Testimonials

“The world and its hurts and challenges has a way of drawing us away from ourselves, away from our goodness, if we allow it to. The demands of our life are constant bids for our attention, focus, energy, and effort. Most of them are invitations to disconnect. But there is a way to walk through the world in connection to ourselves and to our Guidance, with practice, with intention, with persistent effort, and within community. In this way, we return home to ourselves. Working with Sylvia since 2011, I have found my way back to myself. I have learned to deeply nourish my soul, so that I can be more fully present for my children, my partner, and my community. This has also given me the gift of modeling connection for my boys: living life at a human pace, as a natural way of being. I am forever grateful to Sylvia for bringing this invaluable work to the world, and to me personally.” ~G.L.

“I have a master's in counseling psychology. I'm a certified professional coach, executive director and former Mayor and elected City Councilmember. I'm an older mom of a miracle-child, a daughter of working-class immigrants and a woman of color navigating storms and co-creating a better world with community. For me, Sylvia is a conduit for deep and loving personal healing and liberation. Her experience creates the safety I need and her skills make it possible for me to grow.” ~M.M.

“I’ve spent over 12 years on a healing path and it wasn’t until working with Sylvia that really big shifts happened. The experience of having a POC healing to mirror and understand the depths and layers of my trauma with out judgment or me having to explain has been beyond value. Sylvia’s style brings healing to everyone she touches. And the layers of cultural awareness she possesses has provided safe space for me to get to the depths needed to heal. Sylvia embodies a gentle curandera and carries wisdom, I’ve only experienced from elders. She knows when things need to be cleared and has guided me in developing a relationship to my ancestors, and the beauty of my cultures healing ways.” ~Rose Z.

“I have worked with Sylvia for ten years in various ways: 1-1, in conscious mothering circles and on retreats. Who she is and what she does is an offering that moves beyond words. First, she is a trained and skilled healer and facilitator; she brings vast wisdom, resource and intentionality to her work. Sylvia is deeply compassionate and weaves Inner Bonding seamlessly into her guidance. She is trauma-informed and can hold deep space for the impact of trauma, grief and loss, integrating ancestral wisdom, physiological/body awareness, nature connection and practical tools for everyday challenges into her support. Sylvia has been a lighthouse of love and compassion on my journey as a woman: mother, wife, daughter, professional. To receive the gifts of her counsel and guidance, the radical love and compassion she embodies, will be one of the greatest gifts of your life.” ~Lisa D.

“I cannot say enough good things about Sylvia and the work that she does for women and indirectly for their families and even more exponentially, for the world. The environment she offers through retreats and Conscious Mothering Circles is such a safe, healing space for us mothers to be able to reflect and restore ourselves in an authentically self-loving, self-affirming way. She approaches her work with warmth and grace and makes it possible for women like myself to experience beautiful moments of enlightenment, self-awareness, and catharsis. My spirituality and emotional intelligence is nourished and my soul is perpetually fed by my experiences with Sylvia and the support I receive from her and the mothers who attend these events. It is a Powerful and Invaluable service that she provides.” ~Leslie Priscilla, founder, Latinx Parenting

“Thank you for everything you do, for everything you have done for me… Almost all of the angst, and struggle, and emotional upheaval that used to accompany interactions with my family is really nonexistent. I’m not only “handling” the stress, but really hardly even feeling it at all. And none of this would have been possible without your support and the tools of Inner Bonding and conscious mothering (of myself) that you have given me. Conscious Mothering is not just about being a better mother, but being a more capable person… as mother, daughter,wife, and woman. You have helped me heal childhood traumas, process and grow from family and parenting struggles, and really become a much more confident, self-assured woman who isn’t afraid to face difficult situations or feel big feelings (positive and not) anymore. I’ve finally matured beyond that “teenager” wounded self who was constantly on guard, defensive, and scared into a truly responsible adult who can care for herself as well as those around her. I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you so much, for everything.” ~Kristy C.

"I wanted to start off by saying that I had a truly life changing retreat. I was impressed by how skillfully Sylvia facilitated the retreat. She was extremely intelligent, and had the ability to truly connect with me which helped me feel comfortable and open to addressing some deep and difficult life realities that I’ve been trying to sort through for years. She was very skillful in her ability to facilitate a safe environment which made it possible for me feel the courage to face some tough realities. Her ability to be very gentle in her approach made it possible for me to feel that I’m okay while feeling a lot of pain. She truly changed my life. She has a courageous spirit that allows her to not shy from speaking the truth. She spoke the truth with so much love and gentleness. That ability is rare in this world, and it was such a blessing to have experienced the healing it brings.

"I have been in the social work field since I was 25 years old. I’m 41 now. I’ve worked with a psychiatrist, with special needs, and with Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. I am currently a Supervisor and manage Social Workers. I was a Social Worker in different capacities for 13 years. Throughout the years I have met and worked with a lot of therapists, Social Workers, and other professionals from all different walks of life, experiences, and degrees. I have also had the opportunity to work with some amazing and skilled people over the years. With that experience in mind, I say this without any hesitation that Sylvia is one of the best of the best.

"I was very impressed with how Sylvia truly understood a lot of complicated issues. Some of the issues she understood included grief and loss, mental health, sexual abuse/assault and societal issues. She knew a lot of techniques to use skillfully at the right time to help me unblock myself, let go, and to truly connect to myself and to my higher self. I had a lot of complicated issues that I promise you a lot of professionals wouldn’t have known how to address with me to the degree Sylvia was able to. She understood me and knew how to address my issues very quickly. That impressed me.

"Sylvia has the ability to truly understand how all my issues interconnect together. She addressed them all, one by one, and did it so seamlessly. My issues range from my crazy religious background, to the dynamics of my family (and those are complicated to most people lol), to my need to grieve, and to my experience with a horrifying sexual encounter when I was a young child. I was an EXTREMELY complicated case to say the least. My life has so many dynamics and I’m also a very dynamic person. For someone to be able to help me have so many breakthroughs in a few days, that requires someone with a lot of skills and intelligence to know how to effectively navigate through all of it. Sylvia handled all of it like a pro!

"I’ve NEVER been so vulnerable in my life. I’ve never really spoke to people about a lot of the things that I had been through. At this retreat I was able to share it all without holding back. It felt great, and I feel healed from so much pain. I feel lighter. The pain that used to haunt me has disappeared. I feel true peace. The best part was that I finally can connect with my spirituality in a way I was not able to before. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!" ~Dima H.

“My time spent with Sylvia practicing Inner Bonding has been consistently uplifting and grounding at the same time. The tools she has given me to communicate with myself and my Guidance has transformed my life. Knowing that access to truth and loving action is easy, the challenge is to realize when I should be asking Guidance for help rather than following my thoughts or feelings in circles. The most profound and lasting message that I keep hearing is “Be as kind, patient, understanding to yourself as you are to your children.”   ~Erin S.

“Sylvia is a soulful, powerful facilitator who knows how to make participants feel comfortable and safe with challenging life topics. Her sensitivity to each person in the circle and unconditional love, create the perfect environment to explore what makes us who we are and who we can become.” ~Nancy M.

“Sylvia’s Conscious Mothering Retreats have been just the refreshing drink of water I have needed in my often parched, new-mama life. In the span of a few hours on a Saturday morning, Sylvia opens the space for a community of mothers who allow me to feel heard, validated, supported and loved in the journey of mothering. I leave feeling renewed, refreshed and with a full cup. But even more important to me, I am learning skills to be able to fill my own cup on a daily basis in order to be the person, mother, wife and friend that I want to be.”   ~Carol A.

“Sylvia has been nothing but a blessing to me and my family. I met Sylvia my first day out of the house as a mom of 2 children. My second child was less than two weeks old at the time. Sylvia immediately introduced herself and I am so grateful that she did. When I was pregnant the third time, Sylvia encouraged me to join her Conscious Mothering Circle. I am now a mother of four and I have been attending Circle for over 5 years. Sylvia has taught me how to love and honor myself so that I can be more like the mom I know in my heart I can be. She has taught me to listen to my heart, follow my gut, and not be afraid to feel my feelings. She has taught the importance of self care and importance of being present for my family. She has taught me that it is not selfish to take care of myself. In fact, with her help I was able to see that neglecting my needs was actually harmful to me and my family. I can’t speak highly enough about her circle. Thank you Sylvia!” ~Danielle C.

“I am forever thankful that a dear friend brought me to Sylvia’s Circle. It has helped me to be a conscious parent, which I was completely oblivious to prior to circle. Being in the moment has so much power. Learning that I can trust my intuition, which gives me very valuable information, has allowed me to begin to see self-love and confidence in myself. I look forward to continuing this journey with Sylvia and other beautiful mamas on the same journey.” ~Kim

“Through Sylvia’s gentle support she has helped me to develop a loving and nurturing relationship with my boys. I’ve also discovered how important it is to take loving care of myself as a wife and mom. I have learned that when I am balanced and well, my whole family benefits.” ~Kelly L.

“Sylvia offers ‘outside the box’ parenting insights which have given my family a peaceful and beautiful 6 years.  Thank you for all your hard work to make the lives of our kids and community a better place.”   ~Blayne (Father of 2 boys)

“When I describe the monthly Conscious Mothering Circle to other moms I know, some of the first words out of my mouth are always “it is just such a safe, loving, whole space for you to express and work on aspects of your life that are holding you back from being the mother you want to be. Sylvia is a gifted mama whose compassion and straight talk allow a participant the opportunity to really look within and find answers to issues that may have been welling up for a long time or just initially surfacing. She has a unique way of guiding you but, really you are finding the answers. This empowers you to feel in control and more willing to dig and explore a little deeper those issues that influence how you handle the daily grind of your life in being, a mother, partner, co-worker, sister, friend, etc.

“Thank you for allowing me to attend your Connecting Within Womens Retreat. I was hesitant and didn’t think it was for me, but I worked up the courage and decided to go anyway. Taking this time ended up being exactly what I needed. Weeks later, I still find myself reflecting on this time I took to nurture myself. During this time I was able reconnect with myself and find the peace I had been avoiding and was severely lacking. Seeing that I am not the only one who is working through “stuff” was also very reassuring and helped me to feel less alone in my own personal struggles. I left feeling refreshed and able to breathe when faced with conflict, as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I cannot recommend this retreat enough!” ~Thankful mother of 2

“Working with Sylvia was a deeply nurturing experience for me. Her warm, calm presence and her clear inner strength helped me to feel safe exploring emotions that are sometimes difficult for me to open up to. She is a courageous and generous soul, daring to take her compassion into the places where it hurts and turning them into places that can heal. She is highly skilled and experienced with facilitating the healing process in a loving, kind way. I highly recommend working with Sylvia.”   ~Christy

“My healing experiences facilitated by sharing circle are largely contributed to Sylvia’s ability to create the most welcoming sacred space and her natural, neutral presence. Having a grounded, and awake circle leader like Sylvia makes me feel comfortable, and trusted in my strength and wisdom. I am so grateful to know and experience the shifts in awareness from sharing circle, and recommend it for all women who want to connect with their inner power.” ~Maria

“I truly enjoyed coming to Sylvia’s Conscious Mothering Circle; it uplifted me, challenged me, and made me look into my own ways of handling life a little better. It was nice to have a small circle of other women going through their own challenges in life, and realizing we all have small demons or issues in our lives to contend with at different levels. It kept me grounded and able to stay healthfully concerned with my family as it matures and grows beyond the young-children-at-home stage. I truly recommend Sylvia’s groups to anyone!” ~Sue C., CD(DONA), AA

“I am the mother of two boys, ages 8 & 11. I have been consciously mothering from the start of my parenting journey. I am a La Leche League leader and Nonviolent Parent Educator. Because parenting isn’t always easy, I seek opportunities to care for and refuel myself. When I met Sylvia I was thrilled to learn that is exactly what she offers mama’s. Conscious Mothering retreats are mini vacations for moms. A few hours to lose yourself in meditation, yoga and profound conversation with other moms. Thank you, Sylvia, for providing us with these moments to reflect and recharge. It is a gift for moms and their families!” ~Tova

“Every mother should have an opportunity to participate in the beautiful gift that is known as the Conscious Mothering Circle.  Sylvia has brought together the unique process of mother to mother support, as well as her own rich experience and expertise in facilitating a type of circle that can only be described as nourishing to a mother’s soul.  Whatever we may struggle with as mothers, there is no safer place to be received and accepted without judgment than in the circle that unfolds around each of us each month during that special time known to those of us who have found this gem, as our sacred time together.  It is truly a feeling of coming home to one’s own heart.  Thank you Sylvia, for all that you do to make a difference in the world, beginning with us moms who need you more than we know! ”   ~Jane

"Two years ago today I went to a one day retreat with Sylvia. Something shifted that day: I realized I wasn’t healing because I wasn’t allowing time or space for myself to heal. I figured out that always putting the kids first was putting them last; I was slowly allowing me to die, but kids want our mommas healthy, and most importantly alive. When you are hypothyroid, you are dying, you are declining, you don’t make enough energy to keep your cells functioning….

"When I gave all my energy outward, my mind said I was doing the right thing because I treasure these girls and want to give to them, but my body was crying out for me to notice it. I was giving to a team of over 100 direct sales people. I gave to my husband. I joined every meal train. I liked to be helpful but I could barely get out of bed, and whenever I gave to others I took away from my girls, too. Slowly, I put myself first, due to a shift in perspective given to me by Sylvia that day: if I had to give advice to Zora, sitting in my same shoes 30 years from now, what would I say to her? ?You see, the narrative in my own head was that I was terrible. Weak, stupid, a loser, because I couldn’t pull off the life I figured we should be living: my vaccine injury felt like my fault, and I took the blame, the shame, the guilt. But that day, the clouds peeked open. And I saw myself for the first time. I was depleted, bone dry, devoid of self compassion, nothing left but running on empty, and those fumes were for everyone else but me. What magician could heal in those circumstances?

"I walked away from that day, and I did the work. ❤ it’s been a long road but this was the day I took off the blinders, and realized the girls want me to fill my cup first, and to be a real person with a full range of emotions, and to guide them through life, not cater to them. Thanks to Sylvia I see that all I’ve been through is how I help others, not why I have to be in pain?? Pain free, normal thyroid, no flares, happy family; life is beautiful. It really is.” ~Cathie

This Circle has been an amazing gift in my life. It is a Circle of mamas who are on a similar path of self-growth and self-discovery. We all have children, however Circle is so much more then just another mom’s group. We are woman seeking growth in our own whole person and within our own worlds. We are working to accept ourselves for who we are and not holding others responsible. We are in this Circle for the betterment of us, and in turn, the betterment of our entire family, our friends and our community. In this Circle we find the support and loving guidance we need in order to forge ahead in the crazy journey of life. This path can feel lonely and isolated, but here in this Circle we honor and support each other on our individual journeys.” ~Sara