Meet Shawnti Journal Bae” Refuge | Certified Mental Health Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shawnti “Journal Bae” Refuge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawnti “Journal Bae”, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my brand is that I am very transparent when it comes to telling my story of how I overcame a mental breakdown with the use of talk-therapy and guided journaling. I’m an open book when it comes to letting my audience know about my healing journey.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My name is Shawnti Refuge. I’m the CEO of Shawnti Refuge Journals. I was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. I’m a wife mother of three. I started Shawnti Refuge Journals in 2021, two years after I experienced a Mental BREAKTHROUGH (as opposed to breakdown).

After being put on medication, I decided that wasn’t what I wanted for my life, through therapy, I was able to dig deeper and get to the root of my issues and learn how to heal from them.

One of the coping skills that I learned was guided journaling. Through Guided Journaling, I was able to acknowledge, face, and heal from many issues that I didn’t know I even had!

Through my journey, I felt that I needed to help others like myself, who don’t want medication to numb them and instead want to HEAL!

I show women over 30 how to release, heal & live their best lives with guided journaling. I created and published a series of guided journals named Shawnti Refuge Journals, with topics including self-love, self-esteem, unpacking emotional baggage, & relationship breakups, just to name a few.

I hold guided journaling workshops ranging from beginners to “pros” to help guests work on and focus on a particular topic. I also tell my own personal story of how I overcame severe anxiety & depression after having a mental breakdown. From stages in person or virtual, my goal is to empower women to release what’s no longer serving them through guided journaling.

I recently launched a coaching program called “Stayin’ Stuck Ain’t Cute” which is designed to teach:

*How to break free from self-doubt and step into your authentic power.
*Strategies for setting and achieving your goals with confidence.
*Techniques for overcoming obstacles and embracing resilience.
*The art of self-care and nurturing your mental well-being.
*The power of self-reflection and personal growth.
*The path to living authentically and aligning with your true self.

The coaching program ranges from 5, 8, & 12 weeks and is 100% virtual. The client chooses the length of their coaching, and afterwards, she receives continuous support in the community. For more information, go to stayinstuckaintcutecoaching.com.

I currently have my autobiography, ‘Quiet As Kept’. In this book, my life’s story is recounted in vivid detail, and I do not shy away from the uncomfortable or the controversial. Through my memoir, I hope to inspire and help others who may be going through similar experiences. (QuietAsKeptBook.com)

I never planned on making a career in Mental Health until after my own mental health was threatened. It’s funny how we as humans don’t acknowledge or pay attention to mental health until it effects us or someone close to us.

Once I decided to take my mental health seriously, I hit the ground running; advocating for EVERYONE to take their mental health seriously. I learned that mental illness and mental health are to different things, so I decided to advocate for mental health to educate the world on the difference. I started with creating a series of guided journals to help people who were searching for healing with guided journals. I then expanded to public speaking, telling my own personal story of my mental health. I again expanded to becoming a Lifestyle Coach. A Lifestyle Coach is someone who partners with clients, helping them achieve their goals, overcome challenges, and make changes in their lives. They help clients identify their own strengths and use that power to create the changes they seek.

It wasn’t easy for me to get started because I was terrified at the thought of revealing my mental state to the world & being judged or not taken seriously because of it. Another aspect that made me getting into business not easy was because when I first started out, I was trying to be Super Woman and do everything from scratch, by myself.

Once I came to the realization that I wasn’t able to get the business set up on my own, I reached out for help, but to the wrong people. I was scammed out of thousands of dollars in the beginning, so I had to literally start all over from the beginning to get my business where it needs to be. Starting all over meant doing my research for the best Mentors & Coaches out there. I found them and they are my tribe!

I’m Journal Bae. I believe that you deserve to live your best life being free from emotional baggage by getting to the root of the issue, working through it, and healing naturally. I am most proud of my brand because I turned my pain into power. I didn’t play the victim of my situation. I’m a generational curse breaker and I can show you how to be one too!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My BFF and I are going to MoCity Sports Grill on Wednesday for the “wangs”, drinks, and overall great atmosphere. Any other day we’d go shopping at Katy Mills Mall. That’s great exercise for our bodies and our wallets!

We can’t miss the beach! We’ll go to Surfside beach and play in the sand and water! Since we discovered Surfside Beach, we don’t go to Galveston beaches anymore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to anyone who is struggling with their emotional and/or mental health. Know that you are not alone and there are support systems available such as myself to help you to navigate through your healing journey.

Website: ShawntiRefuge.com

Instagram: @shawntirefugejournals

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawntirefuge/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawntirefugejournals

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shawntirefugejournals

Other: ShawntiRefuge.com ShawntiRefugeJournals.com

Image Credits
Headshots: B2Ful Photography