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The search for peace in the world must start within the human heart and within our own families. Barry Neil Kaufman understands that. By personal example and through his writing and counseling, he gives a compelling vision for the building of inner and outer peace.
President Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
If there were a Nobel Prize for love, I’d want the Kaufmans to be the first to receive one.
Dr. Wayne Dyer, Author, Change Your Thoughts — Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao
Barry Neil Kaufman champions making the choice to believe in ourselves, to be hopeful and seize the power of loving ourselves and others.
Lou Holtz, Head Football Coach, University of Notre Dame
Inspiring, groundbreaking and visionary. Barry Neil Kaufman’s work is the science of love, compassion and insight which will transform the world.
Deepak Chopra M.D., Author, Quantum Healing
I have never experienced a more brilliant teacher. Bears consistently puts every participant in the ‘playroom’ and constantly and lovingly gives each of us the opportunity to question ourselves, love ourselves even more, and to find out what our ‘new’ best self is. My love for the man whose courage and curiosity created The Option Institute is only slightly less than my overwhelming gratitude.
Shelley Stravitz, Educational Consultant, California
I bring Samahria my questions, the ones I feel most vulnerable with, and seeing them through her eyes, with humor, compassion, and wisdom, I find the next octave of me.
Wendy Musk, Teacher, Newton, CT
Energetic, outrageous, exceptional woman, an absolute inspiration; she embodies everything we can be. Samahria’s energy is so powerful that she fills the whole room and is so giving, loving, and accepting of everybody. It’s like she has a fine tuned radar to know who to go to and how and when to stretch them.
Zobeeda Madsen, Son-Rise Mom, Spain
I wish I could take this graceful lady home with me! What a bubbly, effervescent wealth of knowledge and experience Samahria is!
Tammy Patchell-Evans, Son-Rise Program Mom/Dance Studio Owner, Canada
Delightful. Joyous. Irreverent. Samahria is a fun teacher! Who could be better? She is a gem.
Valerie Gilbert, Actress, New York
Raun is a ball of fire and a great spark in our midst. An excellent facilitator, Raun’s rapport with us was unique. He created energy constantly, and I was jazzed every moment with him. Raun is a wise, insightful, articulate philosopher and true humanitarian.
Donna Hal, Management
Raun is energetic, dramatic, wise, articulate, immensely loving and delightful. He kept the group spell-bound.
Jane Buckle, Director, New York
Raun is the most outstanding teacher I have ever encountered. Truly exceptional. Raun has such enthusiasm – it radiates from him.
Hilary Farmer, Dyslexia Educational Consultant, England
Clyde’s relaxed, calming and loving style was an inspiration to me throughout the program. His genuine belief that happiness is a choice was clearly articulated and convincingly put forward. His non directive and inclusive approach towards the group was balanced and effective. Without doubt, a master facilitator.
Wayne Thomas, Learning & Development Consultant, England
Clyde delivers the teachings with great clarity, conviction and fun. …He comes from a place of genuine understanding and humility and invites you to step forward with trust and honesty. He is brilliant at creating a safe learning place that is easeful and profound.
Starr Cornell, Administrative Assistant, Great Barrington, MA
Clyde is nurturing, fun, playful, considerate, poetic and loving. He created a safe environment to explore the inner parts of myself, the shadow-side that was aching to be noticed.
Jane Buckle, Director, New York
Clyde is a great teacher and leader. I enjoy the poems he shares, his exuberance and excitement about being here, and being part of our process of authentication.
Julia K. McCaughey, Retail Manager, Connecticut
Bryn is a superb facilitator who delivers her subject brilliantly with humor and style. She is a sincere, genuine person who is sensitive to the mood of the audience. I have learned so much from her in 5 days. A personal message for Bryn: ‘I will be forever indebted to you for everything I have learned. You are a true inspiration!’
Sean Driscoll, Translator, Wales
Bryn is powerful, sharp, keen-witted, intelligent and fearless. One just knows that Bryn can move mountains and does. She is a powerful facilitator.
Laine Jastram, Therapist, Texas
Her warmth, her ability to connect, her humor and her love radiated in the room. She’s a dynamic speaker who can also bring you to tears in an instant, because she lets you see her love, and her heart.
Barbara Partazana, Insurance, Florida
I have never been in the presence of a more powerful, beautiful, articulate speaker. Oh, and she could easily be a successful stand-up comic. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve shared this week. I am a better person for having known you.
Jill Liebler, Mother/Homemaker, Texas
I feel she has a softness and understanding of everyone she comes in contact with. She communicates straight from the heart. Her teachings and messages are amazing.
Debbie Mokhlessin, Banker, California
Excellent bundle of brilliant energy, clarity and curiosity. Excellent dialogue processor!
Dennis Dougherty, CEO – Landscape, Mill Valley, CA
Leah displays a delightful presence. She is open and accepting and loving. She is so accepting and wants the best for you so it is easy to grow in transforming and powerful ways.
Patrick Davenport, Venture Capital, Massachusetts
Great, wonderful enthusiasm, and sense of humor. He expressed amazing interest in all of us.
Julia K. McCaughey, Real Estate Salesperson, New York
Stan exudes a calm intensity that gently pushes me to my limits and then some. I felt his wisdom and love through his teaching.
Joel Witherspoon, Counselor, North Carolina
This man has amazing skills! His energy lit up the room. His questions challenged and delighted everyone. We played, we worked and we celebrated our discoveries together. I want more Stan.
Mark Lindsay, Boatbuilder, Massachussetts
Beverly’s excitement for The Option Process is what got me here! Her continued excitement surrounding what she does here is amazing. I enjoy being around someone who is so passionate. When she walks into the room, I find that I want to hear everything she has to say.
Kristine Jones, Interior Designer, New Jersey
Beverly is a sweet soul who quietly teaches with confidence and compassion. She passes on her knowledge succinctly and clearly. Her explanation of the Option Process® Dialogue is to the point and easy to understand. Clarity is her trademark.
Michael Pearl, Lawyer, England
Lauren has been my counselor for over a year and I always, always look forward to our dialogues together every week. She helps me work out the big issues and the little ones and, through it all, she offers the gifts of deep love and acceptance, both quite palpable. When I develop comfort and conviction about something, I can feel her cheering me on. I am pursuing a new career and have had a number of doubts and fears along the way. Our weekly sessions have enabled me to get past each obstacle I encounter. I feel so comfortable and safe with Lauren that I have discussed just about every aspect of my life with her! Lauren is a gem, a jewel, a precious gift to me and others.
~Abigail L. Austin, TX
I have worked with two other therapists, but our work together was by far, the most effective, rapid and so easy. Although we never met in person, I instantly felt comfortable. Your gentle, but probing questions helped me breakthrough my deepest circular and unhappy thinking patterns. I now have tools to use for myself and I see so many situations differently. You have given me the insight for how I make my world. Thank you for holding up that mirror. I finally feel more grounded and responsible for myself than ever. I will certainly recommend you to everyone. I’m so thankful!
~Julie C. New York, NY
There have been areas of my life where I have felt stuck. I have tried yoga, therapy, mediation and wine and I just couldn’t move past the psychological barrier. Your methods, compassion, and generosity have helped me see things from a brand new perspective. This has been freeing and is helping me move to a whole new chapter in my life.
~Elizabeth B. Millbrook, NY
Suzanne is a kindred spirit and a powerful teacher. I love this woman & truly appreciate her (dialogue). Love the twinkle in her eyes.
~Barbara Bachelder, Pilates trainer, Canada
This was a profound experience I have never had: someone listening to me that really cared about my feelings. Amazing how simple questions can make you think, feel, cry and make you realize things about yourself.
~Patty Hendricks, PA
Incredible – I was able to gain so much direction/clarity in my session and I’m thrilled and grateful for my time with her.
~Naomi Webb, Australia
Though many of us speak as if our emotions happen to us, we believe that they are responses we choose in an effort to take care of ourselves. Misery, fear, anger, distress, anxiety, and discomfort are optional, not inevitable. We can show you how to meet crises and challenges with comfort and ease – and to create personal happiness in a sustainable way.
Oftentimes, we look for our answers from experts, institutions, the media, and the people around us – everyone but ourselves. We believe that you possess all of your own answers to the personal issues that mark your life. We can teach you to access and rely upon your own internal insight.
We filter all our experiences through our beliefs and mindsets (about ourselves, others, and events around us). These beliefs, in turn, determine how we feel and what we do. Most importantly, people’s beliefs are changeable. We can help you to examine and then re-choose beliefs which fuel comfort, happiness, and the inner strength to overcome life’s challenges.
Most of us see making judgments (“that’s terrible,” “he’s mean”) as crucial to our moral compass and our ability to take decisive action. However, we see judgments as leading to discomfort, anger, clouded perceptions, and muddled decision-making. That’s why we help you to drop judgments, thus increasing your focus, decisiveness, and ability to handle crises.
You are not condemned to live the rest of your life thinking that you are not good enough, that something is wrong with you, that you are not whole, that you are not okay as you are. These are learned beliefs, and we can teach you different, more self-supportive ones. Why? Because we don’t believe that anything is wrong with you, and we do believe that you are okay just the way you are.
At every turn, most of us are treated as though we are victims – of our genes, or our upbringing, or our subconscious, or outside events. We have specific self-empowering strategies to enable you to capitalize on your own ultimate capability to be in the driver’s seat in every circumstance.
Throughout our lives, we are taught to say what people want to hear, to mask our true selves, to focus on who others think we should be rather than being who we sincerely are. Most of us see this as safe – and crucial to maintaining our relationships. We see personal authenticity and honesty as the key to feeling safe (because you don’t have to live in fear of being “found out”) and creating close, meaningful relationships (because each person can know and love the other for who they really are).
Most of us think that events in our lives are inherently good or bad, and we can only hope for more good than bad. We give you tools to change your point of view about life events. We have seen, over and over again, that learning to change your perspective on external occurrences changes your entire internal experience – which then changes how you deal with external occurrences.
We do not teach “the truth.” We do not teach “the right way to live.” What we do teach are practical tools, principles, strategies, and perspectives for being, overcoming life’s challenges, and sustaining personal happiness.