From Clients:

"After trying college for two months, my daughter made the hard decision to return home mid-semester. She was frustrated, upset, feeling like a failure and at loose ends for what to do next. She was struggling to find self-worth, to engage in things she loves (like drawing) and the motivation to try anything new. After 9 months of working with Denise, she is more confident and forward looking. My daughter now has a job she likes, has started drawing again, is practicing self-care and is chipping away at goals well down her original list. With Denise’s support she is stronger and healthier than she has been in a long time and we are both very grateful for the evidence-based professional guidance Denise has provided."

–Linda, San Francisco, CA

"As my child navigated the sometimes rocky terrain of young adulthood, it was so helpful for me to work with Denise to understand how I could best assist and support my daughter. Denise brings great empathy, insight, and experience to her coaching practice. I highly recommend her for parents, young adults and teenagers looking for the creative planning and guidance necessary to help young people move forward in healthy and successful ways."

-Kate, Oakland, CA

"Denise Hazen has been an incredible help in guiding my (teen) daughter through her struggles with anxiety, self-esteem, and study habits. They are into their third year working together, and the progress my daughter has made has been remarkable. Ms. Hazen demonstrates a profound understanding of my child’s needs, and it’s clear she deeply cares about my daughter’s well-being. She has always been patient, compassionate, and non-judgmental, creating a safe space for my daughter to express her feelings and concerns. But she also has also been an enormous help to me in navigating these issues at home, helping me to be a more present and thoughtful parent. Through a combination of therapeutic techniques, geared specifically for my daughter’s issues, Ms. Hazen was able to equip my child with tools and strategies that helped my daughter become more confident and comfortable in various settings that would have set her back before. She has learned how to cope with stress, build self-esteem, and engage with peers more effectively which has had a profound impact on her overall happiness and well-being. I am incredibly grateful for this positive influence in my daughter’s life, and I have no doubt that she will continue to thrive thanks to the skills she learns during Ms. Hazen’s unique coaching sessions. I wholeheartedly recommend Ms. Hazen to any parent seeking help for their child."

-- Jennie, Seattle, WA

Denise is an incredible woman—deeply talented, intelligent, perceptive, and grounded. She brings more than 30 years of experience working in international schools around the world and has a rare ability to truly see young people for who they are. Her greatest strength lies in her work with teenagers and young adults, helping them regain a sense of agency and grow into accountable, responsible, and balanced adults.

She has extensive experience supporting young people with anxiety, self-advocacy, and communication—helping them understand their own strengths, express themselves clearly, and navigate the often overwhelming systems of academic and medical support. Denise has an intuitive yet highly practical way of guiding both young people and their families through complex situations.

For years, Denise has been my go-to person whenever I’ve been in a quandary. I have benefited enormously from her insight, wisdom, and steady perspective, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had her support over time. Now that she has returned to the U.S. and is based on the West Coast, she is offering this same level of care and expertise through her coaching work with teens and young adults.

Whether as a complement to therapy or as a meaningful support in its own right, Denise is a remarkable resource. Anyone who works with her will quickly feel what I have felt for years: she is someone you trust, someone who listens deeply, and someone who helps you find clarity and direction when it feels hard to do so on your own.

-- Deb, Oakland, CA

"Denise is very thoughtful and experienced in helping those with autism and OCD, like myself. I really feel like I'm not alone, and that I’m understood as a result. I have now finished my degree and am making money doing what I love most. I’m very thankful for Denise's great support and advice." Age 25, Seattle, WA

"Denise is very wise and excellent at providing advice and suggestions based on past experiences and personal knowledge. I couldn’t imagine meeting with anyone else but her." Age 16, Switzerland

From School Administrators:

"Denise Hazen is a woman of great intelligence and creativity. Her wisdom, experience and diligence are guarantees of success."

- Kevin Bartlett, Founding Director of The Common Ground Collaborative; Former Director of International School of Brussels

"Denise has a strong personal philosophy of child development and education that shines through everything she does."

- Keryn Dowling, Principal at the International School of Luxembourg

"Denise knows instinctively how to make people, especially young people, feel at ease...confident enough to take risks, to challenge themselves, to succeed and also to fail."

- Mark McGough, former Director of Harbor School and Principal of the International School of Tanganyika

"Denise focuses on people's strengths and capacity for learning. She holds high expectations for those she works with and challenges them to reach their full potential in a caring and supportive manner. In addition, she partners with parents to help them better understand and support their children, creating a more positive and connected family experience."

- Maggie Lopez, former Principal at the International School of Geneva, UN Campus