TESTIMONIALS

It’s an honor to hold space for individuals, communities, and teams alike. Read some highlight testimonials from my coaching, workshops & facilitation practices, and scroll through more below:

With clarity, lightness, and a deep well of empathy, Ari provides safe and loving spaces to explore issues provocative and cloaked in avoidance and apprehension. Their keen insight and quiet strength are a model for leadership and a template for participants toward acceptance and grace.

– PETER HOFFMAN, LMFT

“Ari scooped me up at a time when I really needed some guidance on how to identify my priorities and better advocate for myself during a job transition. Working with Ari really helped me understand my internal driving forces and underlying thought processes circulating around the decisions I was facing. Ari's approach was playful, flexible, and challenging at the same time. Our work together pushed and inspired me in ways that I'm incredibly grateful for.”

– CJ

“Working with Ari has helped broaden my perspective on what our organization is capable of. It has also helped me gain some much-needed clarity about my own leadership role in the group. With Ari’s approach, we work extensively towards the organization’s collective goals, and we also work on how I, on an individual level, am showing up for myself and my team.”

– MICHAEL ALFERA, ARTS NONPROFIT EXEC DIR

  • "Ari is one of the most thoughtful facilitators that I have ever had the privilege of working with. They encourage stakeholders to bring their whole selves to their professional work – and Ari is the living, breathing embodiment of this principle. Ari knows when it’s time to roll up their sleeves, and works hard – not just to faithfully document the spoken and written word, but also the emotion and intent behind it.”

    – CHRIS RHIE, FOUNDER, RHIE PLANNING LLC

  • "Ari Simon is a master facilitator and convener. Their work has offered new perspectives on care at the end of life and in loss. They demonstrate great ability to juggle multiple objectives with grace, an open heart, and with professional skill. "

    ANDY INGALL, REIMAGINE: END OF LIFE

  • “Ari led the type of group that I wish went on forever. Our meetings were tender, expansive, and vulnerable. I was often in awe of Ari's ability to gracefully guide discussions and hold space for everyone's unique contributions. I grew so much just from listening to others and am forever grateful for the experience.”

    – GRETCHEN, WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT

  • "I reached out to Ari because I wanted to quit my job. As a result of our sessions, not only did I leave my job in a way that was empowering and exciting, but I also developed a set of tools to take with me into all life decisions, big or small. Together we explored ways in which I feel courageous and connected with the world and the ways in which I let self-doubt get in my way. Using those discoveries, we crafted a strategy to guide me in confidently taking the next steps in my life path."

    — LILLY W.

  • “Ari was a guide through one of the most difficult periods in my life. Their soothing, peaceful and playful presence was a buoy when my psychic ship finally capsized after years of hurried fixes. Ari created a loving space for me to explore the deep recesses of my history and ideate in the future. Through a practice that is so uniquely Ari, I found confusion turning to clarity; repression overcome by honesty. Ari has this intuitive mirror that reflects and refracts back, and also isn’t afraid to reach out and call you out on some BS. Words can’t truly capture how much I recommend their service to any seekers or explorers on their own path.”

    – MICHAEL T.

  • "I loved working with Ari! Our coaching sessions got me out of my comfort zone and led me to step back from the day to day routines and really think about how I'm living and where I'm headed in a bigger way. As someone who doesn't really like to talk about my feelings, I was surprised at how fun each session was – I was always surprised at how quickly they went. I would recommend working with Ari even if you don't feel like you need to make a "big life change", but want to live more intentionally and have a wonderful resource to workshop things with."

    — RACHEL F.

  • “I sought out Ari as a coach because I want to transform myself and the world for the better, but I sometimes get in my own way. Coach Ari helped me see things about myself that I knew were there, but was maybe a little too scared to look at. Thanks to their loving and grounded presence, our sessions consistently led to breakthroughs and paradigm shifts that have helped me level up in my life and my work. I highly recommend getting support from Ari if you've got big dreams, but struggle with fear, self doubt, and self sabotage. You don't have to fight those spiritual battles alone!”

    – NICOLE D

  • "Ari is a remarkably talented facilitator. Ari creatively taps into deep sensory connection among members of a group or around a topic of interest, resulting in meaningful social connectedness and outcomes rooted in compassion, empathy, safety, and trust. Their engagement process is thought-provoking, honest, and welcoming of a diversity of thought that leads to enriched conversations and innovative results. Any client looking for genuine discourse, mindful feedback, and useful dialogue would benefit from Ari’s empowering and masterful skills."

    – ROBYN EASON, CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD

  • “I am so appreciative of Ari’s grace at teaching about the layers of dealing with grief in the workplace. They create comfortable spaces for colleagues to be vulnerable and open up about the emotional toll work can have on a public servant. I received a lot of gratitude and affirmation from Grief at Work participants on the importance of creating more of these offerings.”

    – UYEN NGO, VISION ZERO PROGRAM MANAGER, SFMTA (SF MUNI)

  • "Working with Ari was great! They were gentle and creative, helping me identify the touchstones of a powerful year and then outlining simple, concrete, transformative next steps that have made my life since a lot more fun. Highly recommend!"

    — JONATHAN S.

  • “Ari was an incredible resource for engaging communities. They are extremely knowledgeable, creative, extremely well connected. Additionally, they pays attention to detail which is critical when planning workshops and other events so that the events themselves seem effortless. I highly recommend Ari to anyone interested in authentic engagement."

    – GARY GERO, FMR CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

  • "Ari was a wonderful coach! Ari was able to get me out of my head and into my heart, which allowed me great insight and clarity of direction. You can expect to see them bring all sorts of tools to help you understand your life better and the unlimited ways to improve!"

    — MIKE D.