Rooted in a background of overcoming personal challenges, my life has been a journey of learning resilience and the enduring power of hope.
My name is Laurie and through these experiences, I’ve been inspired to create the Stress Management Academy.
Our goal is simple yet profound: to guide women through the complexities of life with practical wisdom and a supportive hand.
Amidst the multifaceted roles I’ve navigated as a married mother of five incredible sons, including a set of identical twins, and the dynamics of a blended family for the past 12 years, I’ve intimately understood the myriad of stressors that we face as middle-aged women.
Balancing the nurturing of both kids at home, while also caring for aging parents, is a profound challenge. We strive to achieve our professional goals amidst these personal responsibilities, all the while harboring concerns about retirement and the pursuit of self-care.
This delicate juggling act has not only shaped my personal growth but has deeply informed my approach to coaching. It’s from this vantage point of lived experience that I extend a hand to women caught in the swirl of similar life stages, offering strategies not just to manage, but to thrive amidst these pressures.
My story begins in the shadows of developmental trauma, an early life marked by challenges that set the stage for a lifelong quest for peace amidst chaos. This journey wasn’t straightforward or easy. It was punctuated with moments of anxiety, depression, and a significant diagnosis of bipolar II. Amidst these trials, I found solace and strength in the discipline of sports. As a lifelong athlete I have played hockey, soccer, softball, and volleyball. I picked up snowboarding at the age of 32 and have been loving the serenity that nature and the hill has to offer ever since. Through my athletic pursuits I have learned the values of resilience, teamwork, and the sheer will to push beyond my perceived limits. One of my proudest personal achievements came at the age of 34. Amid the bustling life of being a mother to three young boys and working full-time as a teacher, I trained for and completed a triathlon.
Reaching for Grace Through Guided Meditation by Laurie Bedard
2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist
This wasn’t just a physical feat; it was a monumental step in my journey of growth, a tangible manifestation of putting one foot in front of the other, despite the mental health battles that raged within.
On the other hand, education has always served as a buoy, offering me not just a refuge but a path to transform my past into a tool for helping others.
With a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts in Psychology and Counselling, I ventured into the realms of teaching and mental health support with a passion fueled by my own experiences. My career has been diverse and fulfilling, working as an elementary school teacher to working as a mobile crisis interventionist in Montreal and supporting individuals at an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, to engaging in groundbreaking research at St. Justine Children’s Hospital.
There, I didn’t just work in a lab; I was at the forefront of teaching researchers, teachers, psychologists, and mental health professionals globally how to deliver a prevention program developed at the hospital, aimed at aiding teenagers in navigating the complexities of their lives and preventing substance abuse.
My commitment to following my dreams led me to diverse roles, including a cherished position as a college professor of psychology and, becoming a published author, writing articles with practical tools for maintaining well-being for the online Magazine Brainz to being recognized on the long list of a prestigious writing competition. These achievements are not just personal milestones but markers of a journey dedicated to growth, learning, and the relentless pursuit of making a difference.
In 2021, I began channeling my energies full-time into building LJB Counseling and Coaching Services. Today, I not only run this practice but also extend my expertise through contract work with Northern Counseling Therapeutic Services, supporting schools in small communities through the North of Canada with a variety of psychological and counseling services.
My path has been one of facing adversities, enduring failures, and ultimately, forging a way forward through continuous effort and learning. At Stress Management Academy, there are no quick fixes or magical solutions. What I bring to you is the essence of my journey—a comprehensive approach to embracing our complexities, managing stress, and maintaining balance, all grounded in the reality of life’s ups and downs.
Together, let’s embark on a journey to discover the tools and practices that can bring peace among the chaos, enabling us to face life’s challenges with resilience and grace.