Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Troumbly.
Laurie , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been in the mental health field since 2002, driven by a lifelong curiosity about human behavior—why people do what they do, and how change truly happens. That curiosity led me through years of education, earning both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and clinical counseling while working full-time raising my two daughters.
Those years were busy, challenging, and deeply formative going through my own experiences of marital challenges, losing my mother to cancer, while attending college. Balancing motherhood, college, and a career shaped not only my resilience, but also my understanding of the real pressures women and families face every day. Even then, I carried a quiet dream of one day opening my own private practice. I had a dream of pursing what mental health counseling should look and feel like, a spa, a safe place of relaxation and rejuvenation. Not a cold, white walled clinic, but a place where people could feel hopeful.
That dream began to take shape after completing my master’s degree. Through prayer, searching, and a growing clarity about my purpose, I felt drawn toward working with women and teenagers—particularly those navigating overwhelm, identity, motherhood, and life transitions. I had been certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and life coaching, and found that a way to help people was to weave in different modalities, coping skills, and a sense of hope.
In 2019, I made one of the hardest—and most defining—decisions of my career: I left the company I had been working for and opened my own private practice. It was exciting, terrifying, and uncertain all at once. While I had support from some, I vividly remember my exit interview with the CEO, who told me plainly that I would not succeed. Instead of stopping me, those words became fuel.
They ignited a determination to prove—to myself more than anyone—that when you commit fully to your calling, trust your instincts, and put in the work, you can build something meaningful despite doubt or judgment from others. I also truly believed that I, as a woman, knew what women needed and had a passion to provide that for our community.
Since opening my practice in 2019, I’ve been incredibly busy and deeply fulfilled. I now work alongside women, mothers, new moms, and teenagers—walking with them through anxiety, stress, life transitions, and personal growth. Life is hard enough, and it has always been my passion to come alongside people and remind them they are not alone on their journey.
My work is also deeply informed by my own life experience—raising two daughters and now stepping into the role of grandmother to two beautiful boys. These seasons have only strengthened my compassion, perspective, and belief in the importance of mental health support across generations.
This work isn’t just my career—it’s my calling.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many challenges along the way. The most significant have been financial. Starting a private practice from scratch is no small task. However, so worth it building something that is your own.
One unexpected hurdle involved the name of my practice. When I originally chose “Beyond Counseling,” I believed I was in the clear since no one in Minnesota was using it. However, I quickly learned the importance of checking federal trademarks when I received a cease-and-desist letter from a private practice in Arizona that had trademarked the name. I had no idea at the time that I needed to check the trademark registry.
I had to pivot quickly and rebrand. The simplest solution was to add to the word “Beyond,” which led to the name “Beyond the Path Counseling.” While it wasn’t my original vision — I was truly drawn to “Beyond Counseling” — the experience taught me resilience, flexibility, and the importance of doing thorough groundwork when building a business.
We’ve been impressed with Beyond the Path Counseling , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Northern Minnesota and the owner of Beyond the Path Counseling, LLC. It is a private practice mental health counseling/therapy service that offers both in person and telehealth sessions. I am in network with most major insurance companies and am known for offering and providing counseling services to our community. I mainly get word of mouth referrals and networking. I rarely advertise as I have built trust with my clients and community members and receive alot of recommendations and clientele through networking. What sets me apart is I naturally connect with women and teenagers and love building rapport and getting to know others. I see strength in individuals who seek counseling and they truly learn that I care about them and their wellbeing. I was born and raised on the Leech Lake Reservation, and this resonates with our community as well given my native American heritage and history.
Beyond traditional therapy, I would say I am entrepreneurial and visionary. I am a life coach and a Christian. I own your commercial building in Grand Rapids and I have been working on expanding my “Beyond” brand to include coaching, wellness concepts, virtual office services, and community-centered mental health offerings.
What’s next?
My hope is to incorporate and offer more Life Coaching both individually and in a workshop or group setting. Offering parenting workshops, stress, holistic wellness and other mental health related topics that resonate with women in the community.
I also own commercial real estate and have a vision of someone developing a wellness focused brand to include counseling, coaching, psychiatric mental health medication services, and possibly other services as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beyondcounselingmn.com
