“I was fortunate to have the chance to participate in your workshop on “Mindfulness” recently at the Opportunities conference. It was excellent, very useful and practical!!! I am currently going through a divorce after being in a marriage that was emotionally and verbally abusive for 23 years. Your session helped me to focus on myself and define the “gremlin”. It is the first time I have felt positive about myself in MANY years. I appreciate your help – THANK YOU!!!” Lorraine

“Barbara focused entirely on me and what I wanted in my life; she helped me find my way and stay on course.”

“Sometimes what you don’t say is just as important. Barbara listened, not only to my words, but also to the spaces between the words.”

“Talking with Barbara is like being in a safe place where no-one judges me. Even when I had made a mess of things she still encouraged and supported me. She saw the very best in me, even when I could not see it myself.

If you would like to talk to any of our seminar participants in person, please email me.

Executive coaching and Mindfulness gave me the chance to see clearly again. When I started working with Barbara, I was drowning, or perhaps had already drowned, under the waves of work and personal challenges. My perspectives were negative, cynical and depressed. My battered outlook influenced how I saw everything and how I reacted, whether it was at work or at home. I was extremely stressed, and it showed to others. However, I could not really see it. My work and personal decisions, interactions and relationships were affected. I had stopped bringing my best self into the workplace, or anywhere else for that matter. I worked hard, but not well.

Barbara’s executive coaching and Mindfulness teachings led me to a place that I would not have reached by myself. It was a slow process to let go of the rocks that I carried and to accept that it is possible to live a healthier life. Colleagues, who I have known for a long time, recently told me that the change is obvious. I am able to breathe for the first time in years. I believe that I am more aware, intentional, disciplined and responsible in my responses, decisions and actions. What is important to me and what I value are clearer and help guide me.

This does not mean that I do not have more learning and growing to do. Mindfulness is an ongoing process. Nor does it mean that I am always able to remember to use what I learnt from Barbara. I do return to old habits and ways of seeing. It does mean that I am now in a position to be a better leader at work, and hence, a better manager and employee. Before I offered skills and experience to my work roles, and now I can also offer some perspective and clarity. I am more able to respond to stresses in a healthy way, to learn and to bring a more effective self into the workplace.

I would highly recommend Barbara’s services to others. I greatly value the executive coaching and Mindfulness teachings. Barbara brings integrity and compassion to her work.

I have had the opportunity to work with Barbara Symmons in two capacities. Firstly, she acted as an executive coach, and secondly, I participated in her Mindfulness program. I am extremely grateful for both experiences. To appreciate the value of Barbara’s skills and experience, it is helpful to understand how working with her has affected me.

Sandra Orsatti, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources