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Presentations | back to the top

The For You Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women grow personally and professionally, and the University of California Riverside Gender Education and Resources Service (GEARS), UCR Women’s Studies, and UCR Office of Governmental and Community Relations, would like to thank you for your outstanding presentation, “Real Prosperity, Real Communication and the Real Self.”

Please know that the returned conference evaluation forms rated you 5.5 (out of 5!!!) in Content, Style, Use and Appreciation. That means your presentation was A+++. Thank you for your professionalism and ability to involve the audience. Thank you for answering our call for speaker and participating in our annual women’s conference to celebrate “Women’s History Week”. We hope you will be available to speak at future conferences and any of the 17 local Connection meetings.

Thank you,

Gisella Thomas, Conference Chair

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Thank you again for the wonderful workshop you held with our advanced leadership graduates. I really appreciate the time you took from your busy schedule to travel to Las Vegas and share your great insights with the team.

 We thoroughly enjoyed your magic tools that you presented from Once Upon a Time There Was YOU. With your help, we were able to identify our "current picture". Through your workshop, by examining our "current picture" we were able to draw out what we thought were the negatives of the situation. Then by shifting from what we perceived to be negative we were able to discover the gifts in our "current picture". With this valuable tool, we were able to create a "new picture for ourselves. This will forever be a valuable practice as we can use it time and time again.

 You made a great impact with your wisdom and truly taught us that "Life Is a School".

Warm Regards,

 Teresa Corbitt, Regional Director,PSI Seminars

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eBook | back to the top

‘10 Secrets’ is a delight to read, filled with helpful reminders, heart-opening shifts in perspective all woven together with intimate anecdotes from Maia’s own 23 year marriage. Read ‘Secrets’ to keep your love strong and (in Maia’s word) – JUICY!

Karen M. Black, author of Moondance, MBA, karmic astrologer www.karenmblack.com

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From Former Clients | back to the top

Thank you, Maia, for the coaching, the support, the friendship. With me, you are always being any, some, or all of these: empowering, loving, compassionate, patient, persistent, thoughtful, aware, innovative, straightforward, collaborative, fair, intuitive, considerate, observant, self-actualizing, curious, imaginative, talented, light hearted, funny, alert, visionary, spiritual, dependable, communicative, accepting, open-minded – more later, that’s all I can think of for now!

Anita Bruce-Marbois, Tampa FL

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I found Maia’s website one Saturday night while internet searching for info on coaching. After reading her life story, her knowledge and experience on coaching, I felt as if I knew this lady already.

I wrote her an email that same night and requested her insight on what coaching was about, she responded the next day and we set a time to talk by phone. After our first 45 minute chat, I then and there knew this was the coach I had been looking for to help me.

Throughout these past 9 months of coaching, Maia has been a tremendous support. She’s helped me find my own answers within. During our sessions, we talk about family, career, even nutrition. I admire Maia very much and have grown to love her, even if our relationship is a long distance one.

I see her not only as my coach, but also as my friend. Because she shares with me much of her own life experience, whether it be professional, or her family relationships, I feel I’ve known her for a long time. We share and exchange mutual joys of our lives and our sessions are comfortable, open and free of any judgments.

Maia is a wise woman, and her guidance to me is priceless. After our weekly sessions, I always feel encouraged and positive. That is the effect Maia has on me. As a woman and professional, Maia also inspires me greatly. Her own life experiences and the obstacles she has overcome on her own path, have been incredibly helpful to me and through her life she makes the statement that “You can do it too!!”. She is gentle yet firm, full of knowledge yet always eager to learn. She is great!
Savina Cavallo, Miami FL

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 “My life coaching experience with Maia made such a positive impact on my life that trying to describe it in words lessens it! I am writing about it because I believe everyone should know how much of a difference her work can make in your life.

For the first time I can see myself as someone who can make an impact on this world. Her gentle guidance and strong support of my every choice, my every decision has lead me down a path pointing me to the exact place I needed to be; finding myself. Working with her has allowed me to surpass years of traditional stuff, like self-help, self-discovery workshops and trainings. I have saved hundreds of dollars that would have been wasted on traditional therapies. She had faith in me when I had none in myself! She showed my how to have faith in myself.

Thank you Maia your presence in my life has been a saving grace and has kept me going when I thought I couldn’t take another step. You are my magic fairy god-mother! You have all the love and blessings I can send,”
Maria Sobrado, Kingston, NY

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“I’ve gotten focus and consciousness about money and the confidence to speak about this difficult subject. It’s because Maia is so gentle in her guidance. There are no hard edges with her. She brings out the positive in everybody and helps them share their very personal situation comfortably. ”
Kerstin Morgan, Financial Services, Los Angeles CA

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 “I have been very impressed by the level of honesty and openness to share about our money issues. By our willingness to change and at the same time the collective awareness that we are stepping into our dreams and authentic self by taking authentic actions and facing our own “troubles at the border.” By the safe tone and space you have provided for us to walk this journey. By your gentle guidance and acceptance of where we are in that journey. By your encouragement and non-judgmental posture. By your sincerity and for making it light and playful.”
Miryam Sarnat, Santa Monica CA

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“Maia has a way of zeroing in on me and what is going on. Then we can look at what the deepest part of me is saying, feeling, thinking, wanting. Finally she supports me in looking at how I can achieve the solution or result I want. Weeks later we are still referring and realizing from that initial experience/issue/aha! ”
Jamie Wishart, President Great Graphics, Petaluma CA

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“The last 3 months working with Maia has been the most effective personal development work I’ve ever done. And I’ve been doing this kind of work for 10 years!.”
Keith Frank, Las Vegas NV

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I have learned the power of making a deep commitment to the power of my relationship. It involves the attitude that it is not always about me, it is not always about him. The reality of "us" together and the power we have as a combined couple creates an alternate energy. Egos are put aside and a spirit of willingness emerges. There is no swallowing up of "me" and "you", it is a true marriage of spirits, a union of like minds. It is a space of clarity where we see and honor our true selves and each other, as a couple and as individuals, and we choose to move forward together. In this space - magic happens.
Heather Williams 

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Class Participants | back to the top

Relationships - this course is a foot up to success.

 Relationships have long been the bane of my existence. Being, unfortunately, a serial-relationship woman this course gives me some much needed and necessary tools and steps to have a successful relationship, one that can stand the test of time and put me out of the serial-relationship pool. I have only wanted to live and be happy with a single person in my life. One man to take me to my heart's paradise and live until we are older and greyer and until our time on this earth is through. I now feel better prepared to find that man and honor and cherish our life together.

Leeanne Crawford, Oregon

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Fernanda Souza

Excellent

I really enjoyed taking this course. Maia is so gentle! she gave great tips and shared her experience with humor and respecting other points of view.

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Sofia,

Good information and helpful tips

I really appreciate all the work done on this course. Although basic level, it had very good information- One thing I particularly liked was the feeling the instructor was genuine and honest (she was just herself). I did not feel like she was pulling all the tricks of marketing, and the usual, as many others do - that was refreshing! Thank you for all the effort put in this free course and the tips, I learned new things about coaching and felt inspired.

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"I have already changed my thoughts about money in the following ways:
I have no fear about money.
I think I am changing everything about the way I relate to money.
I am not obsessed about the lack of right now.
I have learned that I have been working on tasks and expecting to be rewarded for it. Now, I am going to be working on the achievement of goals and expect to be rewarded for that.
The class has been the driving force behind my focus on the book and the exercises. Without the class, the book is useless to me. Maia, you are the perfect leader for this particular class. You bring a consciousness and realty combined with gentle understanding that is both precious and essential for the processes to work to its fullest."
Harvey Goldstein, Business Consultant, Beverly Hills CA

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Once Upon a Time There Was You: Three Magic Secrets to Find Your Real Self | back to the top

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Simple story.  Simple wisdom.  Simply put.  This gem of a book will keep the magic alive.  
John Gray, Ph.D. Author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

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This is truly an inspirational book that needs to be a part of anyone's library.  It is definitely a book that anyone will continually use and re-read to add inspiration and meaning to their daily life.  I truly enjoyed it!    
Colette Chandler, The Marketing Insider

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The other day I was in a very sad funk of a mood. I scanned my bookshelf looking for some sort of inspiration. Your book, though tiny amongst all the other self-help, spiritual and personal growth books, caught my eye.

 I tried to by-pass it because I knew I had already read it. It kept calling me to pick it up, so I did. It seemed like new information. I did all the exercises you suggested and at the end of the process I felt more grounded, more grateful, and better overall. I got a handle on why all this 'hard stuff' is happening.

 I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a deep, yet quick, mood transformation each and every time. I see that what you say is true - if I make this way of thinking a way of life, I'll feel better and learn something about myself every time. Thank you!!!!!
Anna Lee, Sacramento CA

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FORWARD for "Once Upon a Time There Was You"

Not since Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote "The Little Prince" so many years ago, have I felt so deeply touched by a simple story within a small book. The message within these pages warms the heart, kindles the spirit and has the capacity to awaken a part of ourselves as adults that may have been sleeping for lifetimes.

The sweet story within these pages is "our story" – the story that reminds us of a time in our lives when we had that sense of experiencing ourselves as a treasure, when we knew our own innocence, however briefly. We have a chance to hear what happens to that innocence and what it takes to reawaken the sweet child within.

While there are untold numbers of powerful and impactful personal growth books available on the market today – this particular book is written with such raw courage and deep truth that it could save years of searching for the astute reader. Its utter simplicity is almost shocking. This is the kind of book that invites us to make a pot of tea, find a beautiful spot in the garden and gently read the author’s amazing tale of awakening. The three secrets that Maia passes on to her reader are essential totems for living a more soulful life.

In my own life’s work – in decades of working with people to support them in "finding their way home" – I see that "Once Upon A Time There Was You", could be used as a kind of primer at the beginning of a personal growth course, or as a kind of companion guide to the therapeutic or coaching process. I see also that Maia is a woman who lives the message that she offers us in her book. She continually demonstrates a kind of devotion to truth that inspires all those she touches much like bringing a candle into a dark room.

By Patricia Flasch, MS, Soul and Business Coach, Santa Fe, NM

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I’ve been reading, as usual, and learning, as always. And... couldn’t resist the opportunity to share what I’ve discovered – about me! Not that you asked for it, but here it is anyway. My latest revelation came in the form of an ebook written by a very inspiring woman, Maia Berens.

Maia’s program, “Once Upon A Time There Was You”, is a wonderful journey into yourself. It starts out by telling you a story about a little girl. This story is told as you would read it to a child. The real kicker is, YOU ARE READING IT TO YOURSELF AS A CHILD.

I couldn’t help but connect to this story. My inner self related to this child-like tale on so many levels that I even ended up crying. Yes, I know... I’m soppy enough at the best of times. But this got me right where I live – right in the soul. Maia made me look at my life from the time I was born as a brand new person, full of hope, love, light and possibilities. Her story took me through my dark teenage years and into adulthood. It made me really see me as I am, and, most importantly, me as I could be. This is more than just another self-help book to discover new ways to find yourself. This is a journey to the centre of yourself and back out again. Not only does this ebook give you the key to YOU, but it also helps you to fit it into the lock and turn it. As many of you know, I call myself a “soul healer”, for want of a better term. I deal with people’s emotions, past lives, fears and soul-deep damage. I try to help others reconnect with themselves and the universe, to accept themselves and to love all that they are. This is not something I’ve learned to do in just one life time. This has been a very long haul of lives and experiences. One thing I can assure you is that what I do for other people, I am also constantly doing for myself. However, healing yourself when you don’t have any help or instructions can be an extremely long, hard road to trudge along. Believe me when I say I’m still walking that path, even though I started putting one foot in front of the other several lives ago! Maybe I’m a slow learner. I wish someone had read Maia’s book to me as a child. It would have led me to a greater understanding much sooner, and possibly without half the scars. I would have believed in myself and my own inner light much sooner. These tools would have helped me through many dark times. I also wish I had this book to read to my two sons when they were little. What wonderful possibilities there would be for a child who grows up with this philosophy, and with the tools Maia has blessed us with.

Within the book are, as I’ve just mentioned, tools. Tools for life – keys to open the door to yourself. There are exercises for us to do as well. Being me, I couldn’t resist the exercises. The following are some of the lessons, or realizations, that I learned. Most were no surprise for me, as soul-searching and analyzing moments of my life is something I do quite often. Some realizations were quite surprising – even for someone like me who considers themselves adept at digging the positive out of the negative.

For what it’s worth, here are some things I’ve learned from the darkness:

I thought about all the many minor things that bug me about my life at the moment and what lessons I’ve learned from those. I have learned that I’ve been given the time to reconnect with myself, and to connect with the universe again on a deeper level. I’ve learned patience and endurance. How to live in the here and now and cope with the practical day-to-day physical plane of existence. Most importantly:- I’ve learned how to be me and how to stay true to myself when others can’t/won’t/don’t want to see me or accept me for who I really am.

I thought about the slightly more serious negative things about my life.

I’ve learned resilience, lateral thinking and problem solving. I’ve discovered how different situations and emotions impact upon me, my life and emotions, physically, mentally and spiritually. I’ve learned how to

deal with them, how to embrace them and own them as a part of me and my journey. I’ve learned how to live through them and with them.

Now for the major problems and really negative parts of my life. I’ve  learned  that  my  inner  self  is  strong.  I’ve  learned  that  my  spirit  and  soul  cannot  be  destroyed  by despair and  cruelty. I  have  learned that hate cannot  destroy love. I  know that the  harsher and  darker the world/people are, the brighter the light that shines from within me. I have gotten to know myself. I know I’m a work in progress, but I also know that I am worth working on

And the journey continues.

Heather Williams, Australia

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Mars Venus Institute Facilitators | back to the top

“Maia's commitment to her work, coupled with her skills, make her a very special woman. I was one of the first people John trained to facilitate the Mars Venus Workshops. I went on to become John's star facilitator. Maia was an incredible role model. Her guidance, her level of integrity and commitment to her work was amazing. I am blessed to have worked with Maia and now call her my friend.”
May 17, 2006  
Janice Hoffman, Speaker & Author, Relationship Solutions

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“I met Maia while attending a Mars Venus Workshop Facilitators training program. I was immediately struck by her presence as a leader yet she was very approachable with a welcoming attitude. Maia's capabilities as a relationship guide offered me a non judgmental and supportive way to evolve as a woman while working through life challenges. Maia is MY leader! With her devoted help and amazing heart, my life is being transformed as we speak. I trust her with my soul and am happy to say that she has been an inspirational leader on my journey to find my authentic self. My heart holds deep gratitude for all that she is. ” November 30, 2005 
Suzanne Dortch

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 “Maia was the first person for me to talk to during my time as the German representative for John Gray's Mars Venus Institute. I always had an open ear from her for all my questions and needs. She is very supportive and has a great heart. During the period of collaboration our business relationship turned into friendship despite of our national and cultural diversity. ” November 23, 2005
Achim Von Malsen, funds manager, SHB Innovative Fondskonzepte AG