Built on Labor and Love: Laela’s GPS Journey

“Being part of GPS has given me the opportunity to both grow in my own practice and to walk alongside others in a truly compassionate and supportive space.”

— Laela Bisgrove, Perinatal Behavioral Health Coach and GPS Facilitator

Laela Bisgrove’s first experience with GPS —introduced to her through her work with Postpartum Support International— was a transformational one. It opened a door she hadn’t realized she was longing for, a space where honesty and love could sit side by side. 

“I’ll never forget that first group. Stepping into a space that was so welcoming, nonjudgmental, and real. The way strong feelings were not only allowed but held with compassion really stood out to me. It was the first time I truly experienced what it felt like to be witnessed without pressure to fix anything.”

That one moment led her to pursue the Winter 2025 GPS Facilitation Training, earn certification that June, and step fully into her role as a facilitator later that summer. Today, she carries that same spirit of presence into every space she holds. As a Perinatal Behavioral Health Coach, a peer mentor, a recovery coach, and a proud mom of two sets of twins, Laela doesn’t just talk about resilience—she lives it.

Stepping Into Her Calling

For Laela, GPS wasn’t just another training. It was an affirmation of her own journey—as a mother, as a woman in long-term recovery, and as someone who knows the healing power of hearing “me too.”

“I became a GPS facilitator because I know the power of being met with compassion and connection during some of life’s hardest moments. When I joined my first GPS group, I saw the room shift when someone spoke up and others nodded and said, ‘Me too.’ That moment of shared humanity showed me the incredible power of this model.”

That, she says, is the magic. And it’s why she continues to show up for others.

“I love that GPS was built and co-created out of love and labor, because those are the values I carry into every space: Love for people as they are, and the labor of showing up, holding space, and building community.” 

Finding the Rhythm of Healing

Laela describes GPS not just as a structure, but as a rhythm—a rhythm that transforms a group into a circle of belonging.

“When I hold a GPS Check In, I see it as an invitation for everyone to arrive fully. It’s more than just a roll call, it’s a moment to say, ‘You are here, you matter, and your presence shifts the circle.’” 

She sees GPS Reflective Listening as the heartbeat: “During Reflective Listening, I take a step back and listen for what’s alive in the circle: The threads of emotion, stories, or shared struggles that connect us. I don’t see reflection as about providing answers, but about noticing together: ‘I hear a theme of exhaustion today,’ or ‘It sounds like courage is showing up in many forms here.’ Reflection honors the wisdom of the group and creates meaning out of what’s been shared.”

And she treasures GPS Grounding as the moment of release and renewal: “I aim to send people back into the world not carrying the raw weight of what was opened, but feeling supported and steady. Sometimes this is a collective breath, a guided visualization, or simply an affirmation of strength and belonging. Grounding is my way of saying, ‘You can take what serves you, and you don’t have to hold the rest alone.’”

A Model Born of Love and Labor

What resonates most for Laela is the heart of the model itself. “If I could share one thing about GPS, it’s that this model was built out of love and labor and you can feel that in every single group,” she says. “GPS didn’t come from theory alone; it came from people sitting together, listening, holding space, and realizing that healing happens in relationship.”

That truth is reflected in her own story: “As a mother, I know the labor of caring for children and the love that makes it possible. As a person in recovery, I know the labor of rebuilding a life one day at a time, and the love—both for myself and from others that carries me through. When I sit in a GPS circle, I feel that same spirit of love and labor woven into the way we check in, listen, reflect, and ground together.”

Looking Ahead with Hope

For Laela, GPS isn’t just something she does—it’s who she is. “My journey as a mother, a person in long-term recovery, and a peer has taught me the power of compassion, community, and showing up authentically,” she says. “I love that GPS was built out of love and labor, because that is exactly how I try to live my life. My values of compassion, connection, collaboration, and equity are at the center of everything I do. They guide how I parent, how I serve, and how I facilitate. That is why GPS resonates so deeply with me; it aligns with who I am at my core.”

And when she looks to the future, Laela’s vision is clear, tender, and strong: “Spaces of healing, belonging, and community where no one has to walk alone.”

That’s the gift Laela carries forward. With one group session at a time, she is living proof that love and labor can change lives.

If you’d like to learn more about GPS training and how it can help you hold space for others while nurturing your own growth, visit our calendar to explore upcoming trainings and resources.