Today we’d like to introduce you to LaShasta Bell.
Hi LaShasta, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My story started long before I realized the relevance of it. I have been a helper of sorts all my life. I started in social work, then special education teacher and school counselor, and by 2012, I started my counseling practice in League City, TX. After a few years, I Choose Me Counseling became a group practice. While being a mental health counselor, I spoke here and there until God nudged me to spend more time speaking and training corporately, as many will never enter therapy. After years of working with clients suffering, battling, and managing anxiety, I became intrigued with sleep. I became a certified sleep coach, aka The Professional Sleep Strategist. In May of 2021, we moved to the Austin area. It was the perfect time to focus on my coaching and consulting practice LaShasta Bell, LLC. Little did I know the desire my husband and I had to grow our family would manifest in the same year. While I was preparing to focus on my pivot into more speaking, coaching, and consulting, as well as creating roots in the community, God had another plan. Sometimes God will delay a dream for a dream, and I was completely okay with that. During pregnancy, I continued to work on the pivot.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Is there such a thing as a smooth road? LOL If you find one, please let me know. My biggest struggles were internal. I questioned what God said more times than I can count. I built a successful counseling practice, and to pivot into speaking, consulting, and coaching was exciting and scary at the same time. I wasn’t sure if people would “get it” A sleep coach. Professional Sleep Strategist? Branding and marketing can be challenging as many people aren’t getting quality sleep but aren’t connecting their issues and concerns to that lack of sleep. I constantly reminded myself of what I experienced personally with sleep, rest, and peace. I reminded myself of the statistics that say at least a third of Americans have sleep disturbances (this increases in women) and that the CDC declared it a health crisis long before we knew what covid was. Most importantly, I remind myself that this is God’s plan and can not fail.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
What do I do? That is such a loaded question sometimes. I am an international speaker, author, wellness program developer, and owner of three companies. I specialize in helping high achievers secure their peace, rest, and sleep by understanding the details of setting boundaries, their rest ethic and relaxation style, and improving their sleep hygiene. I also take the same message and deliver it corporately, whether in school districts, tech companies, churches, or wherever there is a listening ear. I share the value, importance, and necessity of resting, securing our peace, and improving our sleep hygiene. I coach primarily high, achieving women to become true bosses. A TRUE boss focuses on the details of managing time, resting, understanding one’s self, and evaluating their environment to improve the harmony of work and life, increase productivity, and smash their goals from a relaxed space. I also curate Blindspot Strategic Planning Sleepovers to continue the support in a safe sacred spaces to do the work of becoming a TRUE Boss. This is a 1-3 night experience of identifying and addressing blind spots in (understanding self, resting, sleep hygiene, time management, etc ) high achievers to decrease stress and improve personal and professional productivity.
My story sets me apart from others. I used to be the sleepy super superwoman. I was the higher achiever who thought I had to do everything for everyone and had little to no time for myself. Also, my education sets me apart. I am a licensed mental health professional with certification as an anxiety treatment professional and a mindfully informed clinician. When you add my mental health background and training to my sleep science coach certification, it makes me a unicorn of sorts. Except I am real!
What’s next?
My plans for the future are to be. Be present, mindful, grateful, committed, intentional, and disciplined. I look forward to continuing to sleep well, rest, relax, and mind my business, a.k.a. secure my peace. By doing those things personally, it allows for my creativity to continue to flow professionally. This flow has allowed me to launch two apps connected to two on my companies- In the Details and Tri Accountability. As that flow continues, I will complete several current projects, one being my book-TRUE Boss. and support companies in developing mental health wellness programs that truly serve their employees.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lashastabell.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamlbell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamLBell/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamlbell
- Youtube: LaShasta Bell, LPC-S
Image Credits
Monica Dzik (group photo on near pool), Right Time Solution (white dress)
