This eight-week course is an opportunity to strengthen your listening skills and deepen your Focusing experiences. In improving your listening skills with empathy and compassion, you create and even stronger container for the felt sense and Focusing process, the motor of change.
Three types of empathy will be explored: cognitive empathy, emotional empathy and compassionate empathy. These will allow you to better understand what might be happening for the Focuser and gradually learn to use your own felt sense while you listen (empathy). The result is more attuned listening reflections and prompt suggestions (compassion).
You will also learn to better sense your own needs while Focusing, in listening to the nuances from your felt sense (self-empathy) and then meet those needs, either by giving that to yourself or asking your listener for what it needs (self-compassion).
To build these empathic listening skills, we’ll use specific exercises that occur after Focusing, including the double empathic moment and interactive response from Interactive Focusing by Janet Klein and broader empathic responses, like those used in our Empathy Circles (see notes below).
We will also explore ways to use your empathy relationally during a Focusing session, and when to share that with the Focuser. Sharing in a relating way and empathic reflections are especially helpful for building self-compassion through common humanity. Finally, we’ll cover what to do if we relate too much and go into empathic distress.
The group will use the following format:
each week we will begin with a centering and check-in
next, we will learn about that week’s particular kind of empathy and its listening implications (there are eight in total, which can be mapped to the three types)
we will then have a 20-minute demonstration each week. During the few weeks that we do Empathy Circle responses, the other students will be able to offer their empathic reflections.
we will then have at least an hour for breakout room practice. There will be multiple options each week, including groups of two for traditional exchanges, groups of three or four for round-robin practice or Empathy Circles (see notes below), or even the option for a second demonstration.
We will also have some PUPA Focusing Trainees co-teaching the course. When not leading an empathy circle or second demonstration, you’ll have the option to have us come to your breakout room to provide co-listening (coaching on your listening).
finally, we will have a closing and final sharing
To further your practice, it is encouraged to also form a Focusing partnership with another participant. This involves meeting between classes to practice, in an exchange of Focusing and listening. You can also opt to be assessed for the Proficiency in Focusing Partnership Award provided through TIFI.
Timing and other details
Teachers: This group will be led by Coordinator Annette Dubreuil and PUPA Trainees (TBD).
Next Groups:
Tuesdays, May 6-June 24, 6:30-8:30 pm Eastern
TBD - please email me at annette@pupa.ca if you are interested in this course and cannot make the above times/dates
Group size: each group is capped at 24 people.
Who is this course for? The course is designed for Focusers of all levels. However, some previous Focusing training is required (the steps will not be taught and some listening experience is required). This experience can be gained through the 8-week beginner course or the 4-week intensive beginner course.
Sliding scale pricing: This course has sliding scale pricing, offering multiple price points to make the course more accessible and reduce financial barriers for people with different levels of income. Please view the sliding scale fees page for details and codes.
Full fee: US$320
25% off: US$240
50% off: US$160
70% off: US$96
80% off: US$64
90% off: US$32
Notes:
An empathy circle, practiced in a Focusing way, is at first a regular Focusing exchange, however it is held by a small group (could be the entire group). As such, there is a Focuser, a listener, and the remaining participants act as observers/witnesses. After the Focusing, all are invited to pause and sense what is happening in them now. An empathic reflection can then be offered by all who choose. The empathic reflection can be what was or is now felt physically (felt sense), or the word, phrase or image (handle) that came or now comes to mind. After all who wish to share have shared, the Focuser can then say what more comes in hearing the empathic reflections. Empathy circles are powerful, as many kind-hearted people holding space allows for deep healing work!
Round-robin practice is where a group goes around the “circle”, taking turns Focusing and listening. These are often practiced in groups of three. The first Focuser becomes the next observer, the first Listener becomes the next Focuser, and the first observer the next listener. In a group of four or five, there are more than one observer.