Comments from
attendees and sponsors:
These are comments taken from feedback forms that
you can use in marketing or to convince committees that the
workshop or event will be good quality. Feel free to pick
and choose any that you need.
Keeping Your Soul Alive:
“Your presentation was without a doubt, the best workshop I
have ever attended -- through AAMFT, the Networker, etc. I
left Raleigh totally awe-struck.” –Liza Shaw
The workshop was fantastic...it stretched me and filled me
and gave me much to ponder and act upon in the days, weeks
and months ahead. - Debbie Kohler
Very practical and thought provoking. - Steve Altabef
I very much enjoyed the workshop, which was clear,
entertaining and useful in many ways. It served for me as a
Motivational Workshop, which you certainly didn't include
in the advertisement; so I got more than I paid for! -
Elizabeth Sandel
The best workshop I've attended in a number of years.
Perhaps it seemed so for me because I have been searching
for a realistic and practical way to more fully incorporate
spirituality into my practice and you nailed it. Seriously!
Furthermore your presentation style is dynamite. I was
spellbound and, for a woman with A.D.D., that is saying
something. I look forward to attending other workshops
given by you in the future. Thank You!! - Marilyn Duff
I was very much enlivened by the day's stories, poems,
songs, teachings. Your style is warm and genuine, and while
fast, it's energizing too. - Heidi M. Behr, LCSW, MPH, CADC
My coworker and I have put several of the techniques we
learned into practice with the kids we work with and have
had positive results. - Beth Hinthorn
Thanks you for an excellent workshop. Stimulating,
provocative, and very well delivered. - Harry Shallcross
I want to let you know how much the workshop meant to me.
It was well presented, informative and spiritually
uplifting. Like a good movie, I could sit through it all
again. – Kathryn Nyce
Many thanks for a wonderful workshop. I came away
spiritually refreshed and better equipped for my ministry -
a good deal at any price! - Blessings, Rev. Julie Richwine
This workshop was excellent!! It was more meaningful to me
than any workshop I've ever attended for my CEU hours
towards my MFCC license. Instead of leaving the field of
psychotherapy, I now am inspired to create a new way of
working with people by incorporating several different
modalities and philosophies which speak to me. I have been
waiting for and looking for a workshop like this one for a
long time. I'm very grateful to Bill. - Lilla Russell
“Thanks so much for putting on a good workshop for us. You
had wonderful reviews from our workshop participants. You
do a powerful job presenting right brain material with full
left brain understanding and agreement.” —Jim Woodward,
MSW, Topeka, Kansas
“Bill consistently does a marvelous job; combines an
entertaining presentation with an unusual amount of concise
examples illustrating usable techniques.” —Lynne de Courcy,
M.S., Fairfield, Ohio
“I want to thank you for conducting one of the best
conferences I have ever attended. Your encompassing
knowledge and your lively, humorous presentation offers an
event not to be missed!” —Deborah Mueller, MSN, Albany, NY
“Thank you for your truly outstanding presentation at the
Juvenile Welfare Board on October 22, 1987. The eighty
professionals who attended represent the very best
clinicians central Florida has to offer: they are well
schooled and highly experienced, and quite frankly, they
make a very critical audience. The rating they gave your
presentation on a scale of 1 - 5 was a 4.97; this is very
impressive. We have two types of nationally-recognized
professional trainers whom we utilize: those whom we invite
and those whom we invite back. You are at the top of the
list in the second category.”
—Robert J. Doody, Ph.D., Director, Staff Development and
Training, Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, St.
Petersburg, Florida
“Bill, there is no doubt you were a giant success. I have
never seen so many positive evaluations. In fact, there was
only one comment about the food, and that's a sure sign
that the speaker was so great that the participants didn't
care about the amenities!”
—Cynthia Longest, Director of Education, Mental Health
Association in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana
I really appreciate Bill’s openness to audience digressions
and his ability to remain on track in spite of it. —Elaine
Perilstein MSW Chapel Hill, NC
Your presentation of this material is what gives strength
and power to it-An extremely enjoyable and worthwhile, and
exciting experience! —Katharine Wagner, MA, Raleigh, NC
This was a nice mixture of things I knew and brand new
material. It has helped one to be excited about doing
therapy again. —Timothy Hughes, MA , Raleigh, NC
This was a specific, concrete enough workshop that I can
put some of it to use immediately and inspires me to read
more. —Kristin Grapes, Ph.D., Winston-Salem, NC
An excellent workshop. Incredibly clear and informative.
Very productive in terms of my work and enjoyable. Gosh,
Bill, do you mean we can learn and have fun at the same
time?
—Rebecca Gibson, MSW, Canton, NC
Very clear presentations, funny, and enjoyable. —Cate
Wineburg, Greensboro, NC
I really appreciate the respect you have for the client and
the way you empower that individual. Also, your
accessibility and great use of humor are an enjoyable way
to learn this information. —Pat Kelley, Durham, NC
The seminar was an extremely informative seminar, presented
in a usable, down to earth format. I felt respected when I
asked questions and appreciated the respectful way in which
you challenged my way of questions and providing
clarification and support of the new techniques. I was
integrating and also appreciated your warmth and
self-disclosure and eagerness to teach. —Ellen
Koski-Ponton, M.Ed., Raleigh, NC
Would love to get more and more. Personally available
responsive and giving-absence of the rampant malady which
afflicts many presenters: The Voracious Ego Monster.
Thorough; organized; entertaining. More than any other
teacher, Bill was able to teach in way that gave me
confidence that I didn’t need to change my self in order to
integrate and use his teaching; offered respectfully in a
form I could appreciate and take in and take with me. —Reid
Whiteside, Ph.D, Raleigh, NC
Bill, what a gift you gave to us! We continued on after you
left and designed how we will apply your approach to our
work here! The groundwork you laid for us will produce
immeasurable good for many folks for whom the “traditional”
therapies haven’t worked out. —Sharon McNeil, Stephen
Center for the Homeless, Omaha, NE
As managed care has become more prevalent, the need for
good training in brief therapy has become more important.
My education, experience and training has focused more on
developing skills in long-term therapy. I attended a
workshop you led approximately one and a half years ago on
doing solution-focused therapy with sexual abuse survivors.
I felt comfortable both emotionally and intellectually with
your approach. It seemed there were principles which could
be applied regardless of the length of therapy and which
could perhaps enable therapy to progress in a more rapid
way. I have experienced some brief therapies as being rigid
and ignoring the depth of a client’s problem, instead
providing a band-aid. I did not have that sense from your
workshop. I also appreciated your humor and the compassion
evident as you talked about your work. —Linda C. Nelson,
M.A., L.P., Minneapolis, MN
Comments from 1992 Texas AAMFT Conference Session
...a surprise; I experienced O’Hanlon as much more
multi-dimensional in his approach than I anticipated (more
a reflection of my own bias); the handouts were excellent
and the stress he placed on validating and valuing is a
wonderful reminder; presented in an excellent manner
...THANK YOU for this session--a practical, ETHICAL,
helpful approach to treatment of sexual abuse; great humor,
style and content; wish everyone treating these issues
could hear his ideas
...O’Hanlon’s description of his point of view in his work
was touching to me. I left this full room feeling changed.
I know I heard with both my head and my heart. Thank you.
...practical, refreshing, creative, respectful approach
with working with adults molested as children.
...made the entire conference worthwhile; incredible;
inviting; spiritual, hopeful, caring, loving, believe in
himself and others...
...has really changed my ideas of working with sexual abuse
survivors; I plan to explore more possibility therapy; it
has given me the courage to do what I have always believed.
...excellent presentation; I didn’t dissociate once!
...great presenter; good balance between content and use of
tapes, humor and challenge; took a depressing population
and gave a presentation of hope and possibility.
...session presented excellent information on treating the
problems in a brief, client-centered model.
...Bravo, you’ve done it again! Excellent modeling of self
to reduce shame; lovely! Your presentations are always
dynamic, alive, enthusiastic, humorous, clear, instructive;
keep writing, keep thinking at that speed!!
...speaker was dynamic, knowledgeable, entertaining, and
provocative; excellent use of stories, clinical anecdotes.
This was great; I am eager to know more and am very pleased
to hear someone present a “different” model for treating
sexual abuse survivors.
You have a wonderful balance of outline, lecture, stories
and examples. I liked the use of exercises, too. —Ann
Hendrix, MA, Geneseo, IL
Good pacing, interesting, good use of case examples, very
useful for real life, integrated theory well and kept tying
cases into it, organized, good coverage of topics. —Bonnie
Miller, LCSW, Springfield, VA
Very interesting and helpful presentation. Videos, stories,
exercises, and the didactic were blended to make learning
easy and entertaining. —L. Jane Wilson, RN, MS, Champaign,
IL
I feel this was one of the best workshops I’ve ever
attended. Bill seems so at ease and the material just
flows. —Yvonne Homan, LCSW, Evanston, IL
I found you to be enlightening and entertaining. Your
information was so practical and useful. Your
storytelling and use of humor are terrific. Thank you!
—Lynn Goffman, Buffalo Grove, IL
Thank you–I do definitely feel validated for my beliefs of
optimism in treatment. You are truly an expert
public speaker. Your stories are truly enlightening.
—Erin P. Solkowski-McGrath, LCSW, Darien, IL
Very helpful view of people and their problems. Excellent
way of presenting, interesting to listen to, very
knowledgeable, illustrates compassion he has for people and
their ability for change. —Suzy Freedman, Ph.D., Madison,
WI
This is fantastic stuff. As someone new to the field, your
work makes more sense to me than anything else I’ve heard
or read. —Elizabeth Harrison, Madison, WI
Charming, open presentation. Excellent stories. Liked the
“non-rigid” theoretical stance.
Thanks for a wonderful affirmation of my present work and
the invitation and tools to stretch into new levels of
effectiveness as I seek to empower my clients to move
toward lives of wholeness and health and wellness.
—Margaret H. Perryman, ACSW, Mays Landing, NJ
Without a doubt, the most infectiously enthusiastic
presenter I’ve ever seen. —James Shelton, CAC,NCACII,
Ridgewood, NJ
It’s simply the best, most instructive and pragmatic
presentation I’ve attended. —Stephen Woodstock, MA,
Montclair, NJ
Mr. O’Hanlon is the “Seinfeld” of psychotherapy combining
humor and solid technique to facilitate change, in even
with what we have considered “difficult clients.” —Debbie
Innocenti, MA, Ridgewood, NJ
Bill O’Hanlon is a dynamic speaker who brings a fresh
perspective to brief therapy. —Robyn L. Gorman, MA, Little
Falls, NJ
This was the best workshop I’ve ever attended. Very
entertaining as well as informative and useful. —Shay
Stanton, MSW, Hamilton, NJ
Bill’s workshop provided me with down to earth, practical
information about an approach I wanted to know more about.
I feel like I can go back and try it based on what I got
today. It is extremely timely and valuable information in
our new world of managed care and probably more to the
point. Inspirational! —Carla Matviak, MSW, Plainfield, NJ
Great ideas and examples and also fun and entertaining.
—Nancy Hussey, MA, W. Caldwell, NJ
Excellent use of examples. Good, concrete stuff you can use
in your practice. —Marge Faranca, MSW, Burlington, NJ
I feel very enlightened about Brief Solution-Oriented
Therapy and feel that I can comfortably begin to implement
this technique with some of my clients. This was definitely
time and money well spent. —Shirley Jenkins-Patterson, MA,
Burlington, NJ
One of the best workshops I ever attended in my 21
professional years. —Patrick Cacacie, ACSW, Trenton, NJ
Excellent presentation–inspiring!! —David Setton, ACSW,
Highland Park, NJ
The approach is very refreshing and down to earth, using
common sense and basic human tactics. Very well done.
—Najla Kowalewski, DSW, ACSW, Mt. Holly, NJ
Excellent ideas and approach. Good sensible therapy that I
can apply immediately to my clients. —Jane Nolan, MSW,
Atlantic City, NJ
Mr. O’Hanlon is an enthusiastic endorser of Brief Therapy
techniques. He is an excellent presenter, very sensitive to
participants’ questions and concerns. His clinical examples
clearly highlight brief therapy techniques. A must-do!
—Marianne U. Huttinger, MS, McKee City, NJ
I cannot thank you enough for coming and working with us on
Saturday. Your presentation was incredible and the
encouragement and validation it provided to all of us meant
so much. We will continue to put the techniques we learned
into practice.
—Julie Osburn, MS, LPA, Resource Coordinator, Resources for
Living, Austin, Texas
Thank you for letting us attend this wonderful conference.
We received a lot of ideas and techniques which we can
utilize in our work with the counseling of Hispanic
immigrants in Miami.
“This is the best workshop I’ve attended in a long time.
Thought provoking. I like the mixture of stories, poems,
music, etc. I feel as though a north wind has blown some of
the dust off my soul.” –TAMFT How To Have a Good Breakdown
participant, January 23, 2002
I love the work that you are doing, and love attending
trainings with some LIFE in them such as yours.
I thought that you would like to know that because we need
CEUs, we many times sit through uninteresting and
uninspiring trainings. Afterward I usually feel exhausted
from information overload and little heart stuff happening.
Your training was not only informative, but also exciting,
energizing and very warm. I felt great when I returned
home. Also, I usually regret having to "waste" a weekend
because I need the hours. I did not have that feeling at
the end of your training. I felt energized and excited to
return to my practice. –Diane L. Berry, LCSW, Portland, OR
Thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring workshop. It
is the best workshop I have ever attended. I look forward
to learning more. – David A. MacLeod, M.S., Decatur, GA
I thought the presentation/workshop on "Wrestling with the
Angel: Integrating Spirituality into Therapy" at the IAMFT
Conference was terrific... actually the best thing I have
ever seen done with that very important topic. –Tom Seals,
Champaign-Urbana, IL, U of Illinois Counseling Center
"I attended your presentation March 19th at UConn and it
was by far one of the best workshops I've attended. Your
personality, humor and knowledge made an impression and you
really left me with a lot to reflect upon and think about."
-Suzanne M. Durant LPC, NCC
“I just had the pleasure of attending your workshop on
March 19th in Ct. on The Possibility of Grace: Integrating
Spirituality and Brief Therapy. I found it so inspiring, I
thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and found you
exceptional. This definitely tops any previous conferences
I have attended over the years with other speakers.”
–Shirley Viggiano, LCSW
From AAMFT Kansas City 2005
Bill O'Hanlan any time.
Excellent presentation. Superb mix of lecture and
interactive.
Awesome. Best of show!
Wonderful presentation. Bill is obviously a seasoned pro.
Learned a lot!
Excellent workshop. Bill is an extraordinary presenter and
gives a piece of himself when explaining his theories and
techniques. High energy! Useful, useful -- not beginning
but inclusive.
Always excellent. Keep him coming, please!
Awesome!
He's great.
I like the use of songs/poems to heighten the experiential
aspects.
Excellent job -- very motivating and insightful. Provided
useful techniques without pushing a certain worldview.
Thanks -- speaker was engaging, dynamic, informative.
Anecdotes and activities facilitated my learning.
Excellent!
Ask him to do plenary and workshops again, please!
Wonderful! Painfully terrific. Very useful, both personally
and professionally.
A great method to communicate via a variety of tools
(music, poetry, quotes). Energetic, infectious.
Great workshop.
Grounding and inspiring.
Wow!
Practical, interesting, great to use exercises. Would like
to learn more from him.
