Client Love

Rob, 52 & Denise, 52-Los Angeles, CA

“Our 25 year marriage slipped into a low where we were not communicating or connecting, resentments and lack of trust had built up and we were stuck, not knowing how to rebuild connection or trust, and the resentments were multiplying into a downward spiral and quality of life together was getting worse quickly. We were incapable of figuring out what to do or partnering for a common cause because we couldn't even agree on how to do that or if we should even bother, or what it would look like.

Dara was quickly able to gain an accurate sense of what was going on and why, and was then able to provide us with insights and structure to keep us focused on the tools and techniques we needed to slowly climb out of the rut we were in and get back to a place where we could communicate and share some common goals, such that we were able to breathe a little bit of life and clarity back into the relationship. We have a lot of work to do still, but at least now we can do the work and get some traction out of it, as opposed to before, where all efforts seemed futile.

We were surprised at how perfect of a fit Dara was for our needs. While we didn't do half the homework assignments, we still appreciated that she made those resources available and hand-picked them. Dara was so effective, that we actually didn't require those extra tools, but had we required them, they were there, which meant she went above and beyond our needs.

Dara was unique because, in addition to knowing her discipline thoroughly, she seemed to be able to adapt to our situation and improvise or even innovate some needed things independently. We didn't feel she was applying a template or stuck in a rigid mode of treatment, but she combined elements of proven approaches with her talent and energy to provide the meticulous care we needed.

We also never got that odd "feeling" that the coach is mysterious or forming judgments about us covertly, like a black box. Instead, it felt transparent and collaborative, and Dara made us feel like equals instead of patients; she let us in on the process and made it feel human and open. She didn't come off like a condescending guru and didn't seem to be holding back her thoughts or being manipulative, which is the clichéd therapist/coach.

Dara was down to earth and human, but also really informed, on the ball, with the right amount of energy. She balanced the conversation so everyone felt fully heard, but she didn't force a "balance fallacy" onto the situation or dogmatically revert to a 50/50 accountability. If someone needed to call out, she did it subtly that didn't bring on defensiveness. Lastly, she met with us individually and gave actionable, specific advice that combined cutting-edge therapy with her wisdom, life experience, and instincts. Dara is a budding genius who could save hundreds of marriages and positively impact thousands of lives.

Our marriage could have ended, we were really at the end of our rope, and we both feel Dara's uncommon level of competence saved our marriage. I'm not the easiest person to please because I have an aversion to conventional thinking, simplifications and generalizations, fallacy, and bias. I typically feel that therapy techniques are for the lowest common denominator, and I get frustrated when caregivers don't meet my high standards of reason, clarity, and personalization. So it's impressive that Dara met my weirdly high criteria while winning Denise's respect; Denise and I have different issues and styles of dealing with people and ideas, yet we unified around Dara's approach. I can't overstate how rare this is to pull off.”

Beth, 47— Denver, CO

“I reached out to Dara because I wanted to find someone who could help me to work on unhealthy self esteem, unhealthy ways of relating to my husband, and potentially help me to create a change in my marriage by showing up differently. Her website and personal story spoke to me and I felt she would understand what I was going through. When we first began to meet, I thought I just had a difficult marriage that could be fixed through seeking relationship coaching. Dara helped me to understand why I am a people pleaser who is anxiously attached to others. She helped me to understand that I was controlling the world around me to avoid conflict and trauma, so I could feel happy. However, after giving so much of myself away, I could see that I was unhappy, exhausted, and empty with nothing else to give, especially when my husband was such a "taker". I love how she helped me to see what I really needed. I explored my core needs so that I could express these to others clearly. These needs were seen as unreasonable and selfish through my husband's eyes, which opened my eyes. After not really understanding what was going on in my marriage, I finally began to see what was really going on. I wanted and needed: a loving, mutual, reciprocal, and respectful marriage. However, I do not have that kind of marriage. I began to see that my relationship with my husband was not just difficult, but destructive. His inability and unwillingness to seek out counseling for himself or our marriage was a clear sign of trouble. His constant blaming of me for all the issues in our marriage became clear to me that his behavior is abusive. He had gaslighted me and confused me for years into thinking I was the reason our marriage was so rocky. I no longer think that now. Did I play a role into the broken dynamic with my husband? Yes! But, am I solely to blame for the state of our marriage? No! Without Dara, I would not have been able to work through all of the deception.”

Amanda, 39- Hermosa Beach, CA

“I had been in my share of therapy and nothing seemed to be working to the extent that I needed it to. I read the description on Dara’s website and felt like I could relate to past years of trauma and liked her concept of “mud” coaching. When I reached out her kindness, empathy, and understanding was all it took to begin my journey with her. Thinking I would try it out for 6 sessions, I continued for 6 months as her impact on me as a whole was proving positive and successful. I am so grateful that I signed up with her!”

Wendy, 43- Washington D.C.

“I reached out to Dara when struggling with a decision on whether to end a 2-year relationship. I didn’t trust that I saw the situation clearly enough to choose wisely knowing that I had a pattern of ending relationships when they became challenging. We started with identifying the root of my self-critical behavior and tendency to hold others to impossible standards. Throughout our time together, there was always an intentional application of the lessons I was learning. Early on, Dara suggested that I engage in a 30-day negativity fast. It was so incredibly humbling to realize that I didn’t know what to say to my partner when I couldn’t criticize or judge him. My partner started working with Dara independently as well. We learned new methods of communication which we both found helpful and enjoyable like the weekly State of The Union. Dara Introduced me to several relationship experts through articles, videos, and podcasts, most of which I still actively follow and continue to learn from. Ultimately, I decided to move on from the relationship, and I felt very clear and confident about my decision. I’ve been able to maintain a good rapport with my ex which I don’t think would have been possible otherwise. Dara is rare. I’m not new to coaching and I’m extremely selective with whom I choose to invest my time and money. We worked together for a total of 18 sessions, and each one was tailored to my unique needs and issues. After working with Dara, I feel very optimistic about my success in future relationships.”

Gen & George- Philippines/CT

“We came across Dara because of an article she wrote and reached out the moment we were ready for couples coaching. We face some unique challenges in that we are in a long distance relationship as of now and in the foreseeable future. Dara was quick in understanding this and in getting us to open up about some of our struggles; how communication habits can be improved with the right mentality and questions towards each other. The personalized homework and resources she gave us made it easier for us to navigate how we can further grow beyond our sessions. Even though our coaching with her is finished, we'll continue using what we've learned as the practices we've picked up from Dara make our relationship stronger and more loving every day.”

Marijke, 55- France

“Dara helped me in a way I had not considered would be possible. I reached out to her when I was feeling down, lack of zest, maybe at a crossroads in my life and she picked me up with just the right balance of listening and targeted advice. She invited me to consider things I hadn't imagined would be so thought-provoking. I have learned so much about myself and about loved ones close to me, so as a result Dara indirectly helped us as a family. I now find I've got my zest back and I see life and all the beautiful things in it so clearly! I believe everybody should see a life coach at some point in their lives, because life can be complicated and people can be complex! And if possible.... see Dara :-)”

Kylie, 19- Duluth, MN

“I reached out to Dara because I was in search of a coach and I felt like she aligned with me well. The experience so far has been very great, we have welcoming conversations that help me explore more in myself when it comes to my life. I have had a pretty good impact because I am able to have conversations about my life with a professional and with that Dara gives me new perspectives and resources to help guide me in my journey.”

Daphne, 30- Singapore

“It was a transformational journey with Dara where I learnt communication techniques that helped me greatly in my personal life. Dara was very sharp at capturing my unspoken needs, and she had shared powerful communication tips that helped me to turn the situation around. Dara’s strength is in capturing the essence of the conversation and in working towards actionable steps with the client after the session. I am more confident of holding conversations where I can express my needs while feeling safe. I would recommend anyone who is facing issues with internal struggles in expressing needs vs dealing with conflicts to reach out to Dara. As a coach, she is warm, approachable and wise. Dara is a great coach and I appreciate my personal growth under her guidance.”

Abbi, 35- Bristol, UK

“I reached out to Dara due to problems I was having with my low-self esteem and finding confidence in my work and relationship. I wanted advice on areas of my relationship and also on finding more space for myself to self-care and explore things I enjoy. I wanted to delve into ways of creating more positivity in my life. My experience with Dara was hugely beneficial. She is incredibly patient, understanding and wise. I was grateful for how she created a gentle, supportive and reflective space in which I could share and explore uncomfortable thoughts, emotions and experiences. Her knowledge on the human experience is boundless and she offers open, honest and informative feedback in a non-judgemental way. She helped me realise more my worth and my need to prioritise myself. Her homework was really helpful in giving me more insight into myself and how to value and create more time with myself. She helped me understand more my unhealthy patterns in my relationship and how to approach them to improve my relationship. I am so grateful to Dara for everything- for putting her heart and soul into the wonderful work that she does and for the positivity she helped manifest in my life.”

Megan, 56- MN

“I reached out to Dara after reading one of her articles that I came across online. Our initial meeting went well and I knew right away I wanted to work with her. Dara is a very intelligent and intuitive woman and I felt "gotten" by her. She was able to help me clarify my issues and then offer a lot of resources...meditation, articles, videos, and methods to help me have a shift in my ways of doing life. Dara enlivens my sense of joy because she is fun, authentic and playful. Our "work" together has helped unlock undiscovered parts of myself. I feel confident and hopeful about the future. The best is yet to come!!”

Angela- Spain

“We wanted to reach out to Dara because we were struggling with the behaviour of our daughter. The experience was really good, I felt like Dara really cared. I liked the home work set for my daughter although she didn't seem to always take it in and use the techniques that she learnt. I think that having a safe place to talk about life in general was great for Ava. I myself got a lot of insight that I didn't know of before, which was great.”

Jeff, 37- PA

“I contacted Dara because I was not understanding my needs. The conversations flow and I’ve gotten very comfortable being open. Coaching with her has been great. I'm starting to pinpoint my growth opportunities. I'm grateful to have found Dara and I really cherish our conversations. I think back to before we starting meeting and I feel like I'm slowly getting to where I want to feel, from within myself.”

Jonathan, 29- CO

“I was going through a particularly difficult moment in my relationship. I searched for a relationship topic that was on my mind and came across one of her articles and it BLEW MY MIND. After reading through her website - I realized I had found someone really special, whose perspective I resonated with and whose guidance I could learn from. The experience has been AMAZING. She's the absolute best. She pours her heart and expertise into the whole process. I've felt safe, heard, understood, challenged, encouraged, inspired, and like she really, really, really just wants the best for me. You can always feel the love bursting out of her! She's created this wonderful container for me to blossom and thrive. She's insanely intuitive and knowledgeable. On our consult call I talked up a storm, about basically my whole life, and the amount of insight she reflected from just our first meeting blew the lid off of the way I understand myself as a person. Every call, and the tidbits in between, have been equally inspiring of deep love and transformation for myself. I'm infinitely grateful. The impact of coaching with Dara has been transformative. I feel like I am a new person, in the context of myself and my relationship. I feel so proud of myself and capable. These were feelings I struggled to connect with before the coaching process. I couldn't have done it so quickly and enduringly without her help. I feel more confident in my abilities as a partner, I love myself more deeply, and I really believe in my purpose in life. I had lost touch with so much of this before we started working together. She helped me find it again!”

Mayte, 20- Peru

“I reached out to Dara after I read her article on the internet and it caught my attention. She is wonderful!! Sharing things with her with no judgment and she has listened to me and supported me. My perspective of life has changed, there is a Mayte before and after coaching with Dara. She does an awesome job!! She is very talented in her job and you can see that when you are working with her.”

Neal, 29- NYC

“After going through a very sudden and difficult family circumstance, a close friend who previously worked with Dara recommended that I reach out to her. The ensuing sessions I had with her fundamentally changed my perspective on my emotions, the way I carry myself throughout everyday life, and my perspective on how to approach interactions with my friends, family, and most importantly, myself. She had an unbelievable ability to allow me to fully open up, reflect on difficult prior traumas, dive deep into root causes, and provide the tools and guidance necessary to evolve those archaic, inhibiting, and self-destructive pathways of thinking and corresponding actions. Dara has a healing, guiding, and trusting energy about her where you can't help but feel comfortable, open, and thankful in her presence. I wouldn't use this phrase lightly, but working with her has genuinely and truly changed my life and allowed me to accept and love myself like I never thought possible. I will take everything she taught me and continue to practice and embody it in my daily life, as it has made me a happier, calmer, and more purposeful person because of it. It's difficult to explain the extent of how impactful my time was with her, but I feel like a fundamentally more centered and better person for it. Thank you for everything, Dara!”

Cassie, 18- NC

“My mom encouraged me to work with Dara. It has been a very pleasant and productive experience. Coaching with her has been a very positive experience, especially on my mental state.”

Amy, 40- VA

“I reached out to Dara because I was feeling depressed and I liked her blog. She is wonderful and supportive and helped me find the right path to start on and continue through to live the best life for me. Her cheerful and peaceful demeanor was perfect for me and made it so easy to work with her. Coaching with Dara has helped me be myself and find my truth. I wish I had longer with her but 6 weeks really did help.”

Michelle, 47- CA

“My husband and I were struggling with our oldest teen daughter, we had been in and out of counseling never finding the right fit. She was retreating from life, very defiant and our communication with her had become increasingly negative. She was full of emotion and anger and taking it out on the family. We needed a different approach than traditional counseling methods. Coaching with Dara has been life changing! We started out with our oldest daughter at 16 and then added our 15 year old daughter as well after seeing such an amazing turn around. We started with the coaching as a desperate fix for teens acting out but it has become so much more. Dara works with them on all life issues, stress in school, troubled relationships, confidence, life to school balance, advocacy and leadership. We are enjoying life now! Our family life has become much more peaceful since coaching with Dara. The open communication in our family has been a blessing and our girls are taking responsibility for their choices, good and bad. I am beyond thrilled with the growth and self awareness the girls are experiencing. I also started coaching with Dara which has really helped me see what I bring to the family dynamic. I can't say enough about how life coaching with Dara has done for our family. It's been like getting a tool box to navigate life, very thankful!”

Peyton, 17- CA

“I love Dara! My sister and I have been working with her for over a year now and we kind of see her like family! She is super amazing to talk to and always can relate and give amazing advice and direction to my life in every meeting. I had never worked with a coach before and I can honestly say working with Dara has absolutely turned my life around. I believe the personal growth I have experienced in the past year has definitely been helped along by the incredible insight and tools I have learned talking to Dara.”

Krista, 30- CA

"I was mostly looking for relationship advice and ways to continue to grow as an individual - but I was also interested in business advice - so all around thought Dara would be a great fit for a life coach. It has been great! She has helped me overcome a number of things already (not only how to deal with specific life situations, but ways of overcoming overwhelm and getting out of creative ruts)- she also helps me stay grounded and continue growing! I feel like I gain so much from our conversations. I continuously find myself going back to the principles/things we talk about on a regular basis. Knowing that I can go to her for any life situation (personal, relational, professional, etc.) has been a huge blessing in my life and even in a short amount of time feel like I have grown so much- and it's all thanks to Dara!"

Ashton, 14- CA

"My parents encouraged me to work with Dara. Coaching with her has been eye-opening and given me a safe place to talk. It has really helped me with self worth, my physical and emotional self, and just making me feel better and more comfortable in my skin."

Christine, 23- NC

"I first found Mud Coaching through my family. I used to be an extremely positive and upbeat individual but fell into a downward spiral of negativity and annoyance. My brother and mom helped me to realize my need to change and someone to guide me to a better way of life.  My schedule is hectic because I work as an independent contractor but Dara worked with me every week to set our meetings up during my free time. From mental to physical health, Dara helped me dig deep and find the way back to my true self. I never thought I would want or need a life coach but now I can't believe how people go through life without one! Dara helped me to discover my true values and strengths and how to use them to balance all aspects of my life, from personal and professional relationships to spirituality. I've finished 6 sessions with Dara and will begin another 6 sessions in the coming weeks. I'm finally back to my happy and healthy self, even the Chipotle worker complimented my smile and happiness. And then the Great Harvest Bread Co. employee. And then the Walmart employee! Dara brought me into a virtuous cycle of love and positivity and I'll never be able to thank her enough for the priceless lessons and love. I look forward to her continuous and positive influence in my life and hope you let her do the same for you!"