Responses to Betty Kohlenberg's Vocational Counseling Services

3/16/02
Betty,
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for a job well done.  What stands out for me are not so much the techniques you have shared with us, but your innate ability to bring home the following message: Whatever prevents us from living a fulfilled and happy life, by default also keeps us from finding the ideal way to earn a living.  It has become very clear to me that our professional life is simply an extension of our personal life. 

I wanted to share this with you, because somehow you helped me to see the larger picture.  In the past, I was always afraid to face this reality, and now I realize this was really a mistake.

2/26/02
Dear Betty,
Your information on interviewing was exactly what I needed.  I will definitely make use of this in my upcoming job interviews.  You are very wise and insightful, and, I might add, a true "Renaissance Woman".  Bet you've never been called that before! 
Thank you again.
MAH

2/27/02
Hi Betty!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!  You have been on my mind since Monday.  I told everyone in my family about your workshop.  They were elated.  You really helped me out more than you know!  I learned a wealth of information at Monday's workshop.

I look forward to meeting you again in the future.

Sincerely,
DJC

Betty --
I never felt like I got to thank you for all your personal attention and loving support.  You made such a big difference to me. 

Your straight-forward and professional approach to resume writing and interviewing saved me weeks of frustration.  Yesterday, I was offered and accepted what will likely turn out to be a great position.  I know without a doubt that I would not have had the idea that I could do this job, or the resume to get the interview, or the confidence to pursue the job, if I had not worked with you.

Warm regards,
Edward A. T.

Sept. '95 
Dear Betty, 
What an uplifting workshop with you!   Thank you so much for an excellent session and for the effort you made to help me personally.  Your insight and your feedback are really giving me a new perspective to explore and a new angle to "unblock" me in this log jam! 

You are incredible.  Thank you. 

Sincerely, 
FG 

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2/12/98

Dearest Betty,
Thanks a million for your help in assisting me clarify my goals and future.  It is both a very exciting time and scary at once.  It is comforting to have a professional of your caliber on my team.  Thanks again.
Yours truly,
I. S.

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June 9, 1995
Dear Ms. Kohlenberg:

Thank you for your time and effort in helping Ms. D L of my staff to deal with and overcome obstacles to performing her duties. 

As a result of your work, Ms. L's self-esteem and productivity have greatly increased over the last two years.  More importantly, Ms. L now completes most of her tasks accurately and on time.

Before your work with Ms. L, she was in danger of losing her job.  Now Ms. L is a much more reliable and dependable staff person.  Because of your work with her, I fully expect Ms. L to keep improving and contributing to our office professionally.
Sincerely,

RG
Sr. Accounting Officer
California State Office of ---

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From 11/1996 evaluations of the weekly Mondays at Ten vocational workshops at Positive Resource Center, an employment service for people living with HIV/AIDS: 

    "Informative, direct and useful to anyone seeking employment."

    "...motivated me to start my job hunting on the right foot.  Betty has been inspiring."

    "Betty is very professional and informative.  She has a vast knowledge of the skills needed for today's job market."

    "...very insightful, really helped with the specifics of how to find a job." 

    "...focused, fast and fun!"

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1/25
Dear Betty,
I feel much more confident in my interviews after our session. 
Thank you.
    JS

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10/6/98

Dear Betty, 
   I can’t adequately express how wonderful it was to meet you, study from you and especially feel you care about me.  In a short time, you seem to be more in-tuned with what I needed to hear than any counselor or therapist. 
   There have been many hard times, but pain isn’t all bad.  I’ve written 65 poems since my mother passed away in March. 

Your friend, 
WR 

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10/9/84
Dear Betty,
Once again I wish to express my appreciation for the outstanding program you and your staff prepared and presented to our members at the recent Seminar. The material, the presentation and especially the staff were superb.
Very truly yours,
Maureen K. Chenette,President
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1471

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April 30, 1984 

This is a thank you note to express appreciation and respect for the fantastic talk you gave our participants in the Consumer Economics Forum.  I think you gave us all, not only clear ideas of what you do, but more generally of the problems that most of us will face in looking for different jobs either because we become “burned out” or because our occupation becomes obsolete. 

Again, I was very impressed with  your capabilities and knowledge as a vocational counselor. 

Very best wishes, 

Ruth Shen 
San Francisco State University 

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November 9, 1990
Dear Betty,
Thank you so much for your participation as a panelist at our recent seminar.  As always, your comments were clear, logical and reasonable and offered viable options for resolving the cases successfully.  You just seem to always know the "right" thing to say.
Sincerely,
Mary Ciddio, M.A.
Education Committee Chair

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October 24, 1996 
Dear Ms. Kohlenberg, 
Thankyou [sic] for providing me with an [sic] candid appraisal of Mary's Vocational potential.  My attorney told me that often when a client gets this kind of evaluation it goes over very poorly.  I want to assure you that I believe you have demonstrated competence and integrity in this matter. 
Best Wishes 
TW

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9/2/98

Dear Betty-
I wanted to thank you for the time you spent with me Monday afternoon.  I came home feeling soothed and nurtured.

Love+peace,
David

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June 1999
Hi Betty,
I attended the EBRSI meeting and loved your presentation -- Very helpful!
Thanks for your time and effort.
JF

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7/16/99 
Dear Betty, 
Many thanks for a terrific workshop this morning.  The material you presented was excellent and everyone had their needs and questions addressed.  The evaluations all said that the participants thought that this was important information and many people indicated that it should be repeated for other cancer patients. 
Nancy Robinson, MSW 
Community Health Resource Center, CPMC Oncology

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May 1996
I liked the challenge of working through the tough questions. Don’t change a thing -- the Workshop was very helpful and informative.  Would recommend it highly.
SL

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Dear Betty: 
I can’t say enough how much you were and are part of my journey to “freedom.”  Every time I didn’t know what to do next, you were the first person I always called for advice.  Thank you for always being there for me. 

Now it’s a new life for me and my son and you can be sure that you played a MAJOR role in that!!  I am forever thankful!! 

BT 
 

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7/25/99
I want to thank you for speaking to our EBRSI group.  Yourpresentation was excellent - helpful and practical. 

JC

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10-31-95 
Thank you for many excellent suggestions.  My spirits were lifted after talking with you.  I'll be back. 
MH 

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8/14/00 
Betty, God bless you for being there for us.  We sure need someone like you.  Don’t leave this area and don’t retire!  I really learned a lot. 
Jan 
Mills RSI Support Group 

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July 5, 1998 

I approached the idea of returning to work with great apprehension and a bit of a sinking feeling.  Betty’s warmth, sincerity, consistent follow-through, and astounding breadth of knowledge quickly pushed those feelings aside.  I know I’ll be much better prepared to carry out my re-employment plan. 

Simply put, I owe you big time.  Thanks again, 

MT 

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11/28/00 
Betty, 
I want to say yet again how much I appreciate what you've done/are doing.  Three months ago, when I tried to write a resume and contemplated interviews, it all seemed overwhelming - an undoable, despairing task.  Now, everything seems possible. 

Thank you. 
Ed B 

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June 12, 2001
Dear Betty,

I just finished my first semester at ** Law School in May and got my grades a little over a week ago.  I have worked hard to overcome some of my bad study habits and still have a ways to go but I am proud to report that I passed everything.  Approximately half the Criminal Law class got failing grades, but I got a B.

Thanks so much for encouraging and pushing me to go for it.  I know I would not have done it otherwise.  I shared what you told me with a couple of my classmates who were feeling discouraged and they liked it too.

CHH

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