What Clients Are Saying
1-on-1 Integral / Executive Coaching
“This integral coaching experience has been an incredible source of support for me through my time in transitioning into a new career. It's a struggle for everyone and between dealing with the sense of grief and ambiguity, Sarah-Marie has been able to help me have numerous revelations that have helped me learn more about myself and help transform my perspectives with optimism and wisdom that ultimately continue to get me through some hard times. I would recommend coaching with Sarah-Marie whole heartedly for anyone looking for a coaching experience that is intimately personal, rejuvenating, and supportive on their journey in thriving.”
- Girolama Bui, Design for Food, IDEO, San Francisco, CA
“Something I needed help with is the “inner critic” – there is a voice inside me that is constantly tearing me down with a vengeance. From the very beginning, even before she was aware of how severe my inner critic is, Sarah-Marie approached me as though the meanness of the inner critic isn’t true. That was a big deal for me.
Sarah-Marie has clearly done the work herself. She consistently had a strategy to deal with specific difficulties I would bring up – from keeping my inner critic at bay or dealing with anxiety and stress. I was very impressed with her very large bag of strategies and how easily she could present a strategy to deal with a particular difficulty I was having. Sarah-Marie is insistent on kindness to the self. Insistent.
For me, [the coaching process] felt like working on building a foundation for practicing kindness to myself, esteem, and self-care. I use the word foundation, because I see that as the basis for being able to achieve other, more concrete goals (maturing as a person, getting a more satisfying job, etc).
Sarah-Marie telling me at the beginning that she saw me as “whole” was pretty huge. Sarah-Marie also taught a practice of self-compassion that felt helpful and healing. Finally, talking out a decision I made years ago that I deeply regret and that is still painful for me helped me see another piece of the situation I didn’t see before, which in turn eased up my anger at myself a bit – which is a big deal.
The work is appropriate for anyone. Sarah-Marie’s approach didn’t preclude certain types of people from participating and benefiting from it. She really drives at the humanity in us all, so any human would benefit from this work.”- Corie, international development, Washington, DC
“In a time when I felt surrounded with tumult and darkness closing in on me from so many places — work, close relationships, the state of the world and the current social and political realities of our times — Sarah-Marie helped me find, protect and nurture my inner light.
Our times together were gifts of pause, reflection and spaciousness. So much of my energy and attention is spent on doing-ness for others, I have often felt extremely depleted. Working with Sarah-Marie I was able to prioritize being-ness, carving out precious space for myself to just be — to breathe, feel, plant wild seeds, let new growth emerge within that quiet and sheltered space. Through our work together I was able to hear a deeper calling and begin to turn toward it.”
- Katrina Mitchell, Co-Founder & Design Director, Picture Impact, Minneapolis, MN
“My work with Sarah-Marie has been transformative. We've worked a lot on limiting beliefs and how I can work through unproductive beliefs, habits and mindsets. There have been things that have plagued me for my entire life that I felt like I could finally truly address and shift. This process has helped me develop deeper self-compassion and confidence.”
- Jillian, program management
“My work with Sarah-Marie has been amazing. We have focused primarily on self-introspection when it comes to building confidence as a mother and as a leader in the workplace (and soon in academics). I have really enjoyed each session with Sarah-Marie. She has helped me dig into why and how to work on the counterproductive habits I have built over time, all the while being gentle and kind to myself. I have really enjoyed working on self-confidence (how to stand up for myself, voice my opinions, be a leader, etc.). Sarah-Marie has been an amazing force to contrast the way I have been trying to work on myself in the past.”
- Tracy, product management
“I cannot sing Sarah-Marie’s praises enough. Working with her during this challenging time in my professional journey has been so incredibly rewarding - more than I could have anticipated. I connected with her through the recommendation of a close friend and without the knowledge of what integral coaching was. I was drawn to this new experience not only to further my self growth, a constant intention of mine, but also to learn and incorporate more mindfulness practices into my life. I approached this integral coaching program with an open mind and heart and Sarah-Marie reciprocated the same. She brought a grounded and calming energy and listened without judgment. I recommend Sarah-Marie’s coaching program for anyone looking to take a deeper dive at a holistic view of their life and willing to put in the work.”
- Lindsay P., Refugee Officer, Washington DC
“Working with Sarah-Marie is very rewarding - she has an ability to pull out thoughts and strategies from your own reasoning that you might not have realised yourself. She supported me in sourcing a newfound focus in my day to day work and improving my team interactions.”
- Cameron, CEO of Senior Care Startup, San Francisco, CA
“The main thing I needed to work on was creating spiritual and emotional spaciousness in my life. Perhaps due to the pandemic, I felt like my sense of what was possible in my life was getting smaller and smaller. Sarah-Marie was incredible at helping me see through my anxiety and helping me root in my values. She was a great reflector back to me of how to create spaciousness in my life and in my thoughts. I’m so grateful for our months together!”
- Uchechi, Financial Advisor, Los Angeles, CA
“I have had the honor and privilege of working with Sarah-Marie as my integral coach for 9 months. It was truly a wonderful experience. For the first six sessions, we focused on using Buddhist guiding principles to help navigate and understand the complexities and challenges of life. I often refer to Sarah-Marie as my Dharma coach and guide. As difficult situations arise, she uses these principles to gently guide me into conscious acceptance and understanding of the bigger context. One of my goals was to learn to listen to my body and to learn to trust my intuition and not just rely on my mind and rational thought. This was accomplished. The second six sessions were focused on the parts within and emotions that arise in difficult situations. I learned to speak kindly, gently, and with acceptance and compassion to these parts within and, as importantly, to listen to these parts. It has had a profound effect on my life. It helped me expand that pause between stimulus and response with a gentle awareness. Rather than mindlessly reacting to situations, I learned to take a deeper look and slow down and understand the why behind it. It was hugely helpful in dealing with childhood difficulties that keep arising as an adult.
I would say this work is perfect for anyone looking to deepen their mindfulness and Buddhist practices by learning to apply these principals to your daily life challenges. Sarah-Marie’s coaching has helped me feel more centered, more present, and more joyful in my life.”
- Ali, medical professional
Retreats & Labs
Virtual Labs
“There is no better way to spend a weekend than participating in the TINW Lab. Sarah-Marie creates a beautiful virtual space enabling mindfulness to come to life in a way that is easily grasped in theory, but rarely in practice. If you're someone like me who likes the idea of meditating, but can't sit still, or who likes the idea of finding moments of peace, but constantly has to be busy -- TINW Lab is a must. By way of Sarah-Marie's gentle guidance and a supportive community of peers, I now feel more prepared to move through the rocky "waves" of this time.”
- Alex, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leader
“I feel calmer, more grounded, and more JOY after doing this retreat. I accessed the strong, wise, and centered part of myself that serves me in my life more than the stress & anxiety voices. I also made some new friends and had a lot of fun. I just love Sarah-Marie’s facilitation style. She is patient and supportive, and she leaves a lot of space for answers… I'm just very impressed overall -- and I facilitate a lot of groups, so I know quality when I see it. Highly recommended -- especially for perfectionists and other high-achievers who are growth-minded.”
- Mel C.
“This Lab was well worth a few more hours on Zoom. Sarah-Marie held a compassionate space where I felt safe enough to engage authentically, listen deeply, and connect to inner wisdom. I left the weekend feeling more patient, accepting, and committed to compassion.”
- Holly McKenna
In-Person Labs/Retreats
“Thriving in a Noisy World is a shock to the system - in a good way. Since our daily life is full of stimulus, a weekend without phones and an invitation to enjoy silence feels luxurious and surprisingly challenging. I valued the opportunity to connect deeply with others - even if I had never met them before - through a deep reflection of what it means to be human in the modern world. I walked away with concrete and actionable steps to bring more peace and mindful decision making into my everyday life. This is my 2nd TINW retreat, and I hope to participate in many more! I found that this type of training is needed on an ongoing basis as life ebbs and flows with different demands on my time and more clarity towards what I think I can contribute in my lifetime. I'm certain that TINW will help me achieve my full potential as I listen to the voice within.”
- Erin Boyd, head of partnerships, Scottsdale, AZ
“I found the experience incredibly powerful - in the midst of some dedicated soul-searching, I emerged realizing just how much I had yet to uncover, yet already feeling so much clearer on what mattered to me and what I most needed at that time.”
- Jeanette Mellinger, San Francisco, CA
"In a time of great challenges as a mother and founder, the Thriving in a Noisy World retreat gave me hope, new ideas, and tools for living a more fulfilling life, while being truer to my self and my gifts.”
- Katrina Mitchell, founder and creative director, Minneapolis, MN
"Thriving in a Noisy World Lab was a great opportunity to unplug, get inspired and connect to community. It was a harmonious blend of mindfulness, reflections on thought leaders and time to go within. I can't recommend it enough for those longing for some time to reconnect to themselves and realign with what matters most."
- Ginger Legon, leadership coach, Los Angeles, CA
"[Thriving in a Noisy World Lab] helped me clarify who I am and what I have to offer."
- Mel C., researcher, coach and speaker, Los Angeles, CA
"Thank you Sarah-Marie for a wonderful Thriving in a Noisy World Lab! You created a relaxed and trusting environment where I found it safe to reflect with others and find my balance and peace. I had no idea that silence could be so powerful and important. It was wonderful to absorb the amazing energy of the group and I am filled with gratitude that I had the opportunity to experience this and meet you. I wouldn't hesitate to attend another one."
- Kara Goyal, researcher, Los Angeles, CA
“I'm a chief executive leading and scaling an organization and the lab was just what I needed to get space and clarity from the chaos of my life and work, and it's really changed how I go about my day-to-day. I'm more patient, more mindful, and more contemplative which is allowing me to create better work-life balance! I'm not someone who goes to personal development courses or coaching or anything of that sort, but I found this workshop incredibly helpful and it didn't seem like a course at all but rather friends hanging out and chatting! Highly recommend it for those who are feeling burned out and confused!”
- Jeff, chief executive, Los Angeles, CA
"This was a beautiful and thoroughly thoughtful learning retreat where I felt so connected to and supported by everyone else, grew so much in self-awareness and self-sufficiency, and was able to set transformative, actionable intentions for my life. Would highly recommend."
- Cindy, data analyst, Washington, DC
"With a lifestyle, both physical and digital, full of noise and distraction, this retreat gave me valuable insights and tools to harness true intention in my life."
- Colin, video producer, Washington, DC
"I would definitely recommend the 'Thriving in a Noisy' world retreat to anyone who is looking to explore their 'quiet' strengths and find a community of people trying to do the same."
- Sid, impact investor, Philadelphia, PA
"Thriving in a Noisy World has been a beautiful and enriching retreat experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the invitation to pause and get away from the noise of my daily routine. Spending time in the intimacy of a small and diverse group of fascinating people allowed me to explore great questions about myself, relationships, career choices, and the impact I can have in the world. Only one week has gone by, and I can already see the effects of the shift that happened for me during the retreat. I am more aware of my surroundings and my relationship with others - from my daily commute, to the food I eat, to the intentional conversations I have. I can't wait to see how Sarah-Marie continues to evolve this movement, and I hope to be part of it!"
- Dana, education strategist and social entrepreneur, Boston, MA
"This was a beautiful experience that allowed for deeper connection with others, all with the absence of judgement. I highly valued the perspective shift on solitude and the head space granted me a lot of growth at this stage in my life!"
- Thomas, creative artist and marketing strategist, Washington, DC
"A wonderful time with others, with nature, with self. We all need retreats like this."
- Chevy, health technology analyst, Chicago, IL
"A peaceful and fun escape from our noisy world, Thriving in a Noisy World provides a supportive community and environment to explore a more intentional and fulfilling life."
- Nico, entrepreneur and meditation teacher, Seattle, WA
"This was a magical experience for my inner-self and bringing my whole-self to challenges. Immediately after the retreat, I found myself expressing gratitude better with family and friends, creating spaces of intentionality and creativity with teammates, and pursuing new opportunities in clear confidence. I know this experience will also go a long way. Sarah-Marie is such a thoughtful and active facilitator who cares deeply. Grateful!"
- Amy, social venture fund program manager, San Francisco, CA
"Coming into this retreat, I knew I needed to get back in touch with myself - but I didn't know how much I needed it. Being part of this retreat gave me open space and time to re-learn what it feels like to be alive and thrive in all parts of my life: my relationships, my work, and my overall happiness. I left feeling rejuvenated and reconnected to myself and less alone. If you're in a transition moment or even a recentering moment, this is a retreat for you!"
- Emily, network manager, Washington, DC
"How was TINW different from other personal development programs and leadership retreats? Quite simply, TINW is a catapult into a renewed life post-retreat – characterized by gentle introspection, mindful practices, and deep, courageous love – rather than a refuge from our normal lives. Sarah-Marie lives the questions as the journey. Through TINW, I am grateful she invites us to join."
- Kevin, social entrepreneur, San Francisco, CA
"For months, I had found myself in a reactive place, responding to urgent demands and arbitrary to-do lists to mitigate pressure without actually doing enough to check in on myself, my intentions, and the direction I wanted to go in various buckets of life. I was confusing indiscriminate action for progress. Thriving in a Noisy World helped me take pause, get comfortable in a space with no schedules or random exigencies, and take time to really understand my values and relationship with solitude. I spent a weekend surrounded by a community that inspired me, pushed me to unpack areas of my life that I hadn't stopped to question in ages and showed me many different behaviors that I can take back with me. I'm grateful that "Thriving In a Noisy World" gave me a launch pad to explore new areas of my future!"
- Kushaan, product manager, San Francisco, CA
“Having a retreat and time with Sarah-Marie was really a dream come true. I think she is a very talented facilitator and organizer and I loved the time with our group together at the retreat. I believe her Thriving in a Noisy World retreats meet a critical need in our world and I would highly recommend people attend them for themselves and those they care about.”
- Travis Hellstrom, entrepreneur, professor & author, Woodstock, VT
“I found this [women’s] retreat to be enjoyable as well as inspiring. The facilitators were very organized while creating supportive, thought provoking and informative sessions. Surrounded by the beauty of nature was special as were the nourishing and yummy meals and snacks. When is the next one!?”
- Susan Cook, Washington, DC
“I'd encourage every woman who can to attend this [women’s] retreat. I gained new insights, inspiration and motivation to improve my life in concrete ways. It was great to meet the other women, who were open, sharing and supportive. The coach/facilitators were absolutely amazing.”
- Anonymous
Live Virtual Courses
“Sarah-Marie's wise and loving presence is the perfect vessel for the transmission of time-honored concepts and practices to bring meaning, richness and peace to daily life.”
- Joyce, market research professional, Berkeley, CA
“Sarah-Marie offered a steady, well-organized and welcoming experience. I felt very supported and cared for as we explored different aspects of our minds, hearts and bodies. She facilitated a lovely sense of community. Her communication about logistics and the course content was very clear and concise, and I came away with some valuable internal resources as well as references to refresh my memory.”
- Allison Koos Fox, psychotherapist and yoga instructor
“Sarah-Marie's course is the perfect gateway into developing an ongoing mindfulness practice. I had been trying to meditate for years, with little success. Sarah-Marie created a warm, inviting, and purposeful atmosphere for our group. Through her course, I gained an understanding of the foundations of mindfulness, while having a safe space to practice as a community before implementing it on my own in between sessions. I fully recommend this course for anyone looking to develop, strengthen, or deepen their practice!”
- Francis Tompkins, professional coaching and leadership development, San Francisco Bay Area
“Sarah-Marie is a kind, thoughtful, and skilled mindfulness facilitator who offers a range of practices for every individual and situation. She is open, warm, and welcoming, and adds a nice mix of poetry and inspirational concepts to her teaching style. I highly recommend doing a course or workshop with her, especially if you're new to meditation... you won't regret it!”
- Samantha Kanofsky, Berkeley CA
“Sarah-Marie created a wonderful oasis in my week that helped me reconnect with (and expand my sense of) myself. She led our group with heart and wisdom and also laid the groundwork for community to form and strengthen. Throughout the course, I felt like I was in good hands.”
- Jonathan L., Leadership and Organization Development Professional, Ann Arbor, MI
Sarah-Marie has a powerful, calm and nurturing presence. She holds the space beautifully and adds real delicacy in how she makes the complex simple and digestible. I thoroughly enjoy practicing and learning under her guidance and particularly enjoy her use of prose and poetry through her teachings and meditations.
- Jack Kavanagh - Performance & Wellbeing Coach, Healthcare Professional, Ireland
“From the thoughtful discussions, to the incredible cohort of people willing to be vulnerable with a bunch of strangers, to Sarah-Marie’s ability to facilitate in such a kind, effective way, [the course] is truly unrivaled. This goes to show that a sense of community is not only possible but necessary. It was my first experience meditating as a collective, and you can feel the energy even through Zoom. Excited to delve deeper into my mindfulness practices.”
- Lindsay, USCIS Officer, Washington, DC
“Sarah-Marie has an angelic voice that will guide you through an experience of presence and gentle awareness throughout the course. If you are looking for new tools to relax and decompress, or you are just looking for a weekly ritual to calm your busy mind, look no further than Sarah-Marie's course. She's a wonderfully talented instructor and creates a warm, nurturing environment for development and growth.”
- Rebecca
“Sarah-Marie created the perfect space to learn more about mindfulness practices with her grounded, open and warm presence. She has a wonderful energy that radiates kindness and acceptance. I loved the opportunity to learn both through practice and through her teachings, which really resonated and have stayed with me.
- Caro, sociologist and astrologer, Washington, DC
“Sarah-Marie has a wonderfully relaxing and compassionate presence that is calming to be around! I also really appreciate the teachings being intermixed with multiple stories and poems that drive home the lesson Sarah-Marie is teaching at the moment. I look forward to our sessions every week!”
- Suzanne McKenna, AMFT, Palo Alto, CA
“Sarah-Marie’s warm and calm presence provides insightful yet practical teachings to help her students become more mindful, leading to deeper personal awareness and understanding.”
- Heather Clark
“[The course] helped build community around mindfulness. Sarah-Marie is the kind of gracious facilitator I felt safe with.”
- Mel C.
I really enjoyed and grew from this well-crafted course full of love, insights, practices, and tips. The connection with like-minded participants and with Sarah-Marie made the experience even more enjoyable while boosting learning. I will recommend it to beginners and people already familiar with Mindfulness.
- Neree NOUMON, Washington, DC
Virtual & In-Person Workshops
“Sarah-Marie is calm and wise, and being around her is rejuvenating and restorative. I love how she takes time to explain what's happening and what's going on, and gives you insights into how to practice self-compassion and self-awareness. She led a session [on cultivating self-compassion in difficult times] for our women's circle and I'll be replaying her meditations over and over again.”
- Sarah Peck, Executive Director, Startup Pregnant
“Thank you so much Sarah-Marie! This session was much needed, uplifting, and delightful. The time just flew! Your way of facilitating in a way the embodies the concepts and enables authenticity and connection is very powerful!”
- Amy Badiani, Director of Community Engagement, Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund, San Francisco, CA
“We chose to kick off a week-long leadership training program with a Thriving in a Noisy World workshop. It served as an incredible foundation for the week. Introducing participants to the idea of slowing down and doing the inner work before racing toward an outer goal resonated with SO MANY of us! In fact, in check-ins throughout the week and at the end of the program, our participants were still talking about the impact the session had on them. The concept of the inner critic was especially significant, but also the importance of uncovering the “gold” that lies beneath AND the caretaking of ourselves as critical initial (and ongoing) steps as we work toward making the world a better place. Thank you Sarah-Marie for sharing your insights and the wonderful tools/practices with our leaders!”
- Amy Newcomb, Senior Program Officer, Global Studies, Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth College
"Sarah-Marie did a fantastic job in inspiring participants in the Rockefeller Leadership Fellows Program through her Leading in a Noisy World session. In a highly engaging session, she empowered fellows to understand what they can do to take action towards self-care and effectiveness in the fast-paced world in which they live. Fellows now take turns to implement a five-minute mindfulness exercise during each program session."
- Sadhana Hall, Deputy Director, The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College
“One of the striking points that stood out to me was [Sarah-Marie]’s question about noise. She asked, “What is the noise in your life?” I found this question compelling because it sought to define what distracts us and needlessly takes up mental space. Following our personal reflection time, we discussed our thoughts with our peers. The diversity in our answers was fascinating. We all identified some kind of “noise” in our lives from the constant notifications to other’s perceptions of our personalities to our own insecurities. [Sarah-Marie] then moved the discussion to how we can combat our noise. She concluded with affirming the importance of maintaining a strong sense of oneself and developing strategies to block out our noise. Such skills are essential for effective leadership. Ultimately, [Sarah-Marie]’s articulation of solitude and resilience helped to strengthen our collective conceptualizations of effective leadership.”
- Alexandrea Keith ‘20, Dartmouth College
“Excellent! Very helpful, practical, and philosophical. Applicable.”
“Very helpful personal + professional practices + insights! Loved Sarah-Marie’s approach.”
“I enjoyed the mix of lesson, learning, practice, and sharing. Great!”