Laurie Bedard has made the 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize longlist for Reaching for Grace Through Guided Meditation — Memoir of an Eight-Year-Old. The shortlist will be announced on Sept. 14 and the winner will be announced on Sept. 21.

If you're interested in the CBC Literary Prizes, the 2024 CBC Short Story Prize is open for submissions.

Laurie is a certified clinical counselor and founder of LJB and Associates Counseling Services. Transitioning from a 15-year teaching career, she obtained her Master's degree in counseling and psychology in 2009. Laurie leverages her unique perspective to author impactful articles in Brainz Magazine and her blog The Psych Prof, raising awareness about mental health and childhood sexual abuse. Besides her dedication to helping others, she is a passionate mother in a vibrant, blended family of five boys (all grown)! Outside of her professional life, she loves snowboarding, hockey, reading and writing, symbolizing her zest for life and continuous learning.

"Trauma and resilience existing together."

"I have spent years working through the trauma I experienced as a little girl. For many years I blamed myself and indulged in self-loathing. Once I started on a path of healing and discovery I realized that many of my breakthrough moments came as a result of guided inner child meditation. The practice has been one piece of the puzzle I have been trying to put back together for many years. I wanted to share that although exploring trauma is daunting and painful, healing can be found. This story wrote itself when I consulted my inner child and asked for permission to share. In many ways, this was her story about how I eventually came back for her."

Take one big breath in.
Exhale out.
Let your eyes get heavier.
Unclench your jaw and relax your cheeks.
Lower your shoulders.
Let your mind take you where it wishes to go.

I'm wearing a red and white checkered dress with a cut away collar. I'd struggled with mother to put on my white leotards that morning; one, because leotards suck, and two, because they made me feel like I was cheese whiz spread being stuffed back into the tube. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I finally gave up and sat there helplessly as she forced the leotards over my legs and added an exclamation point by forcing black strap-up sandals onto my feet.

The winner of the 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prizee will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and win a two-week writing residency at Artscape Gibraltar Point. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.

The 2024 CBC Short Story Prize is currently open until Nov. 1, 2023 at 4:59 p.m. ET. The 2024 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January 2024 and the 2024 CBC Poetry Prize will open in April 2024.