Laurel Blackstone, COTA, Life Coach
BE THE BEST YOU CAN BE!
About
LIFE COACH-
Being The Best You That You Can Be!
New to Life Coaching but have years of experience both professionally and personally in the mental health field.
Worked with clients who had many different disabilities including but not limited to:
Paraplegic, MS, Bipolar, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, Dementia, Stroke, Autism, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer, and Schizophrenia, in various settings.
Laurel Blackstone is a SURVIVOR and THRIVER of Domestic Violence and Sexual Molestation as a child. As well as a SURVIVOR of a Traumatic Brain Injury.
She has been a member of the VOICES survivor advocacy board at Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee, WI since it's beginning in Aug of 2017. It is made up of Survivor’s like herself who want to help make a change in society. They have come together to educate the community about domestic violence and help domestic violence victims learn about existing resources and share their stories. They educate the public about domestic violence, terminology, and resources and get out the message: “Domestic Violence is not okay!” She has been a member of the Engagement and Public Policy Subcommittees and is now the Chairman of the Membership Committee, and the CoChairman of Voices.
Also, a member of the National VOICES Advisory Committee with Alliance for HOPE International. She is on the VOICES National Advisory Committee Website subcommittee. We'll be setting up our Webpage to best help survivors on how to navigate the help they need.
She was also a member of the Board at Bethany Apartments, a transitional Housing facility for survivors of Domestic Violence in Racine, WI. There she was on the Development Committee, to help with gaining funding for the facility as well as other projects to help support the ongoing program. She was also on the Ad Hoc Committee, to discuss all the changes coming up with becoming their own independent non profit organization.
She is on the Public Policy Committee at End Abuse WI, to help get bills either through state legislation or to get them blocked from passing, that affect those who have been affected by abuse.
She is on the National Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention through Alliance for HOPE International.
Several projects she's worked on have been: arranging video projects for law enforcement thank you, video for law enforcement training, and a Non fatal Strangulation Survivor video for victims to see the importance of getting a CTA screening.
She found her writing talent in the summer of 2015 through a writing workshop at Sojourner and through another writing workshop at Mount Mary University, “The Stories We Tell”. This program is sponsored and ran through the Lotus Legal Clinic. She has participated in the writing and art project after the workshop since then almost every year, “The Untold Stories”. Two of her poems were selected to be presented at the State Capital for the Crime Victims Rights Awareness week, where the Attorney General was present.
She participated in the first group of the "Rise & Thrive" project. A continuation of the "Untold Stories" project, that focuses on the hope and strength of the participants since going through the workshop. A local artist made paintings based on a calming place the participants thought of and then also wrote about that place.
Through writing, she has learned to let go of her past and enjoy today! She is an author of a memoir of her life experiences (But I Never Got a Black Eye on Amazon books), author of poetry, and has a blog. She has spoken in numerous places about her experience as a survivor.
Laurel just finished writing and recording a song through the Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project sponsored by the Milwaukee Symphony and written with the help of John Tanner a local musician and co-owner of a music studio, Tanner-Monagle, Inc. in Milwaukee.
She was the 2025 Be the Light Survivor speaker at the annual fundraiser for Sojourner Family Peace Center.
She is the Mother of 4 beautiful boys. She thanks them for their love and support through this healing process. She is an Army brat who traveled through her years as a child due to her father being in the Army. She says she went to 13 schools in 12 years. But, that experience helped her in life to become adaptable. Her big hobby or as she states, obsession or addiction, is Genealogy. She also enjoys scrapbooking, singing, dancing, playing board games, and watching movies in her spare time.
She had a Traumatic Brain Injury in Nov 2015 and continues to deal with daily headaches as well as several cognitive and balance issues. She’s survived years of back and hip pain due to a bad back she was born with, and several falls and car accidents. Survived several cancer scares. Survived difficult pregnancies and Bell’s Palsy during one of these, as well as having a blood transfusion due to very low anemia.
She is also a business owner of Life Coaching under Be the Best You Can Be.
She enjoys her obsession/addiction, Genealogy. She also enjoys scrapbooking, singing, dancing, playing board games and watching movies in her spare time.
But through all of these trials, her faith has just grown stronger! She is a true SURVIVOR and THRIVER in all that she does.
Objective
Visionary Life Purpose Coach with a focus on holistic wellness and spiritual growth. Extensive experience in guiding clients through profound personal transformations using integrative coaching techniques. Emphasizes the importance of aligning one's life purpose with overall well-being. Skilled in creating a safe and nurturing environment that encourages self-exploration and healing. Proven ability to facilitate workshops and retreats that promote mindfulness and inner peace, resulting in significant personal breakthroughs for participants. Committed to lifelong learning and integrating new methodologies into practice.
I play a vital role in helping individuals identify and pursue their passions, values, and life goals. Utilizing various coaching techniques, you will assist clients in overcoming obstacles, gaining clarity, and developing actionable strategies to achieve personal fulfillment. My expertise will enable clients to navigate life transitions, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate a deeper understanding of their unique purpose. In this role, I will conduct one-on-one coaching sessions, create personalized development plans, and provide ongoing support and motivation. I will also facilitate workshops and group sessions to foster a community of individuals committed to self-discovery and growth. By building a trusting relationship with my clients, I will empower them to take ownership of their lives and make informed decisions that align with their true selves.
With over 10 years of dedicated experience in guiding individuals through transformative life changes.
I've been in the medical field for over 30+ years and have been a COTA( Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) for over 10+ years. Working primarily and doing a clinical rotation in the mental health field.
As well as my own personal journey through Psychotherapy dealing with issues of:
Sexual Abuse/ Sexual Assault
Child Abuse
Child of Alcoholism
Child and Spouse of Divorce
Car Accident Trauma
Domestic violence
Chronic Pain
TBI( Traumatic Brain Injury)
Bipolar
Trichilomania (obsessive hair pulling caused by Trauma)
Trauma Memory
Organization
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Grief/Loss
Laughing as therapy
Journaling
Writing as therapy, wrote a book about my experiences with abuse. Currently writing a book about my experiences of Trichilomania ( hair pulling caused by Trauma).
Write poems about my experiences.
Skills used:
Include a mix of interpersonal and technical abilities, such as:
Active Listening & Empathy
Goal Setting & Action Planning
Motivational Techniques
Conflict Resolution & Communication
Behavioral Change Strategies
Conducted workshops focusing on self-awareness and goal setting.
Utilized assessment tools to evaluate client progress and adapt strategies accordingly.
Developed online resources and materials.
Provided coaching to clients in transition, focusing on personal life improvements.
Executed group coaching sessions, fostering community and support among participants.
Conducted follow-up assessments to measure client progress and satisfaction.
Collaborated with mental health professionals to ensure comprehensive client support.
holistic coaching
spiritual growth
mindfulness practices
wellness retreats
client support
community outreach
Being The Best You That You Can Be!
New to Life Coaching but have years of experience both professionally and personally in the mental health field.
Worked with clients who had many different disabilities including but not limited to:
Paraplegic, MS, Bipolar, Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, Dementia, Stroke, Autism, Downs Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Cancer, and Schizophrenia, in various settings.
Laurel Blackstone is a SURVIVOR and THRIVER of Domestic Violence and Sexual Molestation as a child. As well as a SURVIVOR of a Traumatic Brain Injury.
She has been a member of the VOICES survivor advocacy board at Sojourner Family Peace Center in Milwaukee, WI since it's beginning in Aug of 2017. It is made up of Survivor’s like herself who want to help make a change in society. They have come together to educate the community about domestic violence and help domestic violence victims learn about existing resources and share their stories. They educate the public about domestic violence, terminology, and resources and get out the message: “Domestic Violence is not okay!” She has been a member of the Engagement and Public Policy Subcommittees and is now the Chairman of the Membership Committee, and the CoChairman of Voices.
Also, a member of the National VOICES Advisory Committee with Alliance for HOPE International. She is on the VOICES National Advisory Committee Website subcommittee. We'll be setting up our Webpage to best help survivors on how to navigate the help they need.
She was also a member of the Board at Bethany Apartments, a transitional Housing facility for survivors of Domestic Violence in Racine, WI. There she was on the Development Committee, to help with gaining funding for the facility as well as other projects to help support the ongoing program. She was also on the Ad Hoc Committee, to discuss all the changes coming up with becoming their own independent non profit organization.
She is on the Public Policy Committee at End Abuse WI, to help get bills either through state legislation or to get them blocked from passing, that affect those who have been affected by abuse.
She is on the National Advocacy Advisory Committee for the Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention through Alliance for HOPE International.
Several projects she's worked on have been: arranging video projects for law enforcement thank you, video for law enforcement training, and a Non fatal Strangulation Survivor video for victims to see the importance of getting a CTA screening.
She found her writing talent in the summer of 2015 through a writing workshop at Sojourner and through another writing workshop at Mount Mary University, “The Stories We Tell”. This program is sponsored and ran through the Lotus Legal Clinic. She has participated in the writing and art project after the workshop since then almost every year, “The Untold Stories”. Two of her poems were selected to be presented at the State Capital for the Crime Victims Rights Awareness week, where the Attorney General was present.
She participated in the first group of the "Rise & Thrive" project. A continuation of the "Untold Stories" project, that focuses on the hope and strength of the participants since going through the workshop. A local artist made paintings based on a calming place the participants thought of and then also wrote about that place.
Through writing, she has learned to let go of her past and enjoy today! She is an author of a memoir of her life experiences (But I Never Got a Black Eye on Amazon books), author of poetry, and has a blog. She has spoken in numerous places about her experience as a survivor.
Laurel just finished writing and recording a song through the Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project sponsored by the Milwaukee Symphony and written with the help of John Tanner a local musician and co-owner of a music studio, Tanner-Monagle, Inc. in Milwaukee.
She was the 2025 Be the Light Survivor speaker at the annual fundraiser for Sojourner Family Peace Center.
She is the Mother of 4 beautiful boys. She thanks them for their love and support through this healing process. She is an Army brat who traveled through her years as a child due to her father being in the Army. She says she went to 13 schools in 12 years. But, that experience helped her in life to become adaptable. Her big hobby or as she states, obsession or addiction, is Genealogy. She also enjoys scrapbooking, singing, dancing, playing board games, and watching movies in her spare time.
She had a Traumatic Brain Injury in Nov 2015 and continues to deal with daily headaches as well as several cognitive and balance issues. She’s survived years of back and hip pain due to a bad back she was born with, and several falls and car accidents. Survived several cancer scares. Survived difficult pregnancies and Bell’s Palsy during one of these, as well as having a blood transfusion due to very low anemia.
She is also a business owner of Life Coaching under Be the Best You Can Be.
She enjoys her obsession/addiction, Genealogy. She also enjoys scrapbooking, singing, dancing, playing board games and watching movies in her spare time.
But through all of these trials, her faith has just grown stronger! She is a true SURVIVOR and THRIVER in all that she does.
Objective
Visionary Life Purpose Coach with a focus on holistic wellness and spiritual growth. Extensive experience in guiding clients through profound personal transformations using integrative coaching techniques. Emphasizes the importance of aligning one's life purpose with overall well-being. Skilled in creating a safe and nurturing environment that encourages self-exploration and healing. Proven ability to facilitate workshops and retreats that promote mindfulness and inner peace, resulting in significant personal breakthroughs for participants. Committed to lifelong learning and integrating new methodologies into practice.
I play a vital role in helping individuals identify and pursue their passions, values, and life goals. Utilizing various coaching techniques, you will assist clients in overcoming obstacles, gaining clarity, and developing actionable strategies to achieve personal fulfillment. My expertise will enable clients to navigate life transitions, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate a deeper understanding of their unique purpose. In this role, I will conduct one-on-one coaching sessions, create personalized development plans, and provide ongoing support and motivation. I will also facilitate workshops and group sessions to foster a community of individuals committed to self-discovery and growth. By building a trusting relationship with my clients, I will empower them to take ownership of their lives and make informed decisions that align with their true selves.
With over 10 years of dedicated experience in guiding individuals through transformative life changes.
I've been in the medical field for over 30+ years and have been a COTA( Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant) for over 10+ years. Working primarily and doing a clinical rotation in the mental health field.
As well as my own personal journey through Psychotherapy dealing with issues of:
Sexual Abuse/ Sexual Assault
Child Abuse
Child of Alcoholism
Child and Spouse of Divorce
Car Accident Trauma
Domestic violence
Chronic Pain
TBI( Traumatic Brain Injury)
Bipolar
Trichilomania (obsessive hair pulling caused by Trauma)
Trauma Memory
Organization
Depression
Anxiety
PTSD
Grief/Loss
Laughing as therapy
Journaling
Writing as therapy, wrote a book about my experiences with abuse. Currently writing a book about my experiences of Trichilomania ( hair pulling caused by Trauma).
Write poems about my experiences.
Skills used:
Include a mix of interpersonal and technical abilities, such as:
Active Listening & Empathy
Goal Setting & Action Planning
Motivational Techniques
Conflict Resolution & Communication
Behavioral Change Strategies
Conducted workshops focusing on self-awareness and goal setting.
Utilized assessment tools to evaluate client progress and adapt strategies accordingly.
Developed online resources and materials.
Provided coaching to clients in transition, focusing on personal life improvements.
Executed group coaching sessions, fostering community and support among participants.
Conducted follow-up assessments to measure client progress and satisfaction.
Collaborated with mental health professionals to ensure comprehensive client support.
holistic coaching
spiritual growth
mindfulness practices
wellness retreats
client support
community outreach
Packages
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Life Coach?
A life coach helps you dream big and stretch your horizons to create a compelling vision for your life, and then helps you navigate through the course to get there.
A life coach holds you accountable to yourself by holding you to higher expectations and standards and reminding you what you’re doing this all for.
A life coach challenges you to see your true potential and to settle for nothing less than all you are meant to be.
A life coach helps you find meaning in the challenges in your life and give your pain a purpose.
A life coach helps you keep your negative mind in check so you can choose optimism, feel confident, and master a mindset of success.
A life coach helps you stay committed in those times when you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or become distracted by life’s uncertainties.
A life coach is that support system you can depend on when the people in your life are nay-sayers, haters, or don’t believe in your vision.
Coaching—the way we teach it—works on 3 domains:
Physical well-being
Emotional well-being
Cognitive well-being
A real Life Coach is someone who brings health to all 3 domains.
A life coach holds you accountable to yourself by holding you to higher expectations and standards and reminding you what you’re doing this all for.
A life coach challenges you to see your true potential and to settle for nothing less than all you are meant to be.
A life coach helps you find meaning in the challenges in your life and give your pain a purpose.
A life coach helps you keep your negative mind in check so you can choose optimism, feel confident, and master a mindset of success.
A life coach helps you stay committed in those times when you feel frustrated, overwhelmed, or become distracted by life’s uncertainties.
A life coach is that support system you can depend on when the people in your life are nay-sayers, haters, or don’t believe in your vision.
Coaching—the way we teach it—works on 3 domains:
Physical well-being
Emotional well-being
Cognitive well-being
A real Life Coach is someone who brings health to all 3 domains.
Is it worth getting a life coach?
In the same two studies, coaching clients said they found life coaching to be worth the investment. The first study, conducted in 1998, found that 98.5% of coaching clients said their coaching was valuable or very valuable. The second, conducted in 2009, found 99% of clients were satisfied or very satisfied.
Why Everyone Needs a Life Coach
A life coach provides personalized guidance to help individuals bridge the gap between their current situation and future goals, fostering self-awareness, confidence, and action. They offer impartial support to help people overcome obstacles, manage transitions, and unlock potential, which is essential for navigating personal and professional growth.
www.entrepreneur.com +3
Here is why a life coach is valuable:
Clarity and Purpose: Coaches help you identify your core values and align your life with them, eliminating uncertainty about your future.
Actionable Accountability: They provide consistent support and help you stay committed to your goals, often holding you accountable to assignments.
Improved Self-Confidence: Approximately 80% of clients report improved self-esteem and self-confidence after working with a coach.
Navigating Challenges: Coaches provide strategies to manage stress, overcome obstacles, and build resilience, particularly during major life transitions.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: A coach helps identify mental roadblocks and self-sabotaging thoughts, replacing them with a success-driven mindset.
Unbiased Perspective: Unlike friends or family, a coach is objective, providing a professional, unbiased sounding board for your personal and professional challenges.
Forbes +8
www.entrepreneur.com +3
Here is why a life coach is valuable:
Clarity and Purpose: Coaches help you identify your core values and align your life with them, eliminating uncertainty about your future.
Actionable Accountability: They provide consistent support and help you stay committed to your goals, often holding you accountable to assignments.
Improved Self-Confidence: Approximately 80% of clients report improved self-esteem and self-confidence after working with a coach.
Navigating Challenges: Coaches provide strategies to manage stress, overcome obstacles, and build resilience, particularly during major life transitions.
Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: A coach helps identify mental roadblocks and self-sabotaging thoughts, replacing them with a success-driven mindset.
Unbiased Perspective: Unlike friends or family, a coach is objective, providing a professional, unbiased sounding board for your personal and professional challenges.
Forbes +8
Life Coaching VS Therapy
If you’ve considered life coaching or therapy (or both!), you may not know the difference between them. Maybe you’re even under the impression that there isn’t a difference. Well, to sum things up: THERAPY and LIFE COACHING are not the same and each serves a different purpose.
In the match-up fight between life coaching vs. therapy, there aren’t any losers. It’s a simple matter of choosing the right approach that reflects your mental well-being and life goals.
Let’s get a few things straight, life coaching isn’t therapy, although coaching can make use of therapeutic tools.
Therapists Address Trauma and Behavioral Issues.
Therapy, also commonly referred to as psychotherapy or counseling, is designed to be a long-term process between a patient and their therapist. The client works with their therapist to deal with issues interfering with a healthy, satisfying life. A therapist might address problematic behaviors, relationship troubles, and grief among other emotional obstacles. They deal with mental health issues.
You Must Be Licensed to be a Therapist.
Therapy is conducted by a licensed healthcare professional who can help patients confront and cope with a traumatic past, improve their relationships with others (and themselves), and identify, process, and deal with their feelings appropriately. A licensed therapist can also diagnose, monitor, and treat mental health issues.
A life coach isn’t a healthcare professional (unless they are separately licensed as one). A life coach helps their clients set goals, hone in on effective behaviors, and overcome specific obstacles like procrastination on preparing for a public speech, for example. A coach acts as a kind of mentor to help the client focus on what can be changed now and for the future—instead of addressing events that have happened in the past. Coaches can also help their clients come up with actionable steps to accomplish their goals.
LIFE COACHES help you heal from past trauma.
Understand behavior patterns and triggers for self-destructive behaviors.
Explore past relationships that went wrong like divorces, estrangements, or toxic friendships
Guide you through the grieving process.
Cope with traumatic loss.
Help evaluate your unconscious and subconscious mind.
Treat addiction or substance abuse.
Cope with relationship turmoil, abuse, violence.
It’s important to remember that although coaching and therapy may cover some of the same topics, only therapists can treat mental health disorders and conditions.
Life coaches often use therapeutic tools, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Therapeutic Art, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), hypnosis, and other psychological techniques with clients. The word “therapeutic” means that it benefits the body or mind and increases well-being. Using these tools is helpful as a coach, however, it is not the same as conducting “therapy” like a therapist.
Both therapists and life coaches focus on creating positive change in their clients’ lives. But only therapists are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health issues.
Life Coaches Don’t Require License/Degree to Practice
Nowhere in the world have we found (yet) that there is no law or regulation of “life coaching”. Therefore, anyone can be a life coach. NO TRAINING OR DEGREE OR LICENSE IS REQUIRED to become a life coach. There’s a reason why the life training industry is exploding! People just like you are realizing that they can provide valuable advice and mentorship thanks to their unique experience and background. You can even target a niche that reflects your personal interests and history, like helping business leaders develop confidence in front of an audience.
As we mentioned before, a therapist helps you address, heal from, and develop coping mechanisms for problems leading to mental distress. Your mental health could be affected by any number of conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. You might even be dealing with concurrent mental illnesses.
If you feel overwhelmed and unable to function on normal levels, it’s a great idea to find a therapist you feel comfortable talking to. A therapist can give you a diagnosis and has the medical and clinical background to help.
Therapy for the Past, Coaching for the Future!
In the match-up fight between life coaching vs. therapy, there aren’t any losers. It’s a simple matter of choosing the right approach that reflects your mental well-being and life goals.
Let’s get a few things straight, life coaching isn’t therapy, although coaching can make use of therapeutic tools.
Therapists Address Trauma and Behavioral Issues.
Therapy, also commonly referred to as psychotherapy or counseling, is designed to be a long-term process between a patient and their therapist. The client works with their therapist to deal with issues interfering with a healthy, satisfying life. A therapist might address problematic behaviors, relationship troubles, and grief among other emotional obstacles. They deal with mental health issues.
You Must Be Licensed to be a Therapist.
Therapy is conducted by a licensed healthcare professional who can help patients confront and cope with a traumatic past, improve their relationships with others (and themselves), and identify, process, and deal with their feelings appropriately. A licensed therapist can also diagnose, monitor, and treat mental health issues.
A life coach isn’t a healthcare professional (unless they are separately licensed as one). A life coach helps their clients set goals, hone in on effective behaviors, and overcome specific obstacles like procrastination on preparing for a public speech, for example. A coach acts as a kind of mentor to help the client focus on what can be changed now and for the future—instead of addressing events that have happened in the past. Coaches can also help their clients come up with actionable steps to accomplish their goals.
LIFE COACHES help you heal from past trauma.
Understand behavior patterns and triggers for self-destructive behaviors.
Explore past relationships that went wrong like divorces, estrangements, or toxic friendships
Guide you through the grieving process.
Cope with traumatic loss.
Help evaluate your unconscious and subconscious mind.
Treat addiction or substance abuse.
Cope with relationship turmoil, abuse, violence.
It’s important to remember that although coaching and therapy may cover some of the same topics, only therapists can treat mental health disorders and conditions.
Life coaches often use therapeutic tools, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Therapeutic Art, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), hypnosis, and other psychological techniques with clients. The word “therapeutic” means that it benefits the body or mind and increases well-being. Using these tools is helpful as a coach, however, it is not the same as conducting “therapy” like a therapist.
Both therapists and life coaches focus on creating positive change in their clients’ lives. But only therapists are qualified to diagnose and treat mental health issues.
Life Coaches Don’t Require License/Degree to Practice
Nowhere in the world have we found (yet) that there is no law or regulation of “life coaching”. Therefore, anyone can be a life coach. NO TRAINING OR DEGREE OR LICENSE IS REQUIRED to become a life coach. There’s a reason why the life training industry is exploding! People just like you are realizing that they can provide valuable advice and mentorship thanks to their unique experience and background. You can even target a niche that reflects your personal interests and history, like helping business leaders develop confidence in front of an audience.
As we mentioned before, a therapist helps you address, heal from, and develop coping mechanisms for problems leading to mental distress. Your mental health could be affected by any number of conditions such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. You might even be dealing with concurrent mental illnesses.
If you feel overwhelmed and unable to function on normal levels, it’s a great idea to find a therapist you feel comfortable talking to. A therapist can give you a diagnosis and has the medical and clinical background to help.
Therapy for the Past, Coaching for the Future!
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