Esalen always changes, fluid like the ocean is how they would want me to state it…read more *bring your own blanket. The spare blankets are one grade hire than packing blankets. The blanket on the bed was a thin whatever felt like a Target dormitory special. *Bring your own towel or two, you won't regret it. *The food, some of the changes are good, the coconut yogurt is amazing (I'm not vegan.) The salad, miso, soft boiled eggs are gone. The bread bar isn't a party like it used to be, uninviting and cramped is how I would describe it now. The breakfast classic. eggs, potatoes, meat is now served, although it's comforting, it's not the steamed chard I came for. Since I can remember, people always rave about the food, how healthy they are eating, what their bowel movement was like. Now you can maintain your mundane eating habits if you desire. I appreciated breaking people out of their dietary boxes. There was some shitaki dishes that I really appreciated in the evenings. * At one point I was approached by a very large man wearing all black, he asked for my room key, "for my own safety" it was a security guard. I was sitting in front of the lodge talking with a friend. We had been in the lodge talking but left to avoid him because we wanted our space. Then we had to engage with him and proved we belonged there. I've been to Esalen maybe 15 times and that was a first for me. I did not like it. *im still really irked about having to weasel a face cradle for the massage tables at the baths every time I attend. The cradles mount are 10" in case you couldn't find anyone on the phone to answer that question in advance. At the front desk you SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE A DEPOSIT TO BORROW A FACE CRADLE. Hey Esalen, you have massage courses all the time, please instal a hand washing trough so we can sanitize like professionals. Esalen he's definitely priced out most of its massage students from getting a massage. Which is very ironic. I 100% just told a friend to take massage courses at Esalen the other day. You can't replace that foundation of education. Told him not to join the cult, just take the classes.

I've attended and followed Esalen for years and genuinely believe in the spirit of the work. That's…read morewhy this is hard to write. If you look at the website, you'll see strong language about inclusion and racial equity. But when you move from messaging to mechanics, a different picture emerges. Registration requires a 50% deposit upfront. At the lowest tier, that's about $490. For many workshops, it's $1,000+ depending on accommodations. That's due immediately. In a country with a well-documented racial wealth gap, large upfront deposits are not neutral. They disproportionately exclude people who don't have flexible cash on hand -- including many Black, Brown, Indigenous, and working-class folks. Scholarships are limited and require extensive financial disclosure. I've applied and was denied. When I recently asked if I could split the deposit into two payments, the answer was no. That's not just an inconvenience. That's a structural access issue. It's also difficult not to notice who is in the room. In many sessions, participants of color are limited. Most staff are white. Most teachers are white. For an organization that publicly centers equity language, the lived experience doesn't fully match the branding. I also reached out directly to members of the leadership team to raise these concerns. I received no response. That silence speaks volumes. Esalen offers meaningful programs. But equity isn't a value statement -- it's reflected in payment policies, hiring decisions, and who can realistically afford to say yes. If the goal is broader participation, installment options and more flexible access policies would be a straightforward place to begin. Right now, it's very clear who Esalen primarily serves and who they intend to include as part of the human potential movement.

Kristen Petrick has been an amazing blessing to my son Christian. When Christian was diagnosed with…read moreautism I was a bit lost didn't know where to start and I'm so grateful for Kristen becuase she went above and beyond and built a strong bond with Christian. Thanks to her leadership and her passion and dedication Christian was able to work on his goals and he met them. From non verbal my son qualified for to be on mainstream and I don't know where Christian would be today if he wasn't for Kristen and her team. Thank you for your patience and your kindness. Highly recommend Kristen !

I am an OT from Germany working with Kristen for almost 2 years now and she is incredible in her…read morejob. She loves what she is doing and gives all her efforts to the kids. Together we taught a 6-year-old boy with Autism how to ride a bike and how to tie his shoes. He is also able to prepare his own little snacks and meals now, f.e. he can make his own PBJ Sandwich. He is able to write his name and all the letters of the alphabet, since Kristen worked with him on these tasks. I learned a lot from her as well. She showed me how to deal with the behaviors and tantrums and she showed me how easy it is to work and to teach new skills during the day. I love that she works on chores, dressing and all the things that make life for the kids easier and more independent. She is well organized and always thinks two steps ahead.

Ashley was great! The level of care she has put into my child has been amazing. He's 6 and used to…read morebe super quiet and making friends was hard...now with school coming up I've seen him turn into a super chatty boy and more social. Grateful for help and highly recommend her services!!!

From the owner: At Baler Autism Center, we provide evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to…read moresupport children with autism and developmental challenges in reaching their full potential. Our team of experienced and passionate therapists works closely with each family to create individualized treatment plans that focus on communication, social skills, daily living, and behavior management.

Over my life, I've seen many therapists and mental health professionals, but Peter Binnings is the…read moreonly one who has lasted more than six months. I've been seeing him for two years since moving to California from the East Coast. I moved here on a leap of faith--no friends, no family, and no sense of community. I can say with absolute certainty that Peter has been a quintessential part of my journey in overcoming mental health challenges. He has provided me with the tools, guidance, and support I needed to navigate this significant transition. At the core of his practice is an emphasis on mindfulness--learning not to magnify your problems, allowing them to pass, becoming aware of their root causes, and understanding how to move forward. This approach has been particularly helpful in managing my anxiety, need for certainty, and discerning my life path. As a person, Peter embodies many admirable qualities: he is empathetic, honest, humorous, affable, wise, and compassionate. He brings to the table a wealth of unique and impressive life experiences, both from his career and personal life. In the coming months, I will be leaving the Bay Area. I will miss many things--the nature, my friends, my community, my home, and last but not least, Peter. When dealing with mental health challenges, you want the best care possible. I assure you that person should be Peter Binnings; it's a choice you will not regret.

review is strictly for payment purposes only. he is cash only and he's not part of any insurance…read moregroup.

The owner, Leah Elvitsky, is an amazing therapist with a clinical skillset that is unmatched. She…read morehas the ability to guide her clients through their presenting problems in a way that cannot be taught. Her ability to support her clients is only matched by her ability to support her team of therapists. Therapy by Choice is reputable, professional and safe. If you're looking to get support for individual or couple's therapy, this is the place to go. Thank me later

My therapist was Irena and she was wonderful. Irena has a lovely smile and beautiful laugh, all of…read morewhich made me feel very safe and welcome. She did a wonderful job and was sure to help me with any issues of mine. I would recommend Irena to anyone that has love/relationship "issues" or seeks "mindset changes".

My son has been here since October of 2019. He has made leaps and bounds. Everyone is helpful and…read moreinterested in him making progress.

This place is lit as heck love it here! I enjoy talking and getting to know every single person in…read morethe building and building relationships with them and ofcourse the kiddos I get to see everyday :-)

My son started with ICAN at 2021. It's an absolutely A+ provider. Dr.Torabian and her team listen…read moreand pay their great professional attention to my son's needs. They really care! Our therapists from ICAN are not only well trained, they are also creative. My son and our family trust and love everyone from ICAN. Thank you Dr.Torabuan and your team for your wonderful services and care! We wait and expect ICAN grow and expand to provide more services in South Bay Area!

The owner is absolutely insane. I wrote a review and she made a huge fuss about it, even…read morethreatening to put her attorney on me for defamation...for writing a Yelp review. She reached out to Yelp to have my review taken down, and Yelp took it down saying that my review didn't contain enough detail about my experience with the business, so here it goes... My son was supposed to receive services from this business, but there was a delay. When I called the business to discuss this matter, I spoke to the owner Saba at length. Throughout that call, she was very rude and unprofessional towards me - including cutting me off, not letting me speak, not answering my questions directly, and being just plain rude. Based on that call, there was no way in a million years that I would ever let her meet my son. So there you go. If anyone wants any additional details, let me know! ******************** The below is written in response to the comments entered by the owner below: Her comments only reinforce all that I have said. She continues to state that "we NEVER even saw you or served your child". Duh...that's exactly what I said. And this is exactly what I went through when I talked to her on the phone. We went round and round in circles, and my concerns were never addressed. She just doesn't get it. She reported me to her attorney, but her attorney never contacted me. Why? Perhaps because writing an honest Yelp review doesn't constitute defamation. And she also thinks this constitutes cyber bullying. Do you really want your kid with special needs to receive services from someone that thinks a negative Yelp review is cyber bullying and defamation of character? I know what my answer is.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to work with kids or gain more work experience. I…read morehave been working for ABSI since August 2020 and have enjoyed my time with the company so far. Supervisors and staff are so easily accessible, supportive, and understanding, and working with these kids is extremely rewarding!

Working for ABSI has been a rewarding experience for me. The management is supportive, encouraging,…read moreand compassionate. I received great training that has made working in ABA an enjoyable experience and helped me to become a confident Behavior Interventionist. I love the work we do and the people I work with!

Chelsea is incredible!! She care deeply for her clients and is very experienced in treating…read morebehavioral issues

Chelsea has been an incredible resource for our family. She listens to our needs, has clear…read moreguidelines on next steps, and keeps us informed on how to get there. What I've appreciated the most from her practice is that she listens to my husband and I and values our feedback, preferences, and ideas. It is clear that Chelsea values us and has our best interest in mind.