The Hidden Treasure of Grief: An Interview with Laurene Klassen

Laurene Klassen courageously stepped out in faith and went back to school in 2022 to become an Associate Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation. Branching off from her 20-plus-year background in training and communications at Southern Methodist University, she launched her side business, Strength and Courage Coaching, in 2023. She offers two tracks to support clients: one utilizes traditional coaching models focused on career, leadership goals, or vision casting, while the other integrates a faith-based curriculum with listening prayer and biblical principles for clients who prefer a spiritual approach to achieving their personal goals.

The two words that make up her business name, "strength" and "courage," are the backbone of her journey and how she stays motivated to help others every day. It was divinely inspired, as she came up with the name after completing the Bible study, Ready: Finding the Courage to Face the Unknown by Heather Dixon, which covers the first 5 chapters of the book of Joshua. After the Israelites wandered the desert for 40 years, Joshua led them to the promised land. Laurene explains, “The verse spoken by God to Joshua says, 'Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land…” (Joshua 1:6a).’ On the very day Laurene was filing paperwork to open her business, she received an unexpected text from a friend who had no idea what she was planning. The message read: “God sees where you are at and He wants you to know to be strong and courageous. He is giving you everything you need.” It was a surprising and deeply affirming moment that confirmed she was heading in the right direction.

These messages of truth she received define her mission as a coach. Laurene explains her job is “to encourage and motivate others to operate in their giftings and pursue their desires to walk in their dreams. When you think of the word 'encouraging,' it means to put courage into someone. I want to challenge others to recognize that we can’t do anything in our own strength, we need God to lead us, and we need to rely on others, too.”

Helping grieving clients is one way she walks out her mission. Her own experience with grief, loss, and betrayal, all while navigating life’s obstacles, gives her insight into how the pressure of it impacts daily life. Laurene explains that one’s identity often gets drowned out by other voices, and there is a struggle to advocate for oneself and how one is doing with loss. She says, “I want to lend a voice to others because it’s important when walking through grief. Too many people suppress grief, which can lead to severe consequences. I want to sit with the person grieving, and we don’t even have to talk about it….[instead] I gently guide clients to be open—open to God’s presence and to hearing His voice.”

Because grieving looks different for everyone, Laurene encourages her clients to take time to process the loss and find someone they trust to join them in it. Whether this looks like a licensed therapist, certified grief coach, support group, or trusted friend. Next, she wants them to honor the person they lost, like celebrating the person on their birthday, doing an activity they enjoyed, or cooking their favorite meal. Dedicating time to honoring the person’s story is essential because it will give reminders of the “deposits they made in [your life] and that’s gold.” This will lead the person to “...ride the wave [of grief] and be okay to say, 'I'm not okay right now’.”

Laurene paints an analogy of why she finds this process so important. She says, “Grief says yes to the mess. She sits in the mud not because she’s playing the victim, but she’s staying in that moment, remembering the good and the bad, honoring the story and not tucking it away. I believe that’s the very thing that makes her stronger.”

In her session, Caring for the Grieving Heart: Trials and Treasures, Laurene will share stories from both personal loss and everyday grief. She explains, “I’ve learned that when we invite love into spaces, even our trials can become a source of hope for others. Pain is not wasted. Grief can silence us, but when we allow ourselves to process it and keep moving forward, we often find a new strength. That voice we regain can become a gift we share with others. That, to me, is the treasure.”

Join Laurene and our other powerful women speakers in Dallas, Texas August 29-30 for Inspire Her Nexx Chapter, a transformative women’s conference. We intend to speak to women’s spirits, cultivate their souls and pamper their hearts in a space where diversity and differences are seen as strengths and where women can actively participate.

The Future of Connection for Women

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Bridget Basinger

I wrote my first short story in elementary school and haven’t stopped writing since. Over the years, I have participated in different projects to pursue my passion for writing and correcting people’s grammar. A few of them have included creating a lifestyle blog, working as an assistant editor with a local magazine, and helping a clothing company start-up with its story branding. I am expanding these skills as an Editorial Assistant at Her Nexx Chapter because I believe in purposeful writing that empowers others to use the abilities they have already. Everyday moments, well-scripted movies, and classic books fuel my inspiration for what you read here.