Beauty, Grief, And Grounding

Most people go to their hairdresser to look good. A lot of them leave feeling better than they expected.

In this episode of Internal Momentum, Ben sits down with Michaela Grace Coy, founder of Sol Bridal and Event and Grounded You Counselling, to explore what happens when a calling to help people quietly outgrows the chair it started in.

Michaela shares how a childhood obsession with hair and beauty turned into a 17-year career, a thriving bridal business, and eventually a two-year counselling diploma she somehow completed while working four days a week in a salon. She reflects on growing up as the kid who asked too many questions, the family members whose untreated struggles inspired her to study therapy, and the moment her sister said the thing that finally got her through the door of a counsellor's office.

Ben and Michaela explore the surprising overlap between hairdressing and therapy, including the techniques hairdressers use every single day without realising it has a clinical name. They talk about compassion fatigue, what it means to hold space for someone without taking their pain home, and why Michaela believes the hair industry needs mental health training built into its certificate. They also get into grounding, presence, and the simple practices that anchor people back to themselves when life gets loud.

They also go deeper into grief, loss, and the moments that force people into the present whether they are ready or not. Ben shares a confronting personal story from Christmas Eve 2009 that put everything into perspective overnight. Michaela opens up about losing her grandmother at 13, the regret that shaped how she moves through life, and why she believes grief is simply love with nowhere to go.

If you have ever felt the pull to do more, help more, and build something that actually means something, this episode will remind you that the path does not always look logical from the outside.

About the Guest

Michaela Grace Coy is the founder of Sol Bridal and Event, a hair and makeup business specialising in weddings, and Grounded You Counselling, where she holds space for clients navigating grief, loss, and life transitions. With 17 years in the beauty industry and a completed counselling diploma, her work sits at the intersection of how people look and how they feel. She is also a board member of The Great Forgivers, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness.

Connect with Michaela:

@groundedyou @solbridalevent @bymichaelagrace

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Michaela Grace

02:04 Michaela's Journey into Beauty and Hairdressing

04:38 The Transition to Bridal and Weddings

07:03 The Emotional Landscape of Weddings

09:35 Michaela's Drive for Counseling

12:05 The Impact of Therapy on Michaela's Life

14:38 Compassion Fatigue and Self-Care

17:40 Grounding Techniques for Mental Clarity

31:55 Connecting with Nature and Mindful Living

34:43 The Absurdity of the Rat Race

37:04 Living in the Moment: The Importance of Presence

39:40 Confronting Mortality and Its Lessons

43:13 Navigating Grief and Loss

47:15 The Importance of Emotional Expression

49:40 Finding Balance and Purpose in Life