Testimonials
Having Diane's support has been one of the most impactful experiences of my turbulent adult life. She helped me transition through an excruciating divorce, a toxic work environment and assisted me in bravely and lovingly accepting my beloved mother's death.
With her guidance, these seemingly horrible events became a meditation on the sometimes fleeting beauty of life and how to treasure each second. She infused every session with her warmth, wisdom and most importantly her presence, which showed me how to be present for myself.
I would not have grown into the alive and awake woman that I am today without her.
Lauren Malloy
During a time of great transitions in my life I had the great fortune to meet Dr Diane Handlin. Initially, my intent to work with her came from a search about career direction. From the very first conversation I had with Dr Handlin I felt that I could trust her as she helped place my concerns into a larger and comprehensive life context. As I am writing this
I hope I will do justice to the true significance Dr Handlin had in my life as a therapist, a guide, a facilitator to some of the most important transitions and changes in my life.
During the initial years I worked with her I came to process the end of a difficult marriage. With her help I was able to achieve a degree of integrity, dignity and respect for myself, and my family, and thereby gaining the continuous trust and confidence of my children. During this time I also began my professional life as a teacher. Many powerful and creative beginnings came from our work as I began to truly find my inner strengths and creativity and healing. Dr Handlin encouraged me to further my formal education, which led to new opportunities in my professional work. During my longtime tenure at a private school she was instrumental in supporting my growth as a leader. In my personal life she helped lay the foundation for a vision of creating a true partnership within a new marriage with a wonderful partner.
There are other milestones which I could state here as outward manifestations of success in my therapy with Dr Handlin. I need to emphasize here that the fundamental changes that came about through my work (therapy) was related to the continuous deep listening, genuine caring, skillful guidance and sharing of knowledge at the right moment by Dr Handlin. She brought an unwavering sense of honor, a deep ethic of caring, and great sensitivity to the therapeutic process.
No matter what challenges I am faced with, even after years of our work together, I have come to integrate and internalize the many lessons I was so compassionately guided in by Dr Handlin. She consistently brought the highest degree of professionalism paired with deep humanism to our relationship.
I used the word ‘powerful beginnings’ above and I truly feel that I have learned to act and think and feel from a place of integrity and centeredness. This is indeed a powerful way to make decisions, to relate to others and to compose a life of compassion and creativity.
Some of the things I am most grateful for to this day are the quality of trust and grace Dr Handlin has helped me develop in my relationships, the skills of communication with honesty, compassion and humor, and the adventure of integrating my deepest self with ways of healthy expression in the world. Not with pride, but rather with immense gratitude I think about the ripple effect Dr Handlin had on my life, my children, my stepchildren, my grandchildren, friends and students.
I hold Dr Handlin in the highest regard and feel extremely fortunate to have had her as my trusted therapist.
Monika Jaeckle
“Your program was one of the best I ever attended.
The work you are doing is so relevant and exciting. The content was high-level, and scholarly, while always being so practical and down to earth.”
Bara S. Rosenheck, Training Coordinator,
Rutgers Consortium for Educational Equity
“Your Institute was the best organized and most comprehensive conference that I ever attended.
You provided theoretical and practical fociand while the two days were intense
I enjoyed every segment of it.
The different perspectives were provocative. The presenters were “real” people thinking
about “real” issues. Lastly, I thank you for the creature comforts.
The graciousness of the hosts may not go unheralded.”
Joan Tucker, Vice-Principal,
James Caldwell High School
“The work you are embarked on inspired a most wonderful synthesis of the ‘personal’ and the ‘professional.’ Your presentations were just wonderful.”
Peggy McIntosh, Associate Director
Wellesley College Center for Research on Women
(Although Dr. Handlin is a licensed psychologist and was the first person in NJ ever certified to teach MBSR, and has a separate psychology practice, please note that MBSR is an educational course and not psychotherapy. In addition, information contained in this document is informational and not to be construed as medical advice. If you suspect you have medical issues, please pursue appropriate treatment)