Testimonials

Sharon – a few encouraging things in the last few days that I thought I’d share.  Yesterday, our son managed to enter a men’s washroom at the beach by himself, which is the first time he has done so.  He was initially very reluctant, but we used the language you’ve taught him and asked whether or not this was a “false alarm” and about “facing his fears” like Scaredy Squirrel, and he did it!  Yeah!  Tonight we talked about going to school tomorrow to practice using and flushing the toilets there, armed with several of the strategies you have taught him.  I suggested that he could bring his “brain bottle” , that he made with you, to let me know how he was feeling as we tried different things.  He then used the bottle to show me how he felt about going in (very agitated), and then he went through a whole bunch of scenarios and he was able to use the bottle to show me how he felt about them.  Awesome!   And THEN, what what I thought was the greatest thing of all, was that he commented that he initially thought the brain bottle was cool because it was fun to make and fun to look at, but now he sees he can use it to show me how he’s feeling and – the key thing – he can see how it’s actually helping him.  His enthusiasm about the fact that the could see the value of something you taught him seems so important – not only does it show his receptiveness but it shows me that he feels “helpable”.  This is a big change from before when he stated clearly that he didn’t think anyone could help him with his fears. ~ Larissa

Hi Sharon, Just wanted to tell you that this morning’s workshop was great!  You explained everything really well and I liked how you used different ways to illustrate your points (real life situations, your son’s Halloween story).  I was most impressed with how you obviously know your material and stayed focussed because there are so many ways one could go off on a tangent!

So thanks for the very informative workshop!  I plan to attend the next one.

~ Brenda R

My daughter was struggling with anxiety and it was getting to the point where it was beginning to affect her and our life on a daily basis. If she was knew she was going to be outside of her comfort zone she would start to panic and focus on something in an obsessive and negative way in anticipation of the upcoming situation. She was the most anxious she had ever been when she started the six week anxiety management course with Sharon. She loved Sharon immediately and felt very comfortable with her. She has learned through Sharon why she may feel this way and how to use skills to help her cope better. I wondered how much she might absorb as a six year old but she seems to be able to remember and use what Sharon has taught her. As she was taking the course her anxiety decreased dramatically. When she begins to get anxious again we use the skills she has learned and talk about how she can manage and cope with the things that are bothering her. I have also learned how to help her. Our experience with Sharon has been invaluable. My daughter says she is the best teacher she has ever had! Thanks Sharon.       ~ Carrie

I have relied on Sharon for exceptional parenting advice, particularly related to anxiety, for several years.  She has guided me through the system, directed me to various practitioners, resources, books, etc., and offered me great comfort and perspective when I really needed it.  I recently attended one of Sharon’s Connected Parenting series workshops on anxiety and I was so impressed by both the content and Sharon’s communication style.  Without even a glance at any notes, Sharon walked us through the latest brain research about anxiety.  She has such a clear and thorough understanding of the material that she is able to break it down and share it in a simple and practical way.  Sharon also shared some of the ‘tools’ that she has used with her own children and students that she has worked with over the years. I have found these tools particularly useful.  We are lucky to have Sharon as a valuable resource in our community.

~ Heather W

After having children life became frantically busy….In order for me to continue to be effective and offer quality time to my children I simplified my life on all levels.  One of the things I did, was re-evaluate every mailing list I was on. I am happy to say that Mama Compass is the ONLY parenting subscription I kept as it seems to consistently offer me quality information that supports me in raising my kids. The information from Mama Compass is informative, interesting, useful and from a fresh new perspective; it is also in line with my values. Having read various books on parenting, attended many workshops, and been through several difficult life situations, the same old perspective offered by many other newsletters was not inspiring to me anymore.   Each week I look forward to the next issue of Mama Compass for some new inspiration to take home with me….          ~  Sharlene

My daughter, 7 yrs, has attended Sharon’s anxiety group and benefited greatly from it even after the first session.  She was having problems with coping in school and after Sharon’s group she was better able to cope with everyday situations that arose at school and at home – less extreme outbursts with us and her sister.  I have also attended Sharon’s parent group and found her sessions informative and practical.  Sharon is a warm and friendly coach to assist my daughter in learning to improve her emotional intelligence.

~ Sara Bishop