We imagine a world in which everyone wakes up each day feeling joy and self-compassion.
We believe this will build compassionate societies, grounded in allowing the uniqueness of each human to shine.
The mission of Awaken Joy is to help people around the world transform their lives into ones filled with joy, acceptance, serenity and personal integrity. We do this by bringing together the wisdom traditions of psychotherapy and Buddhist philosophy, combined with advanced coaching techniques and technology which unites us globally.
Meet Barbara
Hi, I’m Barbara.
My mission is to live a sane and joyful life, while helping others do the same.
This mission statement, developed 25 years ago, has been a “North Star” guiding me to good decisions, leading to a life I truly love.
25 years ago, I was in a massive transition. I was a highly successful Investment Banker in M&A, during M&A’s “heyday.” I was also miserable in my career, yet the sole support of my three children. Quitting felt like jumping off a huge cliff, yet I knew I could not remain where I was.
I knew I needed more soul-satisfying work. After returning to graduate school at the age of 39, and completing training and licensing, I opened a private psychotherapy practice in Norwalk, CT, specializing in anxiety and trauma. My practice thrived, and I feel enormous gratitude to the clients who entrusted me with their innermost thoughts, allowing me to participate on their healing journey.
In 2019, I decided to move my business online (prior to the pandemic!), and began a YouTube channel under the Awaken Joy brand.
While I loved my psychotherapy career, I was convinced that there was a more efficient way to help people improve their lives. I knew that combining mindfulness meditation with psychotherapy massively increased effectiveness. I also believed that utilizing pre-recorded videos (both in course sites and on YouTube) and worksheets combined with group support or direct 1:1 work would accelerate transformation.
And I was right. The people who have taken my programs, Roadmap to Joy and Authentic Confidence and The Ultimate Boundary Course, have transformed how they feel about themselves, and therefore, how they interact with the world.
My online work is a continuing journey, which I expect to evolve, morph, and transform. I no longer have a psychotherapy practice, and have moved to transformational coaching and course creation. The YouTube channel has brought me in direct touch with a huge number of people worldwide who resonate with the teachings I share.
I am in the process of developing more online courses to more directly guide people through the personal growth they yearn for.
Stay tuned, and thanks for accompanying me on this amazing journey!
Education and Training
Yale University, BA
Columbia University, MBA in Finance
Southern CT State University, MSW in Social Work
EMDR Approved Consultant
LCSW, Licensed in CT
CCA International Coach Certification (ICF-approved organization)
Certified Coach for Life, Business, Entrepreneurship and Emotional Intelligence
We Believe...
We believe in the radical idea that joy lives inside all of us and it can be activated with compassion and curiosity applied to inner inquiry.
We believe that our joy can be covered over by childhood trauma and other wounds we experience in life. We believe in each person’s capacity to heal.
Waking up to the suffering caused by pervasive societal systems which restrict and control people based on gender, sexuality, race and ethnicity, allows us to uproot disempowering beliefs and move toward authentic confidence.
We believe tenderness is implicit in joy, incorporating both the beauty and sorrow of life
We believe developing our ability to be mindfully present, grounded in each moment is possible for all people and critical for joy.
We believe - YOU CAN DO THIS!
I help people around the world transform how they feel about…well,… everything, by transforming how they feel about themselves.
Inner inquiry combined with self-compassion and curiosity is the way to unlock joy and confidence. I provide the roadmap for doing so.
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