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Sarah Paul

London NW5, UK

Introduction

Focusing has become one of my most treasured resources for finding clarity, inspiration, and meaning - both through the practice itself and through exploring the philosophy it's founded on. I love seeing others discover their own capacities for Focusing, and its value for them.

What services do I offer?

I offer 1-1 sessions to support people learning and practising focusing. Get in touch for a chat or a free taster to see if we might be a good fit.

One of the things I value most about Focusing is that once you know how, it can be practised in peer partnership by free exchange of Focusing and listening roles. I have set up a Whatsapp group for finding a Focusing partner at short-notice. Anyone who has completed BFA Focusing skills modules 1 and 2 is welcome to join. There are currently around 100 members from all over the world and it is used regularly to set up swaps. Get in touch if you'd like to join or find out more.

My background in Focusing

A long-term interest in healing and wellbeing lead me first to medical school and then a variety of practices over the years including yoga, mindfulness, 5 rhythms, gestalt, body psychotherapy, and internal family systems.

I serendipitously came across Gendlin's book "Focusing - How to access the wisdom of your body” in 2019 while struggling to work out the right way forward in life. Since then I've learnt that, like all living beings, we need the right kind of environment in order to grow, flow and thrive. And Focusing seems to provide exactly the sort of gentle, nourishing, un-intrusive environment which enables our life potential (including that in stuck processes) to unfold naturally, and in ways that are most aligned with what's right for our whole being.

I notice in my own Focusing and companioning, that what emerges is consistently fresh, surprising and life-affirming.

Qualifications

BFA Certification as Focusing Practitioner 2022
PG Cert Psychotherapy and Counselling, Regent’s University London, 2019
PG Dip Mindfulness-based approaches, University of Bangor, 2014
MBChB Medicine, University of Bristol, 2004

Interests and Professional Development activities in Focusing include:
- Foundation in Wholebody Focusing 2023 Ongoing - Addie Van Der Kooy
- Path of the Focusing Practitioner Retreats, Spring and Autumn 2023 - Kay Hoffman
- Assisting on BFA Skills level group courses 2022 / 2023 - Peter Gill / Kay Hoffman
- TAE (Thinking At the Edge) Academy 2022 - The International Focusing Institute
- Wild Belonging Retreat 2022 - Peter Gill
- Year of the Big Shift 2022 - Ann Weiser Cornell
- Philosophical Roots of Focusing 2020 - Donata Schoeller
- Year of Untangling 2020 - Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin
- Healing Trauma 2020 - Ann Weiser Cornell
- Landscapes of Grief 2019 - Peter Gill

How do I practice?

  • Phone
  • Online

Testimonials

“Thank you for today’s session. There is something so touching and disarming about this work. It is possibly even more mysterious than talking therapy. It definitely speaks to the child in me. I love your approach and the trusting space that you create.”

~M.B

“What stood out for me was the simplicity; how having a gentle, safe, held space with just enough guided direction when needed, allowed me to explore what’s under the surface and follow my own inner process. Sarah offered presence with me, without interruption or too much input, and allowed another part of me to have room to develop and trust my own wisdom to emerge. The sessions helped me gain clarity, self-awareness, and the ability to trust my process as it is. After the session I felt more grounded and connected – back in my own skin. This is a great life skill for anything that comes up.”

~Annie Pender, Integrative Art Psychotherapist

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