We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Hansen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Laura , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was your school or training experience like? Share an anecdote or two that you feel illustrate important aspects or the overall nature of your schooling/training experience.

Becoming my first client in graduate school was invaluable. In 2020, I had just passed the board exam and needed to reevaluate my desire to work in a medical clinic during the global pandemic. With my life suddenly upended in many ways, including a pending divorce, I decided to further my education with an advanced degree in Integrative Health and Wellness. This is where I got to receive the personal benefits of health coaching. It had been over 20 years since I had been in college, yet the welcoming and supportive environment allowed me to thrive academically and personally. At a time when I could have been falling apart, I found myself falling together. I experienced firsthand what a strengths-based approach to wellness entailed. This allowed me to understand better what my clients encounter on their wellness journeys, ultimately allowing me to honor my skills and creativity to create my coaching practice, Laura Jane Wellness. I never could have imagined going back for an advanced degree at this stage in life, yet I’m forever grateful for the timing and space to keep growing as a coach and create a welcoming space for others to do the same.

Laura , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a woman, busy mom of four, and entrepreneur, I’ve experienced the effects of letting my health sit on the back burner. I knew something needed to change in my own life and also saw the need all around me. After carefully considering what would bring a sense of purpose and meaning to my life professionally, I decided to go back to school to best serve my clients as a board-certified health and wellness coach. Clients can look forward to sustainable and lasting change by entering into 1:1 health coaching with me. There is an epidemic of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes in our country. Many people are stressed out and need more resources for good health. I desire to create a welcoming approach to wellness that meets each individual where they are now. I value my work and the potential it has to shift the balance of health in favor of those who want to prevent or, in some cases, reverse chronic disease. My background of raising four kids and overcoming my own health and personal challenges allows me to come from a place of understanding as a coach. I see the best in my clients, allowing them to see the best in themselves, thus creating a solid foundation for implementing a healthy lifestyle.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

During the pandemic, I started to listen to weekly talks presented by Dr. Ryan Niemiec at the VIA Institute of Character (viacharacter.org). The insightful conversations allowed me to identify my most remarkable qualities and hone those strengths to create my current coaching practice. Understanding my strengths will enable me to lead by example and not get caught up in self-defeating thinking.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Living in your comfort zone is an excellent place to get stuck. I know because I found myself there. I was too comfortable with the status quo. When my life was upended during my divorce, I was suddenly in a new environment doing things that made me feel uncomfortable. As hard as this was, I now see it as a gift…..the gift of possibility. A gift that allowed me to see my humanity in a new light. There would have been a time that I would not have been ready to accept this gift, yet the tools and resources used in health coaching allowed me to create a new resilience that offered me the support necessary to get out of my comfort zone. When you know your strengths, purpose, and values in life, resilience becomes the gift that allows you to move through the zones of life that may hold you back.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurajanewellness.com
• Instagram:@ laurajane.wellness
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-hansen-nbc-hwc/