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Ruth Friedman

Edinburgh

  • Trauma
  • Spirituality
  • Wholebody Focusing
  • Focusing Oriented counselling
  • Inner relationship Focusing
  • NVC

Introduction

Focusing has helped me to reach parts of my psyche that nothing else had been able to get anywhere close. It helped me find much needed distance in challenging relationships, and has given me a stronger sense of my Self as a person. Every day, it helps me to stay grounded and connected. These days whilst I can still get triggered, I now have the resources to return to myself without being reactive. These gifts have been profound and extremely valuable for me, I cannot express my gratitude enough.

Before I discovered focusing, I had experienced many different therapies and personal development processes – expressive dance movement, voice-work, visual art, tantra, encounter groups, CBT, amongst others. Nothing has helped me as much as focusing, to stay present with my feelings and not be overwhelmed by them. It has helped me to build a compassionate relationship with all the aspects of myself, including the parts that challenge me, of which there were many!

It is the wish to share these gifts that motivates my work.
I have completed the 4 levels of Inner Relationship Focusing with Anne Weiser Cornell as well as the Advanced Certificate in Relational Whole Body Focusing with Karen Whalen and Katrijn van Loock. I am a Certified Trainer with The Focusing Institute.

I completed a study into Burnout and how it is impacting individuals in the corporate environment and how focusing could help support them. Copies of my report are available on request.

I have been running personal development workshops for over 20 years using dance, voice, and visual arts as tools for personal development. I am trained as a creative and expressive arts facilitator since 2011, and I am an expressive dance practitioner since 1994.

I trained in Mindful Self Compassion in 2012 and self-compassion is a thread that runs throughout my work. I am a trainer in Self-Compassion for the European Commission.

What services do I offer?

I work one-to-one with clients via Skype and in person in London, Edinburgh, and Norwich.

The frame of my work is often around well-being and self-compassion, helping clients to connect with their own wholeness, supporting them to tackle their situations with more ease and balance.

I also use focusing to help clients gain access to their visions and dreams, and to achieve them.

I offer workshops that introduces focusing as a useful tool in diverse topics, such as burnout, tackling action blocks, handling challenging emotions, resourcing your self in challenging times.

I provide both introductory and longer trainings in Relational Whole Body Focusing.

My background in Focusing

I came to focusing first and foremost for myself. My work with focusing has helped me to transform key relationships with members of my birth family, it gives me more distance on challenging situations and helps me to stay present and grounded whereas before I was easily stressed. This sense of calm, wholeness and ease is what I hope to share with my clients.
I studied Inner Relationship Focusing with Anne Weiser Cornell and then I discovered Relational Whole Body Focusing and I am a Certified Focusing Trainer and Guide with the Focusing Institute of New York
I have been working with private focusing clients since 2016

Qualifications

Certified Whole Body Focusing Trainer and Guide from the Focusing Institute
NARM Informed Professional
Professional Certified Coach

How do I practice?

  • In person
  • Phone
  • Online

Testimonials

The training helped me realise how little I was in touch with my body before and how important it is. I had ignored all signs that my body was giving me even to the point of reaching burnout . Ruth clearly explained and supported me in the exploration to become more present and to help

I came to Ruth at a very challenging period in my life. I felt lost and confused and Ruth provided me with the support and guidance I needed. She helped me become aware of the mind-body connection and understand that I already have all the answers I am looking for, I just need to learn to listen to my own body and mind. With each session with Ruth, I learn more about myself and I come one step closer to achieving my goals. She has been an amazing support every step of the way.

Ruth Friedman’s work has assisted enormously in helping me feel more safe and confident in the world. I am now much more capable of handling situations without becoming overwhelmed. She is a caring and compassionate healer and I highly recommend working with her’ Wendalyn, composer, soundhealer, writer.

‘The process felt very, very complete. This gave stability and grounding the days after which really contributed to my well-being. The last few weeks haven’t been very easy: there was a lot of pressure and stress I was dealing with and that needed to settle down. Last Tuesday’s session (and especially the sense of being able to welcome all the aspects of my being) contributed to this.

‘I can only express my gratitude. It was so much more, so much deeper than I could have foreseen. I still feel the effects of the session as I’m writing this and I will recall this session for a long time. With all due respect to my psychologist and psychiatrist, but I have become aware of issues that I didn’t see after 2 years of therapy. Thank you so much!

Thanks to the space you gave me to blossom in such a healing way’

(After my session,) on my drive home, I seemed to be calm, relaxed, more aware of people’s faces on the street,and their body language. I felt a bit recharged, as if I could do a few things I had been postponing

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