areas that you feel uncertain about as Focuser and Companion.
Experience Focusing with a dream: You will be invited to bring a dream of your own to work with in a group exercise.
Level Five, Continuing your Focusing Journey
Level Five includes two topics, trauma and Action Blocks. As we come to the end of the certificate training, there is space to review your Focusing journey and to talk about next steps.
* Trauma Awareness: Exploring definitions, theories and experiences of trauma. The importance of being self-in-presence is stressed.and we will work with various exercises to help with grounding as Focuser and Companion.
* Action Blocks: Looking at what might be happening internally to prevent us from carrying out an action that we would like to execute. Seeing how we can work with action blocks in a Focusing way that is enabling whilst also increasing self-awareness.
* Next Steps: As the Focusing certificate program concludes, Level Five provides a valuable opportunity for you to review your personal Focusing journey and reflect on how Focusing can continue to support you, both personally and professionally. The session will include information about further trainings and useful resources.
* Accessing your inner wisdom: Focusing is a process of turning your attention inward to connect with your body's feltsense. This allows you to tap into a deeper level of knowing beyond your thoughts and emotions.
* Working with difficult feelings: Focusing provides a way to approach challenging emotions with curiosity and acceptance. You'll learn how to create space for these feelings without judgment, allowing them to unfold and shift naturally.
* Emotional regulation: Focusing can help you develop the ability to manage difficult emotions without becoming overwhelmed.
* Developing self-compassion: Through Focusing, you can cultivate a greater sense of self-compassion and kindness.
* Greater self-acceptance: Through Focusing and Companioning, you can learn to accept all parts of yourself, including those that are challenging or uncomfortable.
*Companioning Creating a safe space: Companioning involves being present with another person in a way that supports their Focusing process. This includes listening deeply, reflecting back what you hear, and offering a non-judgmental presence.
* Supporting self-discovery: As a companion, you'll learn how to hold space for another person's experience without offering advice or solutions. This empowers them to access their own inner wisdom and find their own way forward.
Benefits of Focusing and Companioning
* Improved relationships: By developing your listening and presence skills, you can deepen your connections with others.
* Deepening Self-Awareness: Focusing allows practitioners to become more attuned to their own internal experience of the client and the therapeutic relationship.
* Experiencing the Relationship: Noticing the subtle dynamics and emotional undercurrents within the therapeutic space.
* Recognizing Personal Biases: By attending to their inner reactions, practitioners can identify and address any personal biases that might be influencing their perceptions or interventions.
* Cultivating Essential Qualities: Focusing fosters self-acceptance and empathy within the practitioner. These qualities naturally extend to the client, creating a more compassionate, understanding, accepting and supportive therapeutic environment.
* Promoting Self-Regulation: Focusing provides practitioners with ways to self-regulate in challenging and emotionally demanding situations. It allows them to manage their own emotional responses and to maintain a sense of grounding.
* Enhancing Self-Care: Focusing can be viewed as a vital form of self-care. By attending to their own inner needs and processing their experiences, practitioners can prevent burnout and sustain their effectiveness and well-being.
Who will benefit from the training?
Focusing is for people who are interested in self-development and personal growth. The introductory course supports counsellors and therapists in furthering qualities that enhance their work including self-acceptance, self-awareness, and being an empathic and accepting listener. It enables greater inner stability allowing you to work safely with difficult emotions.
Do I need to have had previous experience of Focusing?
You do not need to have had any experience of Focusing to start. The course will introduce you to Focusing and Companioning, giving you a solid base.
Is it possible to Focus on your own?
Once you have learnt the basics you might like to try Focusing alone. Some people prefer this whilst others would rather work with the support of a Companion. Guided sessions with a Focusing professional are another option.
How can I continue my Focusing journey after the introductory course?
The introduction is the first of five Focusing levels which form the British Focusing Association Certificate in Focusing Skills. Each level builds upon previous learning, and includes Focusing practice, theory and discussion. Topics include Focusing with pain, the inner critic, Focusing with dreams, Focusing with trauma and bringing Focusing to your counselling practice.
What Makes this Course Different?
The course will introduce you to a gentle and yet powerful practice that is beneficial both personally and professionally. Focusing puts you in touch with your own inner knowing and wisdom.
There is a world-wide Focusing community. Activities include Focusing partnership schemes, learning activities, and conferences. The introduction could be your first step towards becoming involved.
Why I Offer this Training
Several years ago, a friend introduced me to Focusing. At the time I had no idea that it would become so important to me both personally and professionally. Focusing has become a natural way for me to be with my own material and to process my work, and my relationships with others.
After completing the BFA Certificate in Focusing Skills, I joined a Focusing retreat, 'Treasure Maps to the Soul' with Barbara McGavin and Ann Weiser Cornell. I then trained as a Certified Focusing Professional Trainer with Ann.
My project, ‘Bringing Focusing to a Counselling Supervision Group’ was confirmation that Focusing can increase counsellor's self-awareness and enhance their explorations in supervision. As a result, I have developed my therapy practice to include Focusing within supervision, when requested.
Teaching the BFA Certificate in Focusing Skills and the BFA Practitioner Training is a great joy and continues to expand my own learning.
I hope to present Focusing in a straight forward way, so that you can understand, experience and benefit from what it offers. Learning can be such a joy when it takes place in the friendly, accepting and supportive atmosphere which we can create together.
