What participants say about the Sunflower Effect, Making Moves, and Claire Schrader
These Sunflower Effect reviews and testimonials cover a 25-year period during which I have been offering my courses and workshops. These testimonials were either written on feedback forms, or are verified reviews on FindCourses or Google, or are spontaneous emails written sometime after the course had finished.
The Sunflower Effect regularly receives 5* reviews on findcourses.co.uk, google reviews, and an exceptional net promoter score on customer guru and has an overall 5* customer satisfaction rating from our participants.
Our mission
The Sunflower Effect Courses empower quiet, shy and introverted people to believe they can create the life they want through uncovering and expressing their unique and authentic selves. See The Sunflower Manifesto
This was the first-ever programme that actually brought about a change in me
I had been suffering from social anxiety from a very young age. I had tried CBT, Anger management therapy, hypnotherapy, past life regression therapy and went to see many psychologists but nothing really helped me.
The change and progress I made in the Breakthrough Group was absolutely priceless.
This was the first-ever programme that actually managed to bring about a change in me, unlike every single other therapy programme that I had joined before.
The Breakthrough Group is a slow and steady process. The important part is to stick to it and not to give up, because eventually there will a moment during the breakthrough where you will feel the change inside you and you will know that now you have the confidence to take the next step.
In my case, this was when I spoke to the group for the first time – with me actually looking up and looking people in the eyes instead of just looking down. The first time I managed to do so, I could feel a change inside me, I felt a great sense of achievement.
I can say that this was the moment I realised that I can actually change myself, all it needs is a bit of time and effort.
I have been feeling great ever since.
Stefan Baumann Student, Bradford
About the Breakthrough Group
I didn’t think it would work for me because I have too deep shyness
I wanted to participate in the Breakthrough Group to challenge myself and get rid of my shyness which was taking over my life.
At first, I didn’t think it would work for me because I have too deep shyness.
I really enjoyed the different exercises in the first part of the course. I was able to explore myself in the course and how the shy Joanne is with other people, and how I suppress myself when I don’t express my true nature.
At the end of the first part, I was able to wake up in the morning and feel I was putting on the costume of the main character in the story and as a result, I felt more confident to face the outside world.
I enjoyed being with people who have the same issues as me. I enjoyed working on the breakthrough of the others in the group, it was powerful. Watching the others do their breakthrough and participating in them helped me to understand myself a little more.
I also have stopped taking too much notice of the critical people at work, or anywhere else, who judge my shyness. Because having people judge the thing you do is like a brake, but I finally know how to avoid the sadness of being judged/criticised by people.
It may seem strange but I feel much more beautiful now, my inner voice which always used to criticize me has changed radically and this inner voice is now much more kind and nicer and has beautiful thoughts.
Joanne Vane, Analyst, London
About the Breakthrough Group
Just Amazing!
That overwhelming feeling of being fed up of being the quiet one and not being able to express myself and almost feeling like a fraud when I’m shy with people I don’t know well. This is why I began my journey with Claire.
It now feels like I’m constantly stretching my confidence like you would do if you were overweight and needed to go to the gym. Week by week I started to see progress. Stretching out of my comfort zone losing excess worries and self-doubt on the way like layers of clothes.
I’m so grateful for Claire and also the people that attend. You really do realise that you’re not in this alone others are going through similar experiences and we will overcome it together.
Thank you, Claire, you have literally changed my life.
Vanessa – health practitioner, Verified Review from Find Courses
About the Finding Your Voice Course and the Express Yourself Workshop
I consider myself very lucky to have attended two of Claire’s courses
Prior to enrolling, I had had plenty of insecurities in regard to speaking in public; there had also been a persistent flow of self-criticism happening in my head. As a result, I would have rather stayed quiet than risking to ‘make a mistake’ and ‘fail’.
These fears and self-attacks were having a very negative effect on my professional and personal life, so at some point I felt a very strong urge to change it – and following some research, I landed on Claire Schrader’s website.
I first signed up for “Finding Your Voice” 12-weeks course – and never regretted it, as, unlike many self-help books that I had read by the time, it proved very powerful in dealing with my confidence issues.
Claire managed to create a very safe environment, where we were encouraged to experiment, leaving our usual fears behind. There was a very strong group support, too, which I think was a very important part of the course.
Following the completion of “Finding your Voice”, it became much easier for me to speak up whenever I wanted to; my “inner critics”did not completely disappear, but they became much more discreet and manageable. The persistent fear of ending up looking funny or inadequate significantly diminished – I realised there was no such thing as a “mistake” or “failure” – just another learning episode.
And the process of finding the voice was fun, too – I was always looking forward to our next session!
So, I naturally wanted to continue and signed up for the ‘Improvisation’ course– which did not disappoint either.
I think the ability to act spontaneously is a great power and a source of joy available to everyone – and I am really grateful to Claire for helping me to connect with this gift, which I have been happily using in my everyday life following the course.
I think what is particularly great about Making Move courses is that they make you do things, you would probably never do elsewhere. Things like responding to the immediacy of the situation in whatever way it feels like, or moving along with the energy flow of another person may seem easy in theory, but in practice there is not much space to practise them in our everyday life.
But the trick is that coming out of one’s comfort zone cannot happen in theory, it needs to be a real experience – and Claire’s courses will definitely make this experience happen.
Ksenia, Gallery Assistant
About the Finding Your Voice Course and the “I don’t know what to say” Improvisation for Social Confidence
A therapist’s view – my client now has hope that he can overcome his crippling social anxiety
Summary
This was a very positive experience for my client, moving him further on his journey to self-confidence. I plan to recommend this course to other clients who are struggling with these issues, as I know Claire is a real professional at helping others gain social confidence and have more fun in their lives.
Brilliant for confidence in public speaking
Excellent course to increase your confidence and manage nerves in any public speaking situation. I decided enough was enough and I wanted to get over this fear of public speaking.
I was offered a new job that would involve making presentations and chairing meetings. This is something I had always wanted to do but this hidden fear held me back. On the outside my peers would say how confident and relaxed I was but deep down I felt like a bag of nerves.
I didn’t know what to expect on this course but I was prepared to give it a go. It was brilliant!
The drama, acting and voice exercises gave me the confidence to take on new challenges at work. Claire was very supportive and encouraging. She made the classes fun and safe for me to act out the thoughts and fears that were preventing me from going forward.
As the weeks went on, I stopped being critical about myself and started giving myself lots of praise. I had some difficult situations at work and this course gave me the confidence to present myself positively and get my message across in a professional way.
I started to realise that people were interested in what I had to say and respected my views. As I moved out of my comfort zone and faced new challenges, I realised the anxiety and fears become less. I felt relaxed in situations that I used to find daunting.
I do not shy away from presentations now but feel more excited about doing them. I still have the nerves but I can manage them and feel more in control instead of them controlling me. When the course finished I didn’t slip back into old habits, I continued to move forward on my journey.
Since the course I have presented to groups of over 20 people, I have chaired meetings and have delivered an hours coaching session to a small group!
I would highly recommend this course and will be signing up for the two day workshop.
Ally, Manager
(Findcourses Review) about the Finding Your Voice Course
I was sceptical at first
It’s hard to sum up the benefits of the 12 week Breakthrough course in a few sentences, but I really feel the course has been life-changing.
Before the course started, I was super anxious and felt uncomfortable in all aspects of my life, in my career, in my relationships and how I reacted to the world.
I was very shy and stuck in a real rut, feeling isolated, helpless and small.
By doing the course, I have experienced a real shift, I am able to enjoy life much more and I have improved my connections with friends, family, my girlfriend and my social groups. I get so much more out of each and every day.
I was sceptical at first, but by committing myself to the programme, I have made better progress than I could have hoped for. Not only this, but I have gone through a transformative process with a group of people who were going through similar issues, which showed me that I was not alone, I was not the only one with these issues. We have all grown together, supporting each other every step of the way and I am proud to call these people friends for life.
To anyone reading this I’d say the fact you are reading this shows you want to change, and if you want to change your life while having a huge amount of fun then do sign up.
All you have to do is show up and you will make progress, I promise you. I am really looking forward to future courses with Claire!
Matthew Market Research Professional
About the Breakthrough Group
Easily the best decision I’ve made on my journey of self-improvement
When I joined the course, the phrase “I don’t know what to say” was all-consuming.
Speaking at work and even with friends, I was so worried about myself and saying the wrong things that I became the mouthpiece to the nightmare in my head.
The first few weeks were challenging and I gave in to my own self-consciousness a number of times, but Claire led by example, alleviating a lot of my doubts and helping me cultivate a more blasé attitude to being around people and speaking my mind.
This environment is unlike anything you will find in everyday life, and the freedom you are afforded is completely transferrable. Simply put, I give much less of a f*** now than I did 12 weeks ago, and this is infinitely more than I could have hoped for when tentatively enrolling.
The course was infinitely more than I could have hoped for when tentatively enrolling.
I would do it again without hesitation as it is easily the best decision I’ve made on my journey of self-improvement.
Colin O. Legal Writer
About the “I don’t know what to say” Improvisation for Social Confidence
Social anxiety has disappeared
I’m glad to say my social anxiety gradually diminished, and as I got stronger I learned to put some very traumatic experiences behind me and move on.
I attended two of Claire Schrader’s courses in 2012. “Finding your Voice“ was my first, in May 2012, followed by an “Improvisation for confidence“ course in the Autumn. I also did a 1-2-1 session with Claire.
I literally connected with, and began discovering myself during Finding Your Voice.
I actually continued to grow in confidence even more after the group had ended.
I have accepted that I will never be a very “chatty” person, (I tend to over-think too much) but to accept myself the way that I am, and to relax and simply be.
I have found my own ways to express myself comfortably, by sharing with others and contributing my time and energy as best I can, and I am also feeling less guilty for what I cannot accomplish.
The most important achievement for me, was to overcome trauma successfully. I also discovered that (I think) am rather good at improvising!
I highly recommend the Improv course to improve spontaneity and creativity. Such fun.
I really want to take the Finding Your Voice course again in the future, to help me see how much I have grown in confidence over the last 2 years. I have Claire to thank for this.
R. C. Personal Assistant
About the Breakthrough Group
I have accomplished many things since doing the Finding Your Voice Course and an individual session
After the course, I decided to take up boxing as a sport, but started of doing it in aid of Charity. This meant testing myself both mentally and physically. I performed in a boxing ring at a venue of 1200 guests. Being at the centre of attention is not something I like.
But with some techniques I learned during the course and training, I was able to pull through and won my fight.
This year I presented to the company my boxing journey, which was in front of at least 30 people. Furthermore, I have done presentations, hosted meetings, now confidently run my own projects and have taken up the opportunity to be a business champion in diversity, meaning I will be doing a lot of speaking and even presenting to more senior members of the business including my M.D. and board members.
I am not sure how I’ve accomplished the above, but it’s been a remarkable journey so far and have you to thank for that.
Shirley Junta, Project Designer
About the Finding Your Voice Course and Individual Session
Google Review: I had such a good experience with this course!!
Summary
I had such a good experience with this course!! I was really impressed with the work we did and how it all tied into the psychology behind shyness. I hope to take more of Claire’s courses in the future, and I so strongly recommend them. Claire is understanding, experienced, warm, and encouraging, and her ability to create change within you is amazing!
Long term effects
Being in Breakthrough was one of the most enlivening, unique and rejuvenating experiences of my life.
I was at a point in my life where from being a confident spontaneous extrovert I had turned into a self doubting, timid shy, introvert trying hard to find the voice inside I’d lost.
Claire’s magical sessions definitely helped me a lot in giving a sort of rebirth to my inner assurance, vision and expression.
I was slowly able to untangle a number of parts of myself I’d been unable to connect with and almost lost since school… come to think of it these were sort of the same things that kept me alive and going even then.
Claire’s patient, gentle manner was lovely in coaxing and helping my inner child bloom and defeat those undermining stale beliefs that were keeping me stuck in a rut. So thank you so much.
I have only started to realise now how beneficial, truly healing, spectacular and special those days were filled with so much beauty and such amazing life-saving long-term effects.
Tanya Sinha
Tanya went on to become an online coach and moved to Nepal, helping others to find confidence.
About the Breakthrough Group
Chronic Depressive
Excellent value for money. One, it worked, and two so many other therapies are way more expensive and haven’t worked. I have been a depressive all my life. As a chronic depressive – the depression was of a low but pretty constant degree – I went undiagnosed for years.
So for years I had no understanding of what was wrong with me. I never fit in, never got on with others, always a loner – and lonely.
Anyway, I somehow made enough progress to go looking for a course. I pretty much found one option, Claire and Making Moves. I liked the sound of it and went for it. I wouldn’t normally commit to a course but somehow I was at the stage to try it. I was in desperate need to do something really different.
I was hoping to build up my confidence, which I did, and I found, without focusing on it, that my anxiety and stress plummeted, especially in social situations. A revelation!
Making Moves Courses are cheap for what they are.
After doing more courses
I’ve done nearly all of Claire’s courses and it all started with Breakthrough. During that first twelve-week course my confidence soared and my social anxiety plummeted.
Thanks to Breakthrough I was actually able to have a life rather than the living death I felt having suffered from depression all my life.
Jane
Since starting the courses she has trained as a coach and a Sunflower Effect Course Leader
Most fun and liberating experience I’ve ever come across
I did the 1-day Express Yourself Workshop as well as the Improvisation Group and can happily say that this was one of the most fun and liberating experiences that I have ever come across.
Claire is very accommodating and encouraging and this helped everyone to relax and flow. Improvisation is a fun and explorative process that brings out various facets of one’s personality.
I believe as people we are more than our perceived roles we hold in our day to day lives. Improvisation helps to bring forth hidden depths of our multi-faceted selves.
The spontaneity involved lets you free the mind and get you to a place where you can just ‘be’. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found the whole process good fun!
Bipin, Archive Professional
From a FindCourses review) Scroll to find his review
Coming back to life
This is a series of letters/emails/reflections written by Thelma over a 20-year period of participating on my courses. It includes this video of her speaking at the book launch of Wallflower to Sunflower about her experiences.
Click the title to see Thelma’s reflections
People are now approaching me when previously they stayed away
On the very first night of the course I got stage fright. I remember walking through the door and then walking back a couple of time. I remember Claire saying about people in America being so terrified that they stayed in their car, if I`d had had a car I would have stayed outside.
I was struggling to find voluntary work and I was becoming quite isolated. I could feel myself with drawing and getting low. Much of my life has been about hiding. I have had a deep fear of exposure and of being in the spotlight, and so it was very challenging for me to come into the group.
But soon found it was a very safe group and I very quickly felt safe. There was a lot of humour too which really helped.
What was powerful for me was coming forward and taking the opposite space from the one I usually inhabit. I`m quite a big bloke and it was really good to claim some space and find some volume in my voice. There was one point we were preparing and I got into a huddle on the floor, and I was able to explore the victim place – that was really powerful to let myself go there.
What was really great about it was how different it was from everyday life, and being with peers who are equals was special, playing together – the way we were all prepared to expose ourselves.
When I went back into my training group, I did seem to be coming forward much more, and people started coming forward towards me. I was advertising that I was open enough for people to approach me. And I`ve come out some more since then
What I enjoyed the most when I played a character who was a murderer when I drank blood. It was really good fun and highly sacrilegious – and I had this amazing feeling of letting go, I wasn`t bothered about what other people were thinking, I was really freewheeling and taking up space. That was a big shift for me.
Colin A, IT Consultant, Surrey
About the Breakthrough Group
Being more myself
Your courses, workshops and gentle leadership have helped me along the way, to allow myself to just be, to be more myself, or just allow myself to express whatever needed expressing.
Daniel Clarkson, London
I have experienced anxiety and depression for most of my life
I took part at your one day workshop for Alternatives called “Riding the Wave to Freedom” back in March.
I got so much out of the day and felt like a very different person when I left. A sense of wholeness, aliveness, openness and power that I’ve never felt before.
I have experienced anxiety and depression for most of my life, and my anxiety was pretty much non-existent for the next few days.
Wow! I’d like to have more of this in my life.
Tazeem M
I have freed myself
Thanks for last night. It was fantastic.
I really believe you have helped shift something in me through the Finding Your Voice group and the shamanic work. Thank you very much.
Before, I was literally unable to move into the centre of a circle. I would burst into tears for no reason. It was very embarrassing.
I am now on a very exciting journey where the lion in me will be roaring away! I feel like I have really freed myself from all the debris and undergrowth I was entangled in (metaphorically speaking).
Clare M. Manager, London
Unexpected Success
I had a very strange two weeks after your workshop… with barely any time to sit down and contemplate anything!
Over that whole month so many amazing things happened
Two of my films were nominated for two different awards in the space of a week! One was showing in a festival and was nominated for the best newcomer award there and the other got to the 12 finalists in an online competition of hundreds of entries.
Over that whole month so many amazing things happened around my work that I felt it was the law of attraction working for me! Something which I was never sure I believed in before.
Afterwards I was thinking about Icarus and how happy I felt in the workshop, what great fun it was (and also scary) to lead the group in the moment.
Peter Bunzl, film-maker www.peterbunzl.com
It has taken me to a place of Life, of living fully, enjoying life
For me, this work has taken me far beyond the play and the personality.
But this is beyond my little story, this is something much, much bigger than me at work.
It has taken me to a place that is even beyond Spirituality – the container within which Spirituality arises like everything else in life.
It has taken me to a place of Life, living fully, enjoying life, enjoying being alive, enjoying my physicality, raw power, creativity, flow, being grounded as well as the pleasure of course of playing and having fun ..
Babeth Payne, Feldenkreis Practitioner, London
An amazing sanctuary for self-expression
The Breakthrough Group was a remarkable experience.
I’ve participated in a lot of different courses for personal growth but this course was unique in its ability to facilitate profound change on a fundamental level.
While working with the different archetypes and myths I felt like I was simply engaging in innocent play with the other participants, laughing and having fun.… while not realizing that the process was stirring up the patterns in my subconscious that were keeping me stuck and unhappy.
It wasn’t until the end that I suddenly realized a deep change had occurred and experienced feelings of freedom, inner peace, and wholeness that had eluded me for many years.
Thank you, Claire, for this unique group. Your skilful guidance, patience, encouragement, and astute observations were instrumental in creating and facilitating this amazing sanctuary for self-expression.
Ed C., Accountant,
Painfully shy
I was a painfully shy child, had a traumatic childhood and young adulthood, and was not able to be comfortable being seen or heard.
Claire’s expertise worked to dissolve a life-long handicap. I had spent over one hundred thousand dollars over twenty years of personal therapy for these trauma issues in my life, and Claire’s workshop was a more dramatic and beneficial change in my psyche than talking therapy had been.
Donna Bach, chiropractor, California
Getting a job – with the 2nd highest salary in a challenging job market
I was in the hunt for employment. I was ill at ease and having a lot of anger and frustration, particularly road rage.
My button would be pushed just traveling into work and I’d go from peaceful warrior into blood thirsty warrior without really knowing why. The image I had of how it felt, was of black lake and I was swimming in it.
What the Breakthrough Group did was to allow me to stir that lake up, to get to see what’s in the lake, and how those murky waters are being pushed. And then all these monsters started to reveal themselves.
There was the road rage monster and the tobacco monster – I couldn’t find a way to let go of my addiction to tobacco. This manifested itself as this huge yellow slug.
I was nauseous a lot during the work, it stirred up so much in me. But it enabled me to speak about these things and to express myself. It provided a short cut to the hidden recesses of my unconscious. It stirred them up, brought them to the surface, so that they could be freed.
A few days after the last session I got a call about a job. In fact, they called me! I’ve never had such an effortless flow for such a fantastic job in a very challenging job market. Even the guy who was interviewing me said he’s never seen a process go so quickly from first interview to job offer.
And it’s such a great job and I’m working with such great people. It is just what I wanted. It is the 2nd largest salary of my career. It will allow me the opportunity to secure a home-construction loan for my New Mexico ranch in the near future.
What helped me to get this job was stirring up the unconscious pot that can be there a lifetime and can affect us on such deep levels. I’ve done other kind of work but this had a lightning effect on my psyche and it came across during the interview. Claire is a wonderful mischief-maker and my co-workshopers were excellent join-iners.
No one else if offering anything like this. Trusting the process was key for going deep in this work!
Rob Buchiski, E Consultant
Perfect chance to practice that change before having to attempt it in real life
There were a number of reasons which first attracted me to Making-Moves, these were; to be more confident at office parties, socials and presentations; to bring some quality and creativity back into my otherwise very work and function orientated life.
After my family moved from Edinburgh to the country as a child it had become my dream to live and work in London and have a successful career. A dream I had largely fulfilled by the time I first went to a group with Making Moves.
I had been working in London in the development industry for over a decade. However, despite this over the years I began to feel empty inside, somehow, somewhere my life missed a quality, a hearty quality.
I felt like I’d somehow subconsciously been shaped into a corporate machine and while there were many sweeties in the shop to be had, they were no-longer as appetising or nutritious as they once had been.
When I first attended a group it was just such a relief to do something which didn’t involve either a deadline, someone else’s expectations, or a particular agenda.
Soon I found the myths and stories absorbing and amazed at how drama can be created from each and every individual, with very simple props. Each role, game or creative exercise always presented either an unexpected challenge or jewel of realisation about myself, and this was not necessarily just from the roles I was playing but also from the interactions with my fellow participants.
Often the information gained would be soft and subtle even difficult to put my finger on but over time it became clear to me why or how I was blocking myself in my own life with my own learned reactions.
This provided me with an insight to then change it, and of course the Groups allowed the perfect chance to practice that change before having to attempt it in real life.
Later on Making Moves work also helped to rebuild my confidence when it had been completely floored through illness.
Tania A. town planner, London
The courage to claim my unique identity
The spirit of this work is the most powerful I have ever come across because it simply has no limits.
Making Moves courses became my saving grace, when techniques, teachings, and responsibillity were again but in a different way, alienating me from my self.
Claire´s sensitivity, compassion and innate freedom did provide the license and courage I needed to claim my unique identity – and ensure I manifest it today.
Satya Kaur, Karam Kriya Yoga Teacher
Renewed Confidence
Claire Schrader’s work genuinely deserves to be called remarkable. Her insights and method of working have moved me into places I couldn’t even see, let alone go to. It left me confident that I can walk into any work situation and know whatever the outcome, it will be the right one for me.
David D-V, lawyer
About Individual Sessions
Unlocked parts of me that had been frozen for years
Your workshops and groups were invaluable to me, the work we did helped to unlock parts of me that had been frozen for years.
I feel so happy and blessed that I was led to your work and long may you open the way for others to express themselves, it is so important. I am never happier than when I am expressing myself and my passion.
I was able to find expression and move into places that had previously held so much fear for me.
My emotions were no longer barred off, they were out for all to see, and they were accepted and encouraged.
This helped me to move through and become more aware of a lot of issues and patterns that had been keeping me stuck.
Tahni Lamonde, now a health practitioner and blogger, London
This was at a ritual theatre workshop run by an amazing woman called Claire Schrader. She has a book on Amazon called ‘From Wallflower to Sunflower’. I highly recommend Claire’s work. I partook in many of her workshops and each one took me deeper into my journey. She has been incredibly supportive to me. I am so grateful for her and her beautiful work. For more details www.makingmoves.net
A post shared by Tahni Lamonde-Lyle (@lunabellatahni) on Instagram
The fun of it!
The fun of it!! Working with eternally relevant myths, dressing up, letting go of self-imposed restrictions, rediscovering the exuberance of being a child at play without judgment or restriction.
It was all very liberating and funny and poignant. And at times, richly profound and illuminating.
Chrissie V. admin assistant, London
Becoming a Dancing Star
Claire’s infamous Breakthrough Group is an incubator where eagles spread wings and take flight. I love the tenderness and the wildness of the journey.
Claire is a master DJ spinning the soul-shaking sounds that break the chains around my heart. Then with her subtle and brilliant directions, Claire coaxes out of me the dancing star. And suddenly I am not just a businesswoman or a wife, I am a heroine on an epic journey.
Olga Aura, Health Practitioner, Northern California
Underground storage
I feel I have with me the living experiences of so many of the workshops and courses I have done with you. I feel I have stored them underground in some deep well within me. I am keenly aware that I am now drawing on those wells as and when I need to.
Michael K, Project Manager