All of Landmark's Courses were available live & in-person prior to Covid. Wait! Hey!! The NYC Center is alive & thriving‼ Most courses are now conducted on zOOm tis' true, (which is an amazing experience too). However, If you prefer the in-person, Landmark Forum it occurs LIVE, in-person once again in NYC! read more

My one regret in life was inviting my sister to this. When I went through it, I could see some valid points that were helpful, but the badgering and brainwashing and invalidating of people (replacing their personalities with the Landmark personality) suck in people who are weak emotionally. Sad to say, that is my sister and by the time I realized the damage it was doing to her, there was no talking her out of it. Everytime I talk with her, it's like a poster child advert for Landmark, all the jargon to boot. I have tried to work around the language that she uses, but it's impossible. I feel like I have lost my sister, which makes me incredibly angry. Believe what you want, but a program that slickly convinces you to herd more sheep in and takes more of your money and praises you for bringing more people to herd in more people to pay them more money is a cult (Amway is a close second).Wish I had never done it, stay far far away. read more

First of all, the idea that Landmark keeps you away from your family is so opposite of what goes on there, that it can only come from people who haven't taken the course, and have seen others take it, and deeply, deeply misinterpreted things. A good deal of the Landmark Forum is about encouraging you to acknowledge repair, find your way back to, heal, reconnect with, and find new ways of viewing & reconnecting with all relationships, but especially, especially family relationships.  And especially immediate family relationships, with an emphasis on Parents, Parents, Parents. Did I mention Parents? There's a lot of, how can you find your way back to your parents, or have a different level of relationship with parents, if it's already idyllic or amazing with your parents (This is sometimes a lie people hold onto & tell themselves and others about their parents like, "No... everything was great & amazing with my parents." And as long as they can keep up the lie and it gets them what they want, they go with the lie, to themselves and others.)  But, still, there is a lot of emphasis on, at least, forgiving your parents, if there is any act or behavior on their part that could be forgiven (and not just pretend forgiven) but really forgiven. And there is emphasis on giving parents acknowledgement & credit for anything that was good. And compassion toward anything that was not quite what you needed, or in some cases was heinous, or a complete breach of trust and safety, and something that should never been done to anyone. Least of all by a parent.  This isn't because Parents should have this or anything. But because, they rightly acknowledge that anything not faced, handled, or brought to the surface about parental relationships, or is still a resentment, unacknowledged experience, or lie, or even just a mismatch and misattunement of needs that hasn't been dealt with, is eventually, going to seep into & affect other parts of life. Eventually, it will come to have an effect if not faced, & will keep repeating in work dynamics, money dynamics, spirituality, and most recognizably in personal relationships, both with self, and with romantic partners. Even with friendships. Oh, and also with your own children, you can or will find it showing up in different ways. They don't say you have to have a relationship with anyone you don't want to, but a lot of people have shifts in relationships they never thought possible. And lots of parents get calls thanking them after their, even adult children, do Landmark because now they see their parents differently. But even if parents have passed away, or really should not be part of someone's life, there is a lot of emphasis on the potential freedom that comes with facing these things in a way you never have before. However, sometimes people uncover things that give them courage to move out of their parents house, or get that divorce, or tell the truth that that friendship was never really real and isn't really working. And maybe those people when those truths come to the surface are like, Hey my son moved out and stopped letting me control his life after he did a course with friends at Landmark. So they start saying it ruins families and relationships. What I am telling you is there is so much emphasis on generosity, new perspectives, forgiveness and compassion in relationships, that I assure you if someone separated out from a relationship after doing it that separation was a long time coming, and there must have been something REALLY not working in the relationship, or something the person had been very much wanting to end, leave or get some space from for a long time. Some bad dynamic, they are finally interrupting by leaving or changing the way of dealing with the relationship. I do regret however, how much I took to heart the notion of being 100% responsible for relationships. And to always go to other people from the perspective of how am I causing this to be this way in relationship. I did this for YEARS and YEARS, & I regret the effect that looking from the perspective of, how might I be misinterpreting, or what can I take responsibility for, or this is something I need to now take more responsibility for, because they are never going to do it or change in the relationship. So it has to be me. Truly, I regret that sometimes other considerations, acknowledgments and recognitions were needed and I simply did not see them. Think & pay attention to when & where you take responsibility, and for what and how is that treated. I stayed in many relationships I should not have, kept looking to myself, when the problem was truly happening in the behavior, and honestly every now and then, just not great or honorable intentions in the other person. I do regret that. I would still recommend the LF Weekend, and the long lasting effect on one's life. But I wish these aspects had been tempered more, or dealt with with more environmental or contextual awareness of things. read more

I'm a little nervous to share this. But it felt important to say something.The shaming, scolding, pressuring, and putting on the spot of those people who were running late to the NY masterclass or needed to be off camera was like the worst of the old days of est.   They used to single people out, lock people out,  start calling and emailing people saying they just wanted to "support them," not letting people in, shout out of turn at people, or embarrassing them all in the name of empowerment. They say nobody's wrong, but the you are wrong and pressure like you did or are doing something wrong is definitely there.You really never know what someone is dealing with or going through. Or what they are each dealing with and going through. And there is no accounting for benefit of the doubt or giving people space. If there's a way that we're speaking to Graduates that we wouldn't speak to cherished guests, or wouldn't speak to the graduates that way with guests there, we shouldn't be speaking to the graduates that way. I think it's something we take for granted that we can be any old way with the graduates, and it is contributing to our dwindling numbers. Because if we can interact with the graduates with respect maybe they can have the transformation they came here for, and our numbers overall can start to go up again, including the numbers of people who want to be leaders and represent Landmark Education, which has dwindled as well. Because sometimes we forget that graduates are also cherished.and in a way graduates are also guests that are people dealing with real stuff in their real lives. I don't want to hear people saying people are nervous to bring guests because they are nervous how they will be treated and interacted with at a guest event or after they sign up and take different courses. I mean technically I'm told people are supposed to be at their seminar 30 minutes before and that's the agreement, but as people have many things going on in their lives this is not always tenable. And shouldn't be put on the spot, chased down, put down, embarrassed, or treated badly because of running behind or needing to be off camera. If we can treat graduates well and bring respect and care to interactions with graduates they can feel like Landmark Education treats its humans well. And continue to be proud to participate, to lead, and to bring guests. Or be proud again if they have lost that pride in how Landmark treats each of its humans, graduates and guests. read more

Please fix the problem in the registration system. It is limiting participation in an unnecessary way. And making registration more complicated than it needs to be in an unnecessary way. We were trying to get my wife signed up for a couple of Masterclasses as a holiday gift. But if we want to sign her up for the Masterclass in India and the Masterclass in NY, the system won't let us do it if the seminar happens to have the same title or topic. The first will work. But for the second, a message pops up that says "you are already registered." But they are on two different schedules, two different regions, two different leaders. (My wife is a senior level graduate and just happens to like both sets of leaders and wants to be in both seminars even with the time difference.) Not even the leaders of the seminars or Masterclasses themselves can get around this glitch. And they have tried. The system just won't let them do it. People in the office can't do it. Because it is the system itself. As we know, and as the leaders say themselves, the title or topic of the seminar is not the seminar itself. Not only does this glitch happen with seminars that run around the same time, if they have the same topic, even when they are different days, different leaders, different regions. When she was in the What's So seminar and wanted to sign up for another What's so seminar that was coming up and going to start after the one she was in already ended, the system wouldn't let her sign up for the future seminar because it had the same name as a seminar she was currently in. So the leaders are saying sign up. And she wants to sign up because it true that the context starts when you register, but the system itself had a message pop up when she tried to sign up for the future What's so seminar that said, "You are already registered." But she wasn't already registered for that one. It was a different seminar, coming up on a different day with a different leader. It just had people have to go through more trouble than they should have to. Understand the system letting someone know if they signed up for the India seminar already and are trying to sign up for the India seminar again. But if they are signing up for a different seminar with a different leader, it'd be great if the system didn't give them a problem. If the seminars have the same name or topic that can be up to them because each set of leaders and areas in different. And it is not their fault if the leaders they happen to want to take seminars with happened to pick the same seminar topic. read more

I think Landmark as a company has a serious lack of integrity. The people who run Landmark professionally are completely hypocritical. They advise to have total integrity in one's life and to have the goal of helping other people, yet as a disabled individual, the company would not provide me with full services to help me participate in the Forum seminar. When I requested accommodations, they kept calling me and having marathon conversations intended to intimidate me into not receiving the services I was entitled to under the law which were by the way, tax deductible to them, and eventually I had to make a complaint to the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Suddenly, they were able to provide everything I needed. During the Forum and series of seminars after the Forum, it seemed that if I didn't have something wonderful happen, it was my own fault as I am 100% responsible for everything that happens to me according to them. If I am walking in the park minding my own business and I get raped, somehow it had to have been my own fault, or at least it's my own fault for having negative emotions relating to that event which control how I walk in the park now. If I insist otherwise, I'm "running a racket." Myself, I'm "uncoachable," meaning I don't agree with every word the Forum leader says. If you disagree about anything you are told or don't understand it, then you are accused of not doing the work and therefore won't get the benefit because you are not trying hard enough. The friend who introduced me to Landmark could say nothing but positive things about them, she loved taking Landmark courses, even though her life didn't change at all and told me to call them for help with some matter since they are supposed to help me, so I did and was talked into taking another course. Coincidentally around the same time I did this, someone from my past who I had not spoken to for years started contacting me, later I found out he was involved with Landmark currently and he got me to gain his trust by wanting to date me, I confided some very personal financial details to him with which he used to put me in a position of being conned out of money and potentially ripped off of a much larger amount of money. I called Landmark to ask what they thought of this unbelievable, dark coincidence. Their assistant office manager told me to withdraw from what I was going to take, and that perhaps I should find some other life coaching approach as this is not working for me. She said she was sorry but they are not responsible for what anyone does. They do not care about me at all despite their insistence that all Forum graduates are special people to them. They nearly caused me to have a nervous breakdown during my seminar series with all the intimidating phone calls and opposition to my request for services. Now, for all I know, although it seems paranoid, they put this man up to whatever he did. On the plus side, the people that are participating in the Landmark Forum with you are usually wonderful people and you certainly could not do better than spending several evenings with them as long as you don't believe that Landmark really cares about you and is trying to do anything except take money out of your pocket. You can look at it as expensive group therapy. Except you are supposed to get everyone you know to pay for it, too. Some of the philosophy they teach can be helpful, such as not attaching too much emotion to things, but really you don't need to spend a few thousand dollars and have all your friends and acquaintances spend a few thousand dollars to learn this concept, you can read it in many self help books for one percent of that amount or practice Buddhism for free. Its true that the presentation is effective though. Many people truly think they are being helped by Landmark, hence the five star reviews, but really it is just the benefit of dramatic presentation and being in peer groups focused on improving your life. Your peers are not the ones removing the money from your pocket, though, or pretending to have total integrity when they don't. And the ones who work for Landmark for free, they must be under some delusion, even though they insist they're the happiest they've ever been. Charles Manson's followers thought so too. But who am I to denigrate someone else's happiness? It just seems that everyone else wants to denigrate mine. And Landmark didn't help that racket one bit. P.S. My friend who took all the Landmark courses, she sadly committed suicide. That's how much Landmark helped her. read more

I went as far as the Introduction to the Leadership Program. I still have my trophy. I have not, and will not, recommend any course other than the Forum to anyone. Until they choose to address the miasma of racism that was rampant in every course, Landmark is a waste of time. read more

Bad experience!!! I attended the landmark forum which is their foundational course. And I left angry! They do such a good job taking advantage of people who feel hopeless, lonely, and helpless so they take the full curriculum of courses (which is worth probly thousands of dollars on total) and then pressure them to convince their friends to attend as well. They take advantage of your past trauma, make you almost addicted to the way they want you only so that you will come back for more. It's immoral. The forum leader also pulpit punishes any non-compliant behaviors and peer coerce you to buy more of their courses! It felt like Nazi for me! It's no wonder people say it's a cult. I feel sorry for the employees and volunteers working for landmark. They are the ones being brainwashed and taken advantage of while some fat cats there are making so much immoral money! read more

Last night was my first time , I loved it so much !! The pork chop was perfection , and the Salmon was to die for !! Some of the best Mac & Cheese I've ever had. Our waitress was so wonderful and patient with our party of 12, I can't wait to come back !! read more

Landmark - Family time !!! - Life Coach Near Me - San Francisco, California

A friend paid for me to attend. Reminded me of a mixture of tactics my time as Jehovah's Witness to create group coercive peer pressure and pulpit bullying for those who don't comply or challenge what's on stage. For individuals with trauma pasts, their curriculum will actively seek out retraumatization as evidence of the powerfulness of their lesson plan. It's morally irresponsible. You may get an emotional high from participating, but I imagine that has more to do with the effective emotional manipulation tactics they employ through isolating you from outside connection for hours at a time, abusive withdrawal for lack of compliance, and intense group acknowledgement and rewards during compliance. It may add value for some people but I look back at how I felt and things I felt pushed into while there and actively cringe. They actively cheapen it by continuously making overtures for sales of additional products at the end of the seminar while actively requiring you to bring a friend to graduation on the fourth day where they'll get a special discount for joining. They actively ask people to hide uncomfortable things during that last session to show others how great their time was. Everything about this place is a red flag. read more

One of the very best decisions I've made for myself like ever!! I was in a rat race living pattern after opening my business and taking the Landmark Forum just simply allowed to see the limited view I was living in. I am now reconnect to who I really am, grateful for every moment and fundamentally alive in every way! I recommend Landmark to everyone. I wish I had done it earlier when my friend first brought me 8 years ago!!! read more

Here's what you pay for in a nutshell 1) When you pay your more likely to try to learn something. You could hear the same thing, everyone, your life has told you but "feel like you learned." once you pay 2) It's like paying for a bunch of movies. The people that go up obviously do not want to talk about their baggage, they hate it, they cry, they feel ashamed of themselves but they go up, and you root for them like you would the main character 3)You're mostly around people you don't know. You could network, or be alone. When you go up if you're shy at least they will judge you without telling your family. If you're not shy you go up and are more honest because nobody you know is judging you 4) The whole time most people are stuck in their heads and don't talk to you till you realize you're doing the same thing if you are shy or ordinary but are not in the mood to talk 5) At the end they point it out, they point all of it out to you. All your emotions, and stories about your life, thats just what they are, feelings you can not control every second and a story. Nothing magically complicated, but you understand it in a new way because you spent money on it & you were going through the logic. 6)Since you learned that about feelings your slightly less scared to do things and with the push from strangers they get you to do crazy things like writing letters to your family about things you never wanted to say. You do more bold things which pay off, even if they pay off poorly you still do them and know you overcame a fear. 7) You have the option to help other people get over problems they want to deal with but are terrified. I got to open up to my mom, dad, grandpa, and girlfriend. Not the shallow open up, but as transparent as I could be. 8)Since you have already done scary things with those people and you acknowledge you are in your head, you listen better. Imagine your best conversations with your friends and family. You abstractly understand how it happens & then you can make them. For me, that made me talk to strangers and make them smile on the train and got to hear people be open. 9) After all that you and everyone that noticed a difference want to tell other people. It's like you bought a new pair of shoes and want other people to see. Some people get annoyed with you because it is annoying for them. 10) They want to sell you things. You may feel annoyed or angry, or that person are stupid, or any emotion but the takeaway is you can do what you want. You can say no, and so can everyone else, but they need to be real with how they feel and bring it up. It is another fear and one you can overcome. You learn the lesson when you tell them you genuinely do not want to buy or tell the people you care about that their lives would be better if they bought it. Can you learn it elsewhere? Yeah obviously. Can you do it on your own? Mhm. Should you still go? Look at all the reasons, take all your feelings into account then realize you've already chosen yes or no before you went through the logic. That's your choice, and there's nothing I could say, or anyone can say to adjust it, and that's okay. It is not good or bad; it just is. read more

Apple, NASA and so many other orgs and people have done this / are doing this that it makes sense to check it out. I did and it rocked my world that I previously thought was a world of possibility when in fact it was small. I got transformed, baby! read more

Landmark - Life Coach Near Me - San Francisco, California

Predatory sales tactics and second-grade-level insights. Not harmful but just a money and time-suck. Timeshare presentation would've been better - less time and cookies at the end. Look at the "not recommended" reviews which are being censored for whatever reason. A lot of them have a great point. read more

As all things on Yelp, I'd caution you to be wary of both overly negative and overly positive reviews. I think it's important to notice the negative reviews are often from people who have not actually paid to complete this course (think of it like listening to a restaurant review from someone who hadn't actually eaten the food). As a Landmark graduate (Forum, Advanced Course, Communication, Seminars) I can validate you only get out of these courses what you put in, and will only walk away with what you allow yourself to see. Self reflection can be uncomfortable and confronting. As other graduates have explained, there are some who praise Landmark so passionately that it can be a turnoff - and yes, they will encourage you to continue coming back and to share with your friends (just like a good restaurant/ store will too). Bottom Line: If you are open to gaining tools to give you the ability to dramatically change your life for the better (richer relationships, better communication, etc.) I whole heartedly suggest these programs. read more

Why does this cost $500? What is the cost of running these programs? Close to nothing; rent for the room and water and cookies. Where is all the money going? I think most people cave to the used car salesman hard sell in the introductory class. Then once they pay they don't want to feel that they wasted $500 so fall into the group think. The info shared with me during the introductory class was not impressive at all, mostly crying people (more group think). I would not go to another class if it was free. read more

I am not an employee of Landmark or even a volunteer there. This review is legit. Landmark is whatever you put into it. If you come to it with a sincere desire to work on your life and relationships to make them better and even sometimes to transform them and have breakthroughs (getting to a totally new level) - then Landmark will give you tools and support to accomplish that. If you come to it with an attitude that you will sit back and be passive - then it's a waste of your money. PS: Telling you in advance - there will be things about Landmark that will irritate you. You have to know your boundaries and hold them. But if you can keep your priorities on your life and your goals (and not on the things that piss you off about the organization) - it is really unsurpassed as a place to make things happen. Attracts awesome people too. Not a cult - but, again - you gotta know your boundaries. Bottom line: If you are willing to work on yourself and not just be passive or complaining, this is the place to do so. read more

no. it's a cult. you don't need to pay someone to tell you you can do it when something sounds too good to be true, it is. trust your gut read more

I attended my first Landmark Forum introduction at the home of a member of my church 10 years before I retired from my profession as an elementary school educator. At that time, I declined to do the Landmark Forum weekend. I told her I would do it after I retired and had more time to devote to my own personal development. If only I'd known then what I know now. Once I retired, I was invited to another introduction presented at the Philadelphia Landmark Education Center. My partner and I signed up to participate in the Landmark Forum that same evening. It was one of the best decisions of my life. My only regret was not having signed up 10 years earlier when I was first given the opportunity. I know the knowledge I gained from attending the Landmark Forum weekend would have made a huge difference in the last 10 years of my teaching career. You really need to be open to learning some of the things you don't know you don't know about yourself and life itself. It is deep and challenging work, but if you are seeking the truth about yourself and maintain a positive attitude, this is amazing work. My partner and I are committed to taking on one seminar a year during the winter months. The distinctions we have learned have truly helped us to keep things in perspective, to stay out of the drama life wants to send our way and for us to powerfully live a life we love. It truly has been amazing! We have met so many wonderful people in the seminars we have taken, people whose paths our lives never would have crossed. As far as the cost is concerned, I believe it is well worth it. You get hours and hours of great information, training and coaching, not only from the coach in the front of the room, but the sharing given by others in the course with you truly helps you to look at your own life and what you want it to be for YOU! Nobody is telling you what to do, but you are being coached to make decisions that work for you. Is it always easy? Heck no, but it is truly worth it. My request is that you don't let any of the negative comments you find here prevent you from attending a free introduction to the Landmark Forum yourself. If you decide to participate in the Landmark Forum weekend itself, you will gain something for yourself and your own life. It's not a scam, it's not a cult, it's an education for your living a more powerful life that you will LOVE! read more

My friend invited me to join her for an "entrepreneur" meeting. I did not know that she was actually inviting me to an indoctrination to a pyramid scheme cult. I didn't know anything about what I was going to. I thought it was a little weird to have a meeting at 7pm, but ok. So I show up to the building. I should have at least googled Landmark. But I didn't. She leads me to a classroom in the basement with no cell phone reception. It has blinding fluorescent lights, like Duane Reade at 3am. I think it's pretty weird that this meeting only has me, my friend, another of her friends, and two instructors. I realize that I'm not in an "entrepreneur" meeting...I am in something else. Then, my friend and the instructors start fervently proselytizing how Landmark has changed their life. No details given, just vague and earnest proclamations of how their life has changed and improved. They sound as though they've taken too many mind altering substances or been zapped with a brain washing laser. Then we are to do an exercise in which we choose a problem in our life and over analyze it to make it appear to be a bigger problem. Then we are told that we are "free to leave". My friend's friend managed to get out. They tried to browbeat her to spend 700$ on a weekend long "forum" which seems to consist of listening to other people have their problems over analyzed and made bigger. They tried to bully her to stay. I tried to leave too. They were extremely pushy. Used car salesmen on steroids. I tried to deflect them by saying, "I'll think about it" and leaving. They stepped in front of me, said that thinking about it was "over analyzing" (despite all of landmark consisting of over analyzing) and tried to demand 200$ from me. I stayed and talked to them because I felt bad and almost paralyzed. Then I managed to escape the claws, but not without more being told how landmark "changed their life" and how I can't achieve anything without it, and further bullying for not joining It seems their MO is to bully you into joining, then lower your sense of self/confidence with their problem enhancing exercises, and of course milk you for money with their "forums", to "help" with problems you've created through their exercises. Can you say pyramid scheme? Stay far away. If someone invites you to a meeting at weird times, make sure they're not trying to indoctrinate you into a brain washing cult. read more

I have to agree with Maritess on this one and this is why: Landmark Forum is derived from "est" which was founded in Salsalito, CA (some say San Francisco) by Werner Erhard and was perceived as a cult. Period. I think it's great to want to enlighten yourself but having to pay for it seems ludicrous to me (with the exception of a therapist that is). Unfortunately, most people just want to believe that there is a magic cure out there and when they walk into a door and slap down a few hundred bucks, listen to some people speak, do a couple of workshops that their problems will be solved. The real problem with Landmark is simply the brainwashing mentality that gets people here in the first place. As America gets older and we become further removed from ourselves, we are simply bread to be great consumers and don't see it happening; nor do we want to when confronted with it. Organizations and religions alike take full advantage of the fact that we have never developed self-awareness, self-love or self-respect. We simply don't know who we truly are. Covering up our problems with slogans and brainwashing clearly doesn't help. I've known people that have used Landmark and honestly, I feel as though some of them came out much worse and more removed from their "truth". It's kinda like putting a bandage over a wound just so you don't have to see it anymore. I too have taken some intro classes and quite frankly, I was amazed that human beings could be so removed from the obvious as though they'd been walking around with their eyes and ears closed their entire lives. Most of the answers are inside of you already people! Sorry Landmark, but the best lessons I've learned came to me while being still and in total silence, something we forgot how to do long ago...and it didn't cost a dime. read more

The calls from the Forum out to family and friends began at 9:00 am Saturday, the start of the workshop. "You should do this", spoken with as much authority and enthusiasm as could be conveyed. The calls continued through midday, a message left, "I forgive you for bringing pain into my life" (moving, divorce, neglect, whatever it was), spoken with great love and emotion. And then, towards the close of the workshop on Sunday, "I want you to come to the graduation ceremony Tuesday evening", with the subtext of "and sign up for a future Landmark Forum". Who is now this person who attended the Forum? Should we go visit this Thanksgiving weekend? Shouldn't discussion be part of forgiveness and resolution? - there has been no followup since that call Saturday midday. Do we now have a cult member in our midst, EST, Landmark Forum, whatever the name of this profit-making business is? In our loved one's life is there a layer of indoctrination, of different thinking, that was not there before? Yes, the therapy appears to have been helpful, a ballistic chiropractic-like intervention into emotional life and history. Many of us can be helped by that. Each participant paid $600 for the workshop, and that should be enough. A steep additional price is being paid today, a week later, in the currency of the bonds to family and friends. Will the effects wear off? When will normal conversation resume? Life is full of sales pitches and advertisements, we do not need this one, coming from those who are nearest and dearest to us. Therapy yes, ballistic possibly, proselytizing absolutely not. For $600 I recommend a couple of visits to a carefully-chosen professional therapist and a different kind of group workshop. read more

I took the Landmark Forum and had a profound experience of "truing" up with my dreams, intentions and ideals about myself. It's hard for me to understand why or how people's "cult" fantasies get stimulated but I guess that's their own trip. There's nothing "cultish" about Landmark at all. It is a remarkable accomplishment to have a 3 day long conversation about what works in your life and what doesn't. If a person can't tolerate authentic confrontation of inner issues, then I guess it would be intolerable and therapy would be more appropriate. Landmark is not therapy although it can be therapeutic, for sure. Where else can you have a very reasonably priced (cheap by most conference or workshop standards!) "retreat" into topics that plague thinking, feeling people. How often do we ask ourselves, "Why do I keep making vows that I'll pursue such and such and then keep pulling the rug out from under my own feet?" I love the Landmark Forum. Very few other forums (excuse the expression) give people the opportunity to truly wrestle with philosophical questions about "Who am I, really?" "What's the purpose of my life?" "Am I being true to myself?" Being a life-long women's rights and responsibilities activist I have never seen another place where so-called "male chauvinist" men actually stand up and say things like, "I've treated women like dirt my whole life. I'm not doing it anymore." Or where I've seen racists share, "I've always acted like 'they' are the problem. I'm the problem not 'them'." C'mon! People in the womens' rights and civil rights movements have worked for years but can't seem to have people -- on their own steam -- give up their "isms" whether it's sexism or racism. The racists and sexists give it up on their own in the Forum without anyone actually addressing the topics of racism and sexism. That's amazing!!! As a non-practicing lawyer, someone who's committed to the U.N. Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (this year is the 60th anniversary) I've rarely run into anything as profound and deeply moving on a personal, community and global level as the programs of Landmark Education. Run, don't walk and register. Really. Life is too short not to squeeze as much juice out of it as you can. read more

I learned a lot from the Landmark Forum last weekend, little of which had to do with the contents of the Forum itself. Much ballyhooed for its profundity and life-changing impact, the Forum is billed as quite an experience - three days of grueling, non-stop action that is supposed to "transform" (not change) people. The main transformation that I experienced had to do with the realization that people are emotional creatures who can be easily manipulated when put into social environments in which they are stirred into a frenzy by a charismatic leader. Tyrants come to power by using similar techniques employed to greater and more nefarious effect. I was impressed indeed by how well-staged the whole event was. Otherwise, there were few revelations that I found novel or groundbreaking. Warmed-over existentialism and Eastern mysticism are nothing special, but these ideas were presented as apocalyptic revelations that would result in attendees "getting it," whatever "it" was supposed to be. Much of the audience bought it hook, line and sinker judging form their enthusiastic response. I found offensive the arm-twisting used to dictate the Forum's principles to the 143 people in attendance. The coach said at the start of the Forum that the approach she would take was "Socratic," implying back and forth dialogue, but her approach made a mockery of true Socratic method. There was really no dialogue at all, just authoritarian manipulation and, at times, humiliation of those who disagreed with the dogma expounded by the coach. Sham therapies and ideologies always take this approach, as open discourse would not serve the purposes of those in control. Much of the weekend was spent listening to the Landmark coach exhort us to spread the Gospel According to Erhard (founder of est, predecessor to Landmark) by inviting all our friends and family to attend the Forum, an obvious and shameless effort to get the attendees, who had spent $595 to be there, to engage in promotional activities on behalf of Landmark. If you decide to take the Landmark Forum, don't check your mind in at the door or allow yourself to be intimidated by the coach, however charismatic he or she may be. Keep your thinking cap on and don't be swayed by the enthusiasm of the crowd because people are easily manipulated in group situations, especially when their emotions are riled up. You will find people cheering and clapping throughout the event, but do NOT let social pressure distort or influence your own judgments. Also, keep in mind that the Forum is just the start of a longer program they call The Curriculum for Living that entails taking an advanced class that costs more money, almost $900, and a final class in leadership and communication. Taking only the Forum, the coach told us, was like getting married and not consummating the marriage. No one tells you that up front, of course, another indication that Landmark is mostly about taking as much money from you as they can. read more

Jerry, the leader of the seminar, with his rat-like appearance (& I only mention this because his personality instills such disgust) treated anyone who opposed his views with contempt, dismissals and humiliation. He loved entertaining as he used to work in the theater, spent 1/3 of the 3 days advertising on how to enroll new members. Telling the class to bring in the new members on Tue night & he would do the talking since he was the professional. Landmark promises results and transformations rather than going through therapy. Meanwhile, they keep roping you to come back to take their advanced courses and their leadership courses... The class was a very traumatic experience. The callous attitude of Jerry, the ridicule of those whose opinions were different, the people posted at the entrances who don't let you pass unless you have your badge pinned on you at all times. There was a young lady who spoke about being sexually abused by her grandfather and Jerry asked her what she had for breakfast. He then had her repeat multiple times that she was abused by her grandfather and that she had a shake for breakfast. When she asked not to say it any longer, he said "oh common, entertain an old man"... When she was crying and wiping her nose with her hands and some members tried to get an assistant to give her tissues, they were told that there is a reason they don't leave tissues... This was meant to prevent the "victim" from continuing her charade, seek attention & sympathy from the leader & the audience. Seek attention?! Work with your credit card company to get your money back as Landmark does not provide what they promise and the leader was abusive. They also harass you once you no longer want to attend, they call, they email, they text, they get other members who were with you in the class to keep calling you to return. How can anyone justify comparing rape to having a shake for breakfast??? Or telling a young girl to apologize to her alcoholic father who ruined her life & that of the rest of the family. It may make sense to try and let some of it go, but to be told to go and apologize? For what? For being born? If you take the class & don't like it, then they didn't deliver the service they promised, fight to get your $ back. You can't remove the inhuman experience, but there is no reason to reward them with your money as well.. read more

Just finished the advanced course this past weekend and it literally blowing mind.

I was invited to a Landmark event last night, and after hearing from someone who was attending their sessions and spoke so highly of it's life-changing properties, I decided that I could afford some of my time for one of their free forums. I attended and was sorely disappointed - it seemed that this was some unlicensed self-help style quackery. I had to leave early before I insisted that other attendees not spend the $400+ to attend more forums and workshops - that some simple self-reflection, reading a few philosophy or psychology books or even spending time with a life coach or therapist (with whom you could probably get several sessions for that cost) would likely help one achieve the same goals. It makes me sad that during my time there many people spoke of finances being one of their pain points, and I knew that this workshop would inevitably result in Landmark pitching them on these expensive seminars where they may very well inch along in progress and possibly even find some kind of success at the end of it, but at quite a cost for people already struggling to make ends meet. They asked me to fill in an exit survey before I left and even their exit questions were clearly skewed to provide positive responses (answers that I suspect fuel the high percentages they speak to in their marketing materials). Please beware the antics of this company. Read reviews of them (here and elsewhere), and consider getting qualified and licensed help for any struggles you may have rather than shelling out money on their solutions. I strongly recommend help tailored and focused just on oneself rather than shelling out so much money on this style of "group therapy." I'm not discounting that it may provide help to some - I simply believe that the time and money could be more wisely spent on more tailored and custom solutions for yourself. read more

Landmark Education is the best thng I ever did in my life for myself and for others. It teaches that one creates from nothing and it opens up your whole world. If God told you exactly what it was you were to do, you would be happy doing it no matter what it was. What you're doing is what God wants you to do. Be happy. - Werner Erhard read more

Looking at the reviews here most people who didn't give a good rating haven't taken any of the courses in Landmark. I did the Forum in 2009 and I still use the tools and coaching in my life today. It is very simple, Landmark provided me with the distinctions to create the life I want, to empower me to follow my dreams and have better relationships with the people in my life. Landmark gives you the opportunity to complete events form your past that are affecting you, and yeah, it might be confronting for people. But once you let go, you can start creating newly. read more

One weekend at the Landmark Forum was more valuable than years of therapy. I'm 35, male, I own my own 10 person business here in NYC, and was just as skeptical as anyone going into Landmark. Seriously! What changed for me was seeing my employees having gone, and how much more productive and happy they suddenly became at work. All I'll share is that I think it's amazing, and I wanted to share this on yelp knowing how many negative reviews there are from people (almost all from people who haven't actually attended the weekend event). I no way am I drinking "the Kool-Aid", I'll be honest to say that the Tuesday nights aren't so great (IMHO), they're too salesy and too many people, but the weekend Forum was 10x better and the skills I learned have lasted me long after that weekend. read more

Wow .... What can I say about landmark ??? ..... I have never seen soooo many ppl get brainwashed by 1 person in my life !!!! I stuck out the 3days but I knew from the 1st 10min that this was def some type of cult ... Out of 150 ppl there were prob only 2 that didn't get sucked in to this nonesense and I was one of them. There was a point in day 2 that I sat next to this young guy and he wasn't buying it at all so he decided to get his stuff and leave and OMG !!! U have no idea ... 3 men ran out to get him !!!! Like if he was escaping from prison !! Idk what happen but 2hrs later the kid was back into the room ... Now tell me how this shit isn't a cult???? Well I got absolutley NOTHING out of landmark ... I haven't been emotionally hurt in my past or in any way at all but there r ppl out there who have been raped by their siblings and they go to landmark to get help and all this ass-hole tells u to do is GET OVER IT ?!?!?! I'm sorry but that's not right at all !!! I def wound NOT tell anyone to do this cultish BS !!!! read more

I have several good friends who swear by this. One is less hooked than the others, who spend a lot of time with LF. I'm wary, having gone to one meeting Culty. read more

One of the best things I've ever done. My former boss had his whole executive team take the course. I was very lucky that my company paid my full tuition to the forum and 3 additional courses. Within 2 years we had grown the business significantly and completed a strategic sale of the company. My wife and son took the course soon after I did. This time I paid gladly paid for their courses. My son did the teen forum on his 13th birthday and went on to graduate high school in the top 10 in his class, got a full college scholarship, and his now working on his PhD. I can't say that all the results are because of the courses we took, but I know that the course cleared away things that were holding us back. Do it. read more

I left Landmark with one feeling, that of pity for all the helpless people landmark convinced were "volunteers" and employees for its organization. The evident, common thread that weaved through most landmark employees I encountered was a lack of belonging. They craved acceptance and praise from their higher authorities, in this case "forum leaders" and it was simply pathetic. Just like in any religion, cult, frat or community, "membership" is what unites us all. Landmark has done an amazing job at targeting those who don't feel welcome anywhere and having them pay to feel "appreciated" by anybody willing to cash their check. read more

Best thing I have done for myself. Took the Forum in 04 and will take a seminar from time to time. The seminars are less than $150 for 10 sessions. The forum is not inexpensive but neither is any other 4 day course, it also includes a 10 session seminar that I enjoyed. read more

The Forum, the Advanced Course and the follow up seminars have transformed my life. Absolutely the best thing I have ever done, and have touched every aspect of my life- my relationships, my career, my spiritually, my health, my financial life. I am a happier, friendlier, more fulfilled person because of these courses. I have an amazing and satisfying relationship with my daughter and my mother, with both my sisters - which I doubt would have been so deep or close without Landmark. My career is fun and expanding. Close friendships - I could keep going... The staff is very dedicated and eager to help. The program leaders tell it like it is - which can be confronting sometimes (!) but you get squeezed out the top, and are the better for it. Go for it! read more

Landmark - In the lobby, courses are downstairs... - Life Coach Near Me - San Francisco, California

Landmark was an amazing experience!!! My coach speaker was Jerry who is an amazing person that transformed into a different person.. I saw other people's "rackets" below with their comments, which is another story they made in their lives, which at the end it means "nothing" lol. This Forum has Affected not only me but it AFFECTED my Family, Friend and the rest of the world. I strongly recommend it to everyone.. read more

I just completed the forum last night and it was the best decision I've ever made and no one invited me to this nor was I pressured to register. This is not a cult lol ... its exactly what you want to get from it. Try it or don't. Landmark has given me the tool to be clear and effective in my communication with my work and personal life. Were there moments of distrust and skepticism .. yes, yet with all that in the background I walked away from this weekend with a freedom I've never has before. I was humbled by the support, love, integrity of everyone in my course. I was moved by the whole process. Whether you got something from it or not, good, bad. I connected with some of the most amazing people in 3 days and I'm so excited to elevate my life and business to the next level b/c of the tools landmark has given me. Thank you to my course instructor Will Steel ... you are so committed to everyone I cant wait to continue this journey with you. read more

I did the Landmark Forum 11 years ago and have been participating in courses ever since. As someone who is a tenured college professor I can say that it is the best educational methodology I have seen for producing extraordinary results in the world. Unlike the type of "informational" learning that takes place in higher education where you study then take tests on what you studied, the type of learning at Landmark is "transformational" learning which has you be more effective with the information and skills you already have. I have recommended the Landmark Forum to many students and friends who have had a wonderful experience in the course as I did. read more

It's not a cult, it's a business tailored for bettering humans' lives. It's basically a crash course in life coaching and personal life enhancement. Come here with an open mind. If a course is helping people to move forward in life, and making the best out of everything, why is there so much negativity around it?! I did my Forum with Udi and I loved every minute of it. I am annoyed at the "enrollment" part and how you kinda have to spread the word, I think that's why people look at it as a cult. read more