"I think you are doing an amazing job with these little ones."
- BL, teacher
"The day ended all too soon. I felt so calm, rested and unwound."
- NF, therapist
"Mary, thanks for your program. It's keeping my heart light ... I was singing all the way home!"
- JJ, singing group participant, climate activist
"Nature is how I personally connect with spirit. Pender Island and Mary's home was an incredible place to do this!!"
- LC, health care worker
"Beautiful day, Flow, quietness, variety of ways to be still and present. Welcoming, encouraging, accepting, you are all these things. Thank you!"
- EB, parent, home care worker
"It's been over two years now and I still recall the vivid images in my mind from the Guided Imagery. They still give me a wonderful sense of peace and assurance."
- PW, computer programmer
"I’m most grateful for the safe, secure space in which to be open to my peers, to feel comfortable enough to be vulnerable in front of others. No judgment, just support."
- CS, creative arts therapist
"Mary does this like a seasoned midwife and her passion for her work is contagious. I come away from each session feeling more self assured, able to step forward more solidly on my path."
- MD, counsellor, gardener
"I so enjoyed being part of your group. To be able to sing with others and feel supported and not judged is wonderful. It is a treat to be led by someone like you who has so much knowledge and patience!"
- CP, singing group participant
"Mom really enjoyed her sessions with you, Mary. Music gave her another language to communicate in when English became rather erratic for her, after her stroke. Thank you for everything you did with and for her, and for the joy in connecting in music that you helped her experience"
- AW, family member, paramedic
"Thank you Mary for giving yourself today! I came away today with the need of slowing myself down (mind & body). I feel like the day as a whole achieved this, a grounding for me. Letting go of the fear and just allowing the present to be. I very much enjoyed the meditation work, progress for me."
- E, business woman
"I found myself feeling awed and inspired by the work of Mary Reher, even over a month later. The transitions between activities was seamless – I loved Mary’s gentle, accepting approach, particularly her use of language. It was an excellent time and I would highly recommend it to others in the helping professions. Thank you, Mary!"
- MB, manager, therapist
"I have had the gift of working with Mary Reher in the capacity of student in a class, and during private Bonny Method sessions. Over the years I have benefited from many modalities of therapy including Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and CBT. Nothing has come close to the growth I have been privileged to experience in a very short time working with Mary. She is compassionate and wise. I recommend her with highest regard."
- SF, former client, mental health worker
"I am in awe of your ability to heal and communicate. My heart swells with powerful emotions every time I read your words. I know they are about me so obviously I will feel powerful emotions upon reading the words but they are crafted so seamlessly together. I am swept away when I read from your chapter. What a powerful gift and something one day my grandchildren will appreciate. The essence of who I am is all there ... of who all my relatives are is all there. Meegwitch, thank-you Mary"
- SJ, Indigenous healer
"Thanks for your insight regarding our little folks. I've always appreciated your work with the kids in the district, Mary, and knew how your support was so necessary for so many kids. Now that you are working directly with the kids that I work with, I REALLY appreciate what you do. You have this ability to get to the essence of the child and can articulate what we we've been trying to put our 'fingers' on but couldn't quite get the right words ... we are happy you are seeing these boys."
- B, principal
"Mary delivers music sessions for Ptarmigan’s Art for the Heart, a program that brings the healing power of art and music to isolated seniors. Her sessions have been powerful and therapeutic for the seniors she works with. I have observed first- hand the effect of Mary’s music sessions with my mother, who is living with Alzheimer ’s disease. Mary’s sessions bring joy, connection and vitality into my mothers’ life, and afterward there is a marked and lasting improvement in my mother’s mood, focus and energy levels."
- LF, executive director, daughter of participant
"The students [Mary] works with at [the] School are high needs referrals: Chronic Health, Learning Disability, sensory dysfunction, abuse therapy ... Mary’s very specialized skills go far beyond her musical ability. Her acuity in providing therapy for students, whether 1:1, or in small groups, is extremely professional and individualized. She develops goals, objectives, and methods in critical alignment with individual needs, and obtains very real results. She integrates occupational therapy with creativity, relaxation, and musical skills. Her approach nurtures a sense of calmness, but also an empowering sense of positive self-awareness and self esteem ... We are fortunate to access Mary’s expertise and singular sensitivity. Her students trust her. They know she’s there to help them move through their significant challenges."
- PZ, special education teacher
"[What follows is] an explanation of the profound experience I had during many sessions with Bonny Method practitioner Mary Reher. The work I did with Mary freed up my consciousness which had been weighted down with early childhood abuse and loss issues. As I walked through the dream world with Mary as my guide I was able to contact the very small child who was traumatized over and over again by a system whose goal was to destroy my identity. During these sessions I not only connected with my original self but I also had the opportunity to embrace my heritage (my heritage was the imagery for many of the healing sequences) and all the significant members of my tribe ... This work was a complete transformation in terms of me being able to embrace my life as a productive artist. When I began work with Mary I was unable to write or do much with creativity. I believe my spirit was crying out to be heard, but I was frustrated with conventional therapy which could merely validate my history of abuse but was completely ineffective at helping me to feel the buried memories so I could begin to resolve them. I also think I was afraid to begin a serious artistic life because of what I might bring up so I was in a frustrating hold pattern. Today I am working like a bee to TRY and keep up with all of my creative juices and I believe I owe a great deal of this spark to The Bonny Method."
- SJB, former client