Guided Focusing Sessions for Self-Care and Inner Awareness

As well as being a counsellor I am also a focusing practitioner (registered with the British Focusing Association) having discovered focusing shortly before the lockdown I have found focusing to be a wonderful resource that I use personally in my everyday life, tapping into my ‘felt sense’, as a way of facilitating self-care and something that helps me understand some of the difficulties I meet in everyday life; and I am pleased now to introduce this to my practice, to share with people who would like to experience a guided focusing session, or to clients already undertaking counselling sessions.

Focusing was developed in the 1950’s by Professor Eugene Gendlin. Professor Gendlin was a philosopher and psychotherapist who was curious as to why some clients had more success with their therapy sessions than others. Gendlin noticed that those clients who were more successful in therapy seemed to connect with their bodies more; and after went on to teach this skill calling it focusing.

What is Focusing?

Focusing is a gentle and natural way of connecting with our bodies, being more in tune with our intuition, giving us the ability to access our bodies innate wisdom.

How does Focusing differ from Counselling?

Focusing is not the same as counselling, although it can be used alongside counselling. In a focusing session the emphasis is on ‘sensing into the body’ and letting the body guide us, rather than the person ‘talking out’ their experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

Benefits of Focusing

Developing a gentle, non-judgemental, connection with your body.
Self-care, a time for you to slow down and compassionately connect with your inner knowing, developing insight and self-awareness.
Tuning into and understanding dreams.
Something to help us when we feel low or anxious or living with uncertainty, grounding us.
Supporting the grieving process.
Helping us to be with the things we can’t change in our lives.
Supporting us at times in our lives where we feel stuck, or have a decision to make.

What happens in a Guided Focusing session?

Initially I will welcome you (the focuser) to the session and ask you about what has drawn you to the session today and what you are hoping for from the session. Then I will explain, briefly, a little about what you may experience during a focusing session; letting you know that I will guide you through your session, so if you are new to focusing to help you feel comfortable and at ease with what we are doing.

I then will let you know that soon I will start to guide you, helping you to feel relaxed and supported. Checking in with you about whether there is anything specific that you would like your body to show you during the session and to make yourself comfortable in the chair and the space that you are in.

I will then invite the you to either close their eyes or lower their gaze, and then I will start by doing what is called ‘the lead in’ gently bringing your attention, first to your outer body, then moving inwards to notice what is happening in the inner area of your body. Noticing any sensations, heaviness, tightness or perhaps something else. Then I will continue by asking you to give yourself an invitation to invite whatever wants to come into your awareness, and ask you when you are aware of something to let me know. We can then be curious about whatever it is that you are noticing, and I can offer suggestions or reflections on what you are sensing. The felt-sense then will become clearer and deeper. During this time you may experience other sensations, perhaps feelings, an image, or a word, and meanings from this can emerge, bringing self-awareness to you.

As we near the end of the session, I shall let you know how many minutes are remaining, giving you the opportunity to thank their body for what it has shown you, bringing the session to a close, getting you to slowly open your eyes, and bring yourself back into the room.

Focusing Sessions

Focusing sessions (50 minutes) – £50

Focusing sessions can take place face-to-face, via online video or over the telephone. If you would are interested in a having a focusing sessions, please get in touch.

Tel: 075 6686 9043
E-Mail: counsellingwithtj@proton.me