Reviews
Coaching
“I am so grateful for the time I spent with Lara as it changed my life. In my journey dealing with chronic pain Lara was my shining star.” — Jascha Sonis
“I chose Lara because she’s spent years walking through the dark tunnel. She creates that safe space where the magic happens, almost like an adventure with a friend. Her reflections are like looking in the mirror and seeing myself for the first time. Working with Lara has been a complete and utter joy. How many people do you know who are saying they feel reborn at age 76? :-)” — Brandt M.
”Working with Lara over a five-week span was truly transformative. Having dealt with chronic pelvis/hip pain for ten years, Lara helped me reframe pain from overwhelming obstacle into a conquerable fear. Her emphasis on self-trust and agency has been invaluable. Her wisdom, rooted in her own experience, shines through. Rest assured, what you’re going through now doesn’t need to remain permanent.” — Peter Breining
“Lara feels like a guardian angel who helps me learn to live with the aftermath of a life-changing stroke. She makes me feel confident in my inner strength and is like a mirror to my highest self that even I hadn’t seen. She is truly gifted." — Rebecca Bauder
“Dr. Birk changed my life. Within two weeks, the daily headaches that had plagued me for years had dramatically decreased. She is kind and patient and provides a tailored plan for you. I have had almost no migraines for the past 3 months. It really is amazing.” — Katie P.
“Lara gave me hope I could reduce the toll of pain on my life, and delivered above and beyond what I ever could have imagined. After a more than decade-long journey with chronic pain, including surgery, I had felt like I had exhausted every avenue. Lara gave me profound insights and a new approach to healing. Her understanding of chronic pain from both clinical and emotional perspectives is unmatched.” — Michelle Thaler
“Lara has been integral to my healing process. She has guided me to learn, grow, and most of all, be able to love and live a full and rich life. She is a true gift to the world.” — Lisa Gold
“Lara has been an absolute lifesaver! I have had chronic facial pain for years now. I have had every medical test and I have seen every medical doctor. I tried it all. I felt hopeless and out of options. Lara made me feel hopeful again. She helped me realize that my pain is there to help me take better care of myself. She made me feel less alone. I am beyond grateful.” — Andrea M.
"Lara's approach to healing gently guides her clients to uncover beliefs and behaviors that put the nervous system on high alert. Through our work, I have become more self-aware, more resilient, and more empowered in my own healing journey. I am so grateful to work with Lara and garner her wisdom - she is an expert in mind-body medicine!" — Katie C.
Groups
“The group was one of the most valuable therapeutic experiences I've ever had. Lara possesses an exceptional talent and I give her the highest recommendation!” — Diana Eastman
“This group has given me the tools key to living a full, open-hearted life going forward.” — Emilie Wilcox
“Working with Lara has truly been game changing.” — Terri D.
"Of the many clinicians, therapists, and coaches I have interacted with, Lara is the best when it comes to figuring out how to live a meaningful life while struggling with chronic pain.” — Mike B.
“Lara is a highly skilled group facilitator who creates a safe and empowering space. Her group has helped me feel safer, more connected, more confident and in less pain.” — Martha P.
“I consider it no less than divine intervention that my path crossed with Lara’s in this fortuitous way.”
“Lara was absolutely brilliant and I will really miss her!”
“Lara has the gift of creating a group where we learn to count on each other, see our similarities, rely on each other.”
“Lara, I like to think each of us will go on to become a version of you, impromptu ambassadors for Growth and Hope.”
“Lara’s personal story with chronic pain and her facilitation skills are truly inspiring.”
“I will always remember Lara and the impact she’s had on my life. I have tears in my eyes as I am writing this.”
“Lara is a kind and gentle soul that could relate to all of us with empathy. She’s a great example of how to give without losing yourself.”
“I have done a lot of programs over the years and Lara is a pro.”
“Lara was delightful — an absolutely amazing facilitator and a wonderful person.”
“Lara does a great job listening to what people have to say and reimagining how that issue or feeling can be handled.”
“I feel well on my way to more self-compassionate living.”
Talks
“Lara, you give us reason to believe our lives can be better.”
“Thank you so much Lara. I need full time care and am bedbound and I feel so seen and understood in your talks like no where else! Warm greetings from Vienna.
“I feel included at last! I kept thinking I was doing something wrong because my symptoms didn’t stop. Now I know better. Lara gives me so much hope! A positive mindset, and freedom to continue pursuing the mind body connection! It has been life changing!
“As Lara said, our experience of living with both structural and neuroplastic symptoms can feel ignored in the mindbody world. I sometimes feel I'm failing because my mindbody work over the past 4 years hasn't significantly changed or eliminated my symptoms. Lara’s talk gave me validation my experience counts too and I'm not a failure.”
“After four heart attacks and a stroke, “safety” is a big issue, and Lara’s talk was what I wanted to hear. Her agency list for feeling safe is a game changer.”
“My new mantra is “I am not afraid of storms…” This is profound and transformational. It makes me feel I can sail my ship with confidence and skill.” — Janey Mallin
“The talk beautifully blended the personal with the practical, Lara empathetically offering so many empowering ideas and strategies. So many folks who tuned in really needed to hear her message. I really did.”
“I am feeling relieved and hopeful. Great insight broken down in digestible pieces. Doable actions without putting pressure on oneself. Thank you Lara.”
“Lara saying I have a superpower within me gave me hope. Her personal and authentic approach provokes self confidence.”
“I really liked her statement about letting your values rather than fear guide you.”
“I felt understood. Lara reassured my impression that mind/body helps with creating a good life and therefore is worth the effort - important motivation to keep going.”
Quotations from the survey submissions by viewers of Lara’s talks
“I am a better human for knowing Lara.” — Matty Phelps
(video testimonial)
Students
“Lara gives her whole self.” — Madelynn Paul
“Mark Twain stated, “Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Lara has always been one of those people for me.” — Calvin Jara
“Lara’s vulnerability in sharing her own life taught us about resiliency and perseverance. Five years later, as a medical student I still think about the conversations we had and how she helped shape my own path.” — Alex Zhuang
“Dr. Birk transformed the way I thought about illness identity. That has served me well throughout my career and since I was diagnosed with a chronic illness.” — Liz Doherty
"Lara is an extraordinary human. She offers compassion, empowerment, and a roadmap to healing and self-love. I am a better human for knowing Lara." — Matty Phelps
“Lara Birk will change your life.” — Michael White
“Lara Birk is a woman of great wisdom who has a fire within. She is also an ally to the anti-racism cause.” — Marilyn O.
“Lara has a way of making people feel heard, understood, and important. It’s definitely not a surprise so many people keep in touch with her for years.” — So Hyeon
“Lara breaks down the barriers between us.” — Patrick Williamson
“Lara holds passion, kindness, strength and wisdom and is impossible to not admire." — Hana Memisevic
“Lara transformed our class into a safe space for us to open up about our experiences… We all walked out wiser and more empathetic.” — Katheryn Ward
“Over the last 40 years I have had occasion to visit the [classes] of several colleagues for evaluative purposes. Acknowledging the risk of sounding excessive in my praise, I think that Lara is among the very best teachers I have ever seen.”
— David A. Karp, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Boston College
Photos: Lara Birk with students
