We live in a culture that privileges the thinking mind – analysing, explaining, problem-solving. But some of what we carry cannot be reached that way. Grief, stress, trauma, and emotional exhaustion often live below the level of words, held quietly in the body, waiting for a different kind of attention.

Focusing is that attention.

What is Focusing?

Developed by philosopher and psychologist Eugene Gendlin at the University of Chicago, Focusing is a gentle, evidence-based method of turning inward and connecting with what the body is holding. It does not require you to relive difficult experiences or find the right words. It simply invites you to slow down, listen inwardly, and allow what is there to be met with curiosity rather than judgement.

The result is often a felt sense of release – a shift that is almost physical in quality, as something that has been held begins, at last, to move

How it works

Focusing is done fully clothed, either sitting or lying down. In a session, I guide you gently inward – helping you make contact with what your body is carrying, at your own pace, without pressure or force. You do not need any prior experience. The process is safe, gradual, and entirely led by you.

Once you have learned the basic principles, Focusing is something you can also practise independently – making it one of the most sustainable tools I offer.

A course of six sessions is recommended to build confidence and depth with the process.

How Can Focusing Help with Stress and Overload?

In times of stress and overwhelm, we often disconnect from our bodies and operate on autopilot. Focusing offers a way to gently re-ground, listen to what your body needs, and respond with kindness rather than pressure. It can help you identify the root of what’s troubling you, soften inner tension, and regain a sense of spaciousness and control.

People who practice Focusing often report feeling more centred, less reactive, and better able to handle life’s demands with presence and purpose. It’s a valuable tool for anyone seeking greater emotional resilience, especially in the face of burnout or life transitions.

What it can help with

Focusing is particularly effective for:

• Grief and bereavement
• Stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm
• Trauma that has not responded to talking therapy
• Burnout and emotional exhaustion
• Difficulty connecting with your own feelings or needs
• A general sense of being stuck or unclear about your direction

My own experience

I discovered Focusing during the pandemic, at a time when I was working as a lecturer managing a professional programme. As lockdown deepened and bereavements multiplied among my students, I found myself searching for something that could help them regulate emotionally and grieve safely – something that did not require them to push through pain, but to be gently met within it.

Focusing gave me exactly that. I found potent, practical tools that enabled students to speak about their grief, honour the lives they had lost, and begin to process what they were carrying – without being overwhelmed. At the same time, I found that Focusing was profoundly helpful for me personally – a gentle but powerful way of reconnecting with myself and what I was holding through an extraordinarily difficult period.

Since then, Focusing has become central to both my practice and my academic work. I have written extensively about it in scholarly contexts, and I am currently completing a doctorate on the experience of introducing Focusing to students in higher education.

Here are some of the papers I have published on focusing:

Clearing a space: exploring the links between Focusing, Buddhism and Japanese culture

Transcendental tales? An auto-ethnographic exploration of the coloniality of secularism: some reflections for social work education

What to expect

Sessions last approximately one hour. A course of six sessions is recommended, though many people notice a meaningful shift from the very first session. Sessions are available at Ashlins Natural Health Centre in Walthamstow and online.

Get in touch to find out more: Info@replenishzone.com

Focusing with London U3A

I currently offer Focusing in groups through the University of the Third Age (U3A) in London. If you are a London U3A member, these sessions are free to attend – making this an accessible way to experience Focusing for the first time, or to deepen a practice you have already begun.

Find out more about Focusing at the London U3A here

If you are interested in bringing Focusing to your organisation, workplace, or community group, I would be glad to discuss what that might look like.

Get in touch: Info@replenishzone.com