Carrington woman grows with "Girls on the Big Blue Couch®" Coaching

In February 2015, Carrington resident Teresa Pierson participated in the first ever Beautiful Wholeness – a one-day women's event offered by Big Blue Couch® Coaching (BBCC) of Bismarck. Three years and a few twists and turns later, Pierson will emcee the rapidly growing event and take as many women with her as she can.

 "I got a call from my mom, and she said, 'Trese, I saw these gals on North Dakota Today, and I think you should go to this thing they having coming up,'" Pierson recalls. "I was in a season of life where I was struggling and had been looking for a lift. I found them at Beautiful Wholeness," she says.

 "Them" were certified life coaches and best friends, Mandy B. Anderson and Raychel Chumley. The two co-founded BBCC to empower women to live beautifully whole – with intention, purpose, courage and steadfast hearts. Their signature event, Beautiful Wholeness, is a crash course focused on these pillars, authenticity and laughter.

 "I walked in by myself with a whole load of negativity in my head and walked out with a team, a plan, tools and hope," Pierson says.

 Per the coaches' recommendations, Pierson immediately began the UNASHAMED Bible Study authored by Anderson, as she awaited a private coaching opening.

 "The study moved me so much that I asked my pastor if he would share it with other women," Pierson says. "His response was, 'Will you lead a study?'"

 Pierson hesitantly said yes.

 "This was beyond my comfort zone," she admits, "but I really couldn't say no."

 So, Pierson asked Anderson for permission to facilitate a group study in Carrington.

 "I loved the idea," Anderson says, "but UNASHAMED was written as an independent study, so I had to think about how we could make it happen."

 Her solution was a five-session, in-person study in Bismarck, designed as a focus group to develop materials for the future study in Carrington and other communities.

 "I went every week," Pierson says. "I wasn't comfortable with the group setting at first, but it didn't take me long to see how important it is. The healing and growth that occurs when people share with open hearts and minds is incredible."

The next two winters, Pierson led UNASHAMED group studies at Trinity Lutheran Church of Carrington, open and free to those from surrounding areas as well. "Together, we've had close to 40 women participate," Pierson says. "I've learned a bunch from these special ladies."

 Anderson and Chumley were excited about the grassroots response in Carrington and paid a visit to the women involved in February 2016. Seeing the new teaching room at Trinity and the enthusiasm in the community firsthand, Anderson and Chumley asked Pierson if she'd like to take Beautiful Wholeness on the road.

 "This time, I didn't hesitate," Pierson says. "I knew the value of their messages for all women and wanted my friends and neighbors to be able to experience what I had."

 The following October, Carrington saw the biggest turnout of any Beautiful Wholeness event to that point, with residents as well as women from hours away, even other states, making the trek to take part at Trinity.

 Little did Pierson know that her efforts to organize and market the event would result in a job offer from BBCC.

 "What Teresa did in her hometown was amazing!" Anderson says. "Her passion for Big Blue Couch and for encouraging others blows us away. We knew we needed to hire her to reach more women, especially those in rural areas. With her help, our next Beautiful Wholeness event in Bismarck doubled in size."

 Pierson's roles on Team BBCC are evolving as the company grows. "I'm getting involved in a lot of different aspects of the business – public and customer relations, administration, events, you name it," she says. "I love it all, because I believe in the work these girls do. They have truly changed my life, and women everywhere deserve to have access to their services."

 Beautiful Wholeness 2018 is Feb. 17, Mandan, N.D. For more information and to register, visit http://www.bigbluecouchcoaching.com/beautifulwholeness or contact Pierson at [email protected].