Endorsements

Endorsements by therapy clients of Monika

Sensing the deep anger and frustration fueling me as I was talking, a friend said to me, “You need to have a session with Monika and discover what the anger has to show you.” Indeed, I myself felt somewhat at a loss as to what to do about this particular recurrent anger.

So, I signed up for Monika’s introductory series for Analytic Somatic Therapy the very next week. Monika’s authentic presence, guidance, and conversation nourished me as I was introduced to the method and vocabulary of this therapy. Each session left me with tools and practices that I want to explore for months, if not years, to come. In fact, I feel like this recommendation may be better written in a year because then I can be more specific about the outcomes of implementing the various tools and practicing the exercises I am learning.

So much happened in the few sessions: I discovered how little I knew about somatic therapy generally; I gained many new tools – for grounding, for self-awareness, for decision-making; and I felt what it was like to work with Monika.

Initially, I had hoped for a session where I worked on particular issues (anger and lower back issues), but during the process of doing the introductory series, I came to appreciate that it will take time to feel my way through my emotions, my body, my life, and to transform the energy that is me and is moving through me.

I deeply appreciate Monika: from the initial of arranging the first meeting, to working with the challenge of scheduling, to her unique beautiful style of showing up for me -- her agile and intuitive ways of combining talk with somatic exercises, with a good dose of humor and warmth.
Gloria K. Park, attorney and mother, 42.

Monika was a very supportive therapist for 2 years. I saw her to treat disordered eating, anxiety and depression issues, and to work through family difficulties. Our therapy ended when I decided to move out of state to continue my education. Throughout our time together, she would tailor our sessions depending on what she saw that I needed. This was especially helpful as she is knowledgeable in many different area of therapy, from solution-focused therapy to Gestalt work. And of course she is very familiar with somatic techniques. Throughout my work with her, I researched many different models of the mind (and took psychology courses in school myself) and I would often be surprised to learn that Monika had not only trained under that model, but had also trained under a pioneer of the field. As a person, she is also a great resource. Her career has gone through many different stages and as a career coach she helped me to not only make sense of where I was but also where I wanted to go. 
Female college student, 23.

Endorsements by coaching clients of Monika

"Monika is a breath of fresh air! I have never met anyone in my professional life who understood me and my personality as quickly as Monika was able to, which allowed us to make progress on my coaching goals much faster than I had expected. Monika's belief in me and her continued support has been wonderful and has challenged me to push myself further than I would have on my own, thus opening me up to new experiences and opportunities. Thanks Monika!”
Nicola J. 

"Monika's breadth of knowledge across multiple professions and her shrewd interpersonal skills are both phenomenally extensive and remarkably strong, respectively. Additionally, her impressive savvy is transmitted softly, respectfully, and with her clients best interests and sensitivities in mind. If you are looking to polish up your resume or feel bogged down by career impasses, look no further. As cunning as she is compassionate, I highly recommend Monika for career guidance, confidence bolstering, and professional self-remodeling.” 
Paul K. 

“Monika is an incredibly dynamic coach who is able to see many perspectives. She holds a vision of my life that is beyond my own imagination and makes a great effort at putting that vision into action. She is a great motivator; she is tough when necessary, and kind when needed. I cannot say enough about her good intentions.” 
Shana L. 

"I think Monika is one of the most inspiring individuals I have met. Working with Monika helped me clarify my career path by sharing her valuable knowledge, experience and resource. She was very supportive with my ideas and thoughts about my career choice. I am in a career transition and was seeking a mentor for guidance. Monika did just that–MENTORED!!! If you are unclear of your path, whether career or life, I recommend Monika! She continues to educate herself, so she can continue to educate us."
Maryper, MA Transformative Leadership

"I came to Monika looking for help...ASAP! I had been laid off for months, looking for work as an Executive Assistant. I was working 3 jobs trying to stay afloat, I was burnt out and stressed beyond belief! I felt I needed a change...and fast or I was going to have a nervous break down. I'm 28 yrs old and never finished my degree and I knew I did not want to be an Assistant for the rest of my life. So I figured I should really go back to school, but how could I afford it? What is it that I really want to do with my life? I needed guidance! So I did my research on Career Coaching online. Something about Monika's energy and presence drew me to her. I purchased a bundle of sessions and through working with Monika I am back on track. I'm now a full time student, my old company hired me back to work part time while I go to school and I am HAPPY once again. Monika helped me to discover my strengths, what career path I should pursue and gave me all the encouragement and support I so desperately needed. I even finished the coaching before my sessions ran out...I am that confident with our journey together! She ensured me that the additional sessions would not expire and that I can use them when I need her help in the future...which I'm sure I will need when I transfer to the University I have my eyes on. Thank you, Monika, this was the best investment I could have made for myself!"
Robin J.

"My work with you has been enlightening. I am discovering different ways to think about myself and my relationships with others.  I believe I am on a path to find work which honors my personal values." Monique M.

"Recently, a friend and former colleague recommended I meet with Monika. I’m in the process of getting my writing career back on track, plus I’m also embarking upon a new business that’s a complete departure from writing. Monika provided me with the tools and suggestions I needed to get started on the new venture — she offered invaluable ideas I would have never thought of and for that I am incredibly grateful. I’m looking forward to meeting with her again when I’m ready for phase two of the new business!"
Emily K.

"I heard about Monika from a friend who recommended her so highly that I had to sign up. My experience has been transformative, at a fundamental level. Monika has a clear methodology for helping people effect lasting change in their lives and their careers. She can help you start actively defining where you want to go, and understand why and how. ... I'm really impressed with what I've experienced so far, especially the depth and structure of the methodology. I wasn't expecting so much theory to be augmenting and supporting the process, but I'm glad it's there. Monika's ability to be flexible but also know when to move back on track has been very helpful, since I can get into tangents quite easily. I also appreciate the strong goal orientation of our process. I can't think of anything that I would want that is missing from this experience. It's a lot harder than I expected, and Monika is doing a fantastic job in my view! ... I've not only enjoyed our sessions, but I'm amazed at the path I'm on, and I wouldn't be here without having worked with you."
Susan C., Marketing Executive

"I found the first 10 sessions to be extremely helpful in understanding the workings of self-motivation. Your process is much more comprehensive than what we encounter in corporate goal-setting, and it's great to see how aligning goals with values and abilities leads to peak performance. For me, 6 sessions wasn't long enough to delve into the topics, and 10 was perfect."
Susan C, Marketing Executive

"Monika mentioned her coaching walks, and I had to try it out: The Pacific Ocean, sun, and a coaching session! As it turns out, I would recommend this highly, and would do more of my sessions as walks. We had a deeply introspective session that was inspired by the beautiful surroundings and the rhythm of the walk. The terrain also lent an unexpected but useful narrative structure to our talk (approach/hills/descent and return).
Susan C., Marketing Executive (about her last session)

"Monika, you have an energetic and active listening style. Your questions are engaging, and, influential in keeping me centered and providing an open pathway for possibilities in my career and life."
Sarah B.

"After my short coaching session with you, I took the ideas you provided, created an action plan and completely immersed myself in my job-search. In this struggling economy, I need to be super focused and put all my efforts into finding a new job! Your insights and advice were really helpful because you challenged me to examine my life and look closely inside, to re-assess my passions, my interests and what path I should follow. I can see from just one session that your technique is exceptional. You helped me come up with new ideas and offered great suggestions for my career. I definitely feel I got my money's worth, and I will certainly recommend you to all my colleagues and friends!"
Felicia P., Account Manager

"I came to Monika seeking better work/life balance, and deeper pursuit of my personal passions.  Through her guided expertise and thoughtful approach, I was able to accomplish my personal goals and embark on a bigger journey that has vastly improved the quality of my life. ... Monika has very quickly brought a level of focus and truth to our work that has helped me discover areas of opportunity both in my life and my work.  She has a structured, goal-oriented process, yet her work helps to nurture the soul."
Marketing Executive

"Monika is exceptionally smart and gave me invaluable advice and assistance when I wanted to launch into something that's a little new for me–teaching corporate seminars. Working with her was a lot of fun (I didn't expect that writing a corporate proposal would be fun) and her suggestions opened up my creativity. In addition to being smart and savvy, she is also kind and enthusiastic. I greatly enjoyed working with her and I highly recommend her to others."
Kim, Ph.D., Educational Psychology

Endorsement for Career Workshop taught at Stanford University

“I cannot speak highly enough of Monika, a new friend of mine who I could not have met a moment too soon. After learning about her through my interest in GoogleEDU, I invited her to lead a coaching workshop about creating a meaningful career for my upperclass residents here at Stanford. Her guidance was and is invaluable, and her incredible presence, wisdom and passion for her work are impossible to ignore. As a role model and mentor, Monika has truly inspired my own career path and I am so grateful to have met her. I fully intend to invite her back for another workshop next quarter!” 
Regina Getz-Kikuchi

Endorsement for Conflict Resolution Workshop taught at Goodwill International

“The Finance Team at our agency hired Monika to help our team work better together. Monika got directly to the heart of the matter in only a few sessions, provided our team with a safe place to voice concerns, and provided all of us -- at all levels -- with practical tools to keep our work running efficiently.”
Andrea M

Endorsements for workshops facilitated by Monika Broecker and Mariah Howard

"Becoming Your Own Professional Coach" at Califonia Institute of Integral Studies, Public Programs

"I want to thank you both for your tremendously helpful class yesterday. This morning I was able to use the mind-mapping to make significant progress on the problem of choosing a topic for my dissertation. I know that the other tools that you shared will also be of great benefit to me as I move forth into my sustainable work and life. Thank you again for your compassionate and wise facilitation. Like the best teachers do, you helped me to access my own self trust and knowing." Katie, LCSW and PhD. student

"It showed me that I can look at my situation in a new way and introduced tools for doing that and working from there. [The instructors] ... did a great job of building on and tracking what the students brought to the workshop. Getting us to perform exercises was key to the learning."

"Very positive. Very helpful to me. Good content. Knowledgeable presenters. The complementary styles of the presenters and their open and engaging approach [worked well]. Everything worked very well." 

"Positive. Came at a good time for helping me focus on next steps. Really appreciated the responsiveness of facilitators. Valued their flexibility in creating a workshop that would speak to the needs of the participants. Liked content, format, length... overall was really wonderful."

"Thought this was thoughtfully laid out and a nice combination of personal reflection and group work. I liked the various styles brought in through having two facilitators. I liked the fact that this was not a one size fits all approach and was tailored to our group."

"Creating a More Sustainable Work and Lifestyle" at Califonia Institute of Integral Studies, Public Programs

"Interesting and coherent. Generosity of spirit encourages participation. Handouts are exceptionally well-developed. These two [instructors] are very helpful to each of us."

"Creative and evocative methods to explore my desires. [The instructors] had many techniques to evoke change. Very friendly and flexible."

"It was well-balanced: physical, mental, emotional stimulation."

"I appreciated the social pressure to attempt the exercises, and learned more about what worked for me. [The instructors] were flexible in adapting to what was working for people. Using big pieces of paper and art supplied expanded my thinking."

"Unfortunately had to miss a day so only 3 sessions was a bit short for what I was hoping to accomplish but it gave plenty of ideas and resources for confirming on my own."

"Glad that we kept to outline and got to do everything. Love the balance between the 2 presenters; both equally important."

"It was very good. I got some good ideas to move forward. The style and organization worked well. I really liked the visual aspect of the workshop. I thought everything worked well."

"Positive, insightful, helpful. Monika and Mariah work well together."

First Feedback on Happiness Cards

"The cards are spiritually uplifting. I love them. Thanks for making them. Simple but beautiful."
Lois Ross, New York, New York

"The cards are a great way for me to start my day. I pick one in the morning, and it sort of sets a tone (a positive tone). I feel these will be a huge help as I face my monumental challenges. Thank you. Absolutely beautiful! Anjela, Darien, CT

Endorsements by colleagues

Therapy colleagues

"Monika is a remarkable human being whose destiny has included playing an important role in recent history. One of the greatest scientists of our time, Professor Heinz von Foerster, was a founder of cybernetics, the original science of complexity. In the last years of his life, he chose Monika to articulate a new understanding of how we may participate in the world. Their recorded conversations became the book, Part of the World. Monika's intellectual background, combined with her many apprenticeships in the transformative arts, make her an ideal leader for bringing the news we need in order to become more fully human."
Bradford Keeney, Ph.D., Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco; and author of over 30 books, including The Creative Therapist.

"I have known and worked with Monika on a number of projects over that last 7 years. She is reliable, highly creative and intelligent, takes initiative, helps others work effectively together. She is dedicated, passionate, and she has a deep understanding of systemic and constructivist theory and how to use them effectively in the world of work. Without qualification, I give her the highest possible recommendation as a systemic facilitator and coach.”
Wendel Ray, Ph.D. Professor of Family System Theory, University of Louisiana-Monroe"

"As you may have noticed, my colleagues and I very much enjoyed your stay at the MRI, because - as you know - our Institute originated and grew out of the collaboration of professionals who were able to bring in new perspectives, new epistemological orientations and new techniques from which we all learned. As the second most senior member of the Institute is has been very interesting, and pleasant for me to collaborate with you. I especially enjoyed our conversations about your work on constructivist ethics - a concept that for me opens new dimensions on my work with constructivism. We appreciated your participation in and contribution to our Residency Program from March to June 1998, to our Brief Therapy Intensive from September 1998 to May 1999 as well as to other trainings such as my workshop Psychotherapy of "As If" in April of 1998. I am pleased that - in addition to all the other work you did - you often participated in the work of the Brief Therapy Center during the last five years. My colleagues and I are very grateful for your tremendous help in planning and coordination of our International Conference "Shoulders of Giants" that took place in 2002. Your lecture in honor of Heinz von Foerster, in which you presented how the concept of implicit ethics can be applied to systemi therapy, was very insightful for all of us here at the MRI. Kindly let me know when you will be able to come again to the MRI - meanwhile all the best.
Paul Watzlawick, Ph.D. Senior Research Fellow, Mental Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, 2003

Silicon Valley Colleagues

“Monika not only thinks outside the box, she squashes it all together. It is refreshing to come across someone as blunt, open, creative, innovative and passionate. A highly inspiring person who walks her talk joyfully!”
Jenny Ward, Owner, Playward

“Monika is extraordinary. Rarely have I ever come across anybody with the bold combination of keen insight, nuanced understanding, and sensitivity to the dynamics that challenge rational thought and the analytical mind. Her engaging style and seemingly cheerful outlook do not prevent her from drilling into the heart of the matter and then deftly delivering potentially difficult (and valuable) messages to those lucky enough to work with her.”
Harry Max, Harry Max & Associates, Development & Leadership Coach

For Workshop Testimonials, please see the respective workshop pages.

Endorsements for Monika's work at Google

“Monika has contributed a great deal to the development of Google University. She is an expert in many areas of personal growth, and brings true passion to her work. She developed and led learning programs, expanded our strategic thinking in her area, mastered complex and often changing administrative details, and built a strong network of friends and colleagues. She is committed to doing her best possible work while maintaining a very strong sense of values and of the dignity of the human person. She will be an asset to an organization that needs a committed leader in this field.”
Peter Allen, Ph.D. Director of Google University, Google

“Monika was an engaged, energetic colleague, with a true love of and expertise in the field of personal growth. Her contacts in the field are truly impressive, as is her creativity in developing learning programs to help people develop themselves. Monika is an innovative and generous person who cares deeply about helping others reach their full potential.”
Evan Wittenberg, Senior Manager, Leadership Development, Google

“Monika's greatest personal strength is compassion. Monika has deep and genuine desire to help people be free from suffering and achieve happiness and holistic wellness. Her compassion is very inspiring. Monika works really really hard and gets a lot done, almost in a super-human kind of way. She's very dedicated and demonstrated great tenacity at solving problems. It's pretty awesome watching her push through barriers to make things happen. Monika is a person of integrity. She's honest, open, direct and transparent. Her knowledge of holistic health and wellness is very impressive, and she seems to know just about every prominent person in that field. She also has plenty of good ideas. I think Monika will achieve great things for the world in her life.”
Chade-Meng Tan, Jolly Good Fellow, Google

“I have had the opportunity of working closely with Monika Broecker for the past several months. The word that best sums up Monika for me, is 'visionary.' She has an uncanny knack for seeing the 'big picture' while understanding the details and phases involved in it's actual achievement. She is also genuinely committed to 'personal growth' within the business community, and speaks with such honesty and passion about her work. As a full time teacher of The Alexander Technique for the past 23 years, author of The Kines-Tech Project and teacher trainer, I have always found it somewhat challenging to explain the depth and all embracing application this work has - especially when organizing programs within Corporations. But not @ Google Inc. This is because - Monika just gets it! Although she was without a doubt busy with many projects, Monika always made herself readily available - answering emails, taking phone calls, organizing meetings promptly and whenever necessary, and being a friendly and welcoming colleague. All her unique qualities have helped and encouraged me to give my best, and to give it with confidence."
John A. Baron, vendor to Google

“Monika is a determined and passionate manager who compassionately pursues a vision when she knows it to be constructive and right. It is a pleasure working with her I'd recommend her to anyone who needs a manager who can push projects forward.”
Joel Finkelstein, Associate Director, Project Compassion, Stanford University School of Medicine, vendor to Google

“I have known Monika for more than two years as an Improv Enthusiast. I worked closely with her while she was at Google, in leading roles in both Google University's School of Leadership Development and School of Personal Growth. Bringing Improv to Google alone shows her high sense for the creative, innovative and non-mainstream. She also helped us find connections and applications that were insightful, innovative and relevant to the culture and values there. She clearly has a deep dedication to and understanding of personal presence, team collaboration, and human connection. Oh, and she's really fun and easy to work with. And that counts for a lot!”
Chris Miller, Lifeplays, vendor to Google

Comments

[Lisa-Marie Ahearne]

My daughter needed professional guidance in working with her autobiographical book and Monika has been appropriately sensitive and spiritually compassionate in working with my daughter. Moreover, I love Monika’s energetic and positive attitude, for this journey has taken a path of great healing and empowerment.
Lisa-Marie, Mother & MFTT