Dialogue Sessions
Stay Tuned!
In an Option Process ® Dialogue session — you’ll meet with Bears or Samahria — to explore whatever topic, feeling, or situation you’d like. In a safe space of non-judgement, presence, and kindness— they’ll ask questions to help you to discover the beliefs that power your feelings, behaviors and responses — and help you change them if you want!
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Notes From Our Participants
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“Bears is a great student of human beings. He is like an artist and scientist interweaving stimulus and response into a beautiful dance of uncovering beliefs. My interactions with Bears were especially helpful for the goal I came with – to love more in my relationships. I feel very satisfied, challenged, and inspired!”
Brian McSweeney, Teacher, California
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“Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart! Samahria, you are an amazing teacher and wonderful mentor. I am truly blessed to have had the honor to meet you and learn from you! I give you an A+! You are the kind of teacher that one remembers for the rest of their life. Your teaching style is absolutely mesmerizing.”
Kathy Hayward, Publisher/ Realtor, California
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“Bears is quite simply the most powerful, effective and enjoyable teacher I’ve ever had. His love and playfulness, coupled with his deep caring and wanting the best for each participant, help create an atmosphere of safety and trust.”
Phil Lomas, Psychiatrist, Wisconsin
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“The most amazing role model! I so admire Samahria's qualities and the love she pours out to everyone. She is so articulate and has such an amazing CLARITY in what she wants to portray.”
Denise Skinner, Nurse, Washington
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“I love, love, love Bears’ teaching style. It is so refreshing and like nothing I have ever experienced. I feel like he has fed something within me that I didn’t know existed that has been slowly stirring away unnoticed. Thank you!”
Angela Bambach, Mother & Learner, Australia
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“Samahria is the embodiment of love and joy. I learn so much just by the way she models happiness as her priority.”
Madeleine Woolgar, Events Coordinator, United Kingdom
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“Bears is the most inspirational, passionate, caring and wonderful person I have known. Very optimistic and uplifting – a motivator to me that my goals are achievable no matter how big or small. Thank you for being a ‘force of nature’ for all parents and families going through this journey.”
Elizabeth Grant, Son-Rise Mom, Virginia
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“Samahria, you are such an amazing role model in every area of my life. Thank you for your love, your wisdom, and your openness, which inspire me to change and grow. I love your teaching style, your sincerity, and I love your laugh!”
Alexe Oakley, Son-Rise Mom, France
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“There are no words that explain how much I learned from Bears. He is a charismatic man with a wonderful way in speaking and lecturing. When Bears enters the room, I don’t feel that there is a lecture but I feel that there is lots of wisdom and information I’ll learn. Thanks a lot Bears, you are the best.”
Zeinah Jajeh, Student, Lebanon
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“Samahria is a perceptive, wise, patient and inspiring woman, a bright light whose presence is tremendously healing and comforting to every person she touches. Her passionate love for her autistic son, moved her to create and tirelessly continue the innovative process that has healed so many children and their parents for decades. Offering the same deep acceptance she utilized in dealing with autistic children in teaching adults, she changed my life forever. By modeling acceptance, she taught me how to love myself and others.”
Jane Wyker, Family Counselor, New York
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“I trusted Bears with all of my being while we were exploring, and he was right there with me every step of the way. With gentle questions I created my own power. He is a master teacher and humanitarian.”
Sylvia Castleman, Musician, Washington
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“Samahria has the warmth of a mother and the wisdom of a sage.”
Lejla Somun-Krupalija, Manager / Lecturer, Bosnia
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“Absolutely, the most provocative and inspiring teacher I have ever had the opportunity to know. Bears is so generous and loving in his teaching method. I learn something for myself every time I am in his presence.”
Elaine Piedra, Retired DDS, Illinois
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“I absolutely adore Samahria. Her charisma and genuine love of life is such a huge inspiration to me. Thank you for wanting to help and inspire others. Thank you for showing me the tools so I can inspire change in not only myself but also in others.”
Ruth Thomas, Administrative Associate, NY
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“Bears is deeply intuitive, fatherly, genuine concern for anything regarding whomever. The most loving eyes ever! He is a great teacher, lecturer, and motivational speaker.”
Mina Okoloko, Lawyer, Nigeria
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“To have this fabulous, feisty little lady who founded this whole earth-shattering program come bursting into our living room on Tuesday morning had an astonishing, uplifting impact on our week. Samahria's warmth, her wisdom, her wit and humor, her insight, her common sense, and that unforgettable laugh! She filled the room with enriching energy, practical advice, and sheer fun.”
Jack Burnicle, Son-Rise Program Dad, United Kingdom
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“Absolutely my best learning experience ever! I felt Bears’ love and acceptance as a space in which I could expand my understanding of myself without limits. My deepest gratitude and love for having created this possibility.”
Ernesto Chuecos, Musician/Coach, Czech Republic
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“You are an exceptional woman! What a shining example of strength and love and humanness. I look forward to connecting deeper with you.”
Shayu Talbot, Community Service Worker and Counselor, Canada
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“Take the most loving, accepting, radically authentic teacher / coach / exploration leader that can be imagined and then multiply by 1,000 and you have Bears! Thank you, Bears, for giving the heart a language and a voice that can be learned by anyone willing to step out and speak ‘love’ and a way to use what’s learned in life, relationships and the world.”
Jan-Marie Gundacker, Family Counselor, Connecticut
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“Samahria is my second mother, with the wisdom of 10 women. She is fun, spunky, funky, and yet extremely professional and always seems to hit the nail on the head—Always!”
Mina Okoloko, Lawyer, Nigeria
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“Bears is a true master. His teachings are brilliant. He reinforced what I knew inside but did it with humor and love and non-judgment and grace, which allowed me to heal this week and feel completely at peace with myself. He has helped change my life forever. I love him!”
Suparna Bhasin, Coach/Consultant, New York
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“Samahria is such a model of love, kindness, laughter, joy, connection, incredible caring – she sweeps you forward with a soft but powerful strength – she adds so much at just the right time, exuberantly and so appropriately. What a spirit! What a contribution!”
Keith Garrick, Financial Planner, California
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“It’s such a thrill to experience a class with Bears! His playful and sometimes challenging insights really turned the world around for me this week. He always radiates such a love for us – it inspires you to reach deeper within.”
Selina Spowart, Son-Rise Mother, Australia
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“A beacon of love and hope. Samahria is love. I find her teaching joyful, and her laughter (as always) deeply infectious.”
Fiona Mclagan-Chooi, Homemaker, Canada
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“What I get from Bears is a personification of love in action – love for life, for growth, for challenge and love of service. Bears is a model of contribution – of making everything and everyone into a gift and being a gift to everyone.”
Nico Panigutti, Production Manager, California
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“Samahria, through her passion and love for teaching The Son-Rise Program®, has enabled me to reach my son Blake at a level of complete love, acceptance, language, and communication. Her wisdom, humor, and dedication have helped my son Blake, 12, be able to talk, laugh, sing, and see the world as an exciting and caring world— Something that he now takes part in. Samahria is a true beacon of what love is about and it shows in every breath of her being. Blake will now attend public school thanks to her love and dedication.”
Leanne Dole, Homemaker, Australia
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“Bears is an amazing teacher that provides so many opportunities for the participants to see themselves as they are and then move themselves, if they choose, to places within themselves that they didn’t know where there. I felt Bears really appreciated me and loved me for me!”
Mary Church, Business Owner/Manager, Indiana
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“Samahria is a JOY! She transmits love, fun, and excitement. Her story is my story and I can relate to her when she speaks. She shares valuable insight as a wife and as a mother.”
Dora Ustariz, Occupational Therapist, Texas
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“A great person, an awesome mentor, and teacher, the father of my new life. A life full of love, free of fears and judgments. It’s unbelievable how Bears can teach us to ‘read’ ourselves with very little things and how deep he can go inside us to show us the way. Definitely the most amazing person I’ve ever met.”
Marcelo Cataldo, IT Manager, Paraguay
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“Samahria is a delicate force of nature.”
Martin Funck, Volunteer, Sweden
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“Superb! There aren’t enough words to describe the clarity, wit, love and compassion, and the unending giving that come from this man, this teacher. Bears breaks all the conventions and lovingly embraces all. He supported us in creating a warm, loving, accepting community and in letting go of unhelpful ways of viewing ourselves and our world.”
Linda Neiman, Yoga Teacher / Bookkeeper, Israel
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“Samahria can light up an entire room with her smile alone. Now add her personality and her love of people and you may as well have the sun filling the room. Samahria is an incredible communicator, in that, she is able to help children and families and individuals see what they do not see in themselves. She is a guide to those of us seeking love and compassion. She has been instrumental in helping our family find our own answers. My husband and I have been able to see through our difficulties with her incredible ability as a facilitator and mentor. Her laughter and sense of humor are a guidepost for me to see what is really possible, that in fact I can live a life full of happiness and joy.”
Kathleen Corelli Byrne, Mental Health Aid, Connecticut
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“Bears is absolutely THE MASTER— extremely challenging while totally being LOVING with biggest of hearts. I really feel his complete joy and devotion to sharing and teaching The Option Process® to others.”
Jeannie Reid, Son-Rise Program Mom, Ohio
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“The joy and exuberant happiness that radiates from Samahria is the BEST advertisement for The Option Institute® and all it teaches. To live life as Samahria does— what a gift!! Her classes are positive and uplifting for me.”
Wendy Edwards, Pediatrician, Canada
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“Bears is one of a kind; fully committed in every second of every session and he brings his best game every time. He really knows what he believes and is able to share it effectively with love, such that you find you can go places you’ve never gone before and you won’t regret it.”
Wally Gallup, Attorney, Hawaii
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“I used to always call Samahria liquid sunshine. She’s also liquid gold. And now I’d like to add CHAMPAGNE. Bubbly, effervescent, always playful, she literally lights up, and lightens the room as we enlighten ourselves. What an invitation to dance, laugh, live and love she offers.”
Valerie Gilbert, Actress/Writer, New York
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“Very dynamic and challenging— Bears is an absolute inspiration. I felt safe to challenge myself in his classes. I love how present he is with us all and find his style of teaching to be terrifically insightful.”
Ami Dalal, Architect, India
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“Samahria is a five-foot-tall fountain of inspiration and energy. Her desire to be useful to others is palpable, her exuberance and good humor is infectious, her insights and offerings are food for my hopeful spirit. Spending few hours in a room with her was a wonderful and helpful experience.”
Patricia McCormack, Guidance Counselor, Ireland
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“Thank you Bears. You are the most aware and most loving teacher ever! As always, you challenged me, cajoled me, encouraged me, loved me and walked with me as I went deeply within myself to find truths and solutions that I used to make my life into a new, comfort-laden, joy-filled experience.”
Brian Ellis, Special Projects Coordinator, Connecticut
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“Samahria is an amazing woman, her presence makes everyone light up. She is the living embodiment of the "Love First, Act Second" philosophy of the Option Institute. She always presented thought provoking questions that allowed beliefs to be changed. A beautiful human being.”
Simon Stravitz, Student, California
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“Once again a master at your craft, rock solid, unmoving. As I said before, in the Zen Tradition, someone of your abilities is considered a keen-eyed lion. You are an inspiration. Thank you Bears!”
Shayu Talbot, Community Service Worker and Counselor, Canada
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“Samahria is an angel in human form. Her ability to be non-judgmental is unparalleled in my experience. I feel very safe and loved in her presence.”
Mary Church, Business Owner / Mother, Indiana
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“When I read “To Love Is To Be Happy With…” in the late ’70s it changed everything for me. Long before The Option Institute existed, its ideas answered questions I’d carried for years and stayed with me for decades. More than 20 years later, I found “Happiness Is A Choice” and followed the note at the end to my first workshop: “Empower Yourself”. In just five days, it changed my life — Arthur, my husband, thanks you too ;-) That journey led me to “Living The Dream”, becoming a Certified Option Process® Mentor, and eventually moving to the Berkshires to work closely with the Institute, the courageous people there, and you, Bears. Looking back, the cause was in the future and I am so grateful! Thank you for your persistence, your love, and for illuminating the path for me and thousands of others.”
Lauren Astor, New York, Certified Option Process® Mentor
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“I loved Samahria's “Mother Earth” approach to helping me learn. She knew how to ask questions that would stimulate my thoughts. I felt free to open up to share some very personal things about myself. She inspired me to climb the mountain peak of myself.”
Elaine Piedra, Retired, IL
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“Wonderful. His teaching method and knowledge leave me enthralled and wanting more. Wise and hilarious. Peace and closure. Tears and laughter all the way with Bears. I trust him, I tell him all my issues, and I heal myself by just being at The Option Institute®. Thank you!”
Linda McGinn, Counselor, Scotland
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“Samahria is a strong, loving and inspirational teacher. Her joy in life and the fun she brings to her teaching give me such vision of my own potential.”
Tissie Roberts, Environmental Writer And Consultant, England
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“Samahria's love just poured out from the moment she walked in the room. She helped me to go deeper inside myself in a very spiritual way. Gentle, funny, and an amazing mom. She is an incredible model of loving and letting go.”
Heather Behrendt, Homemaker, Connecticut