“I want all girls to feel seen, heard, and inspired to overcome challenges with kindness towards themselves.”
Author Vanessa Coulbeck is a PhD researcher focusing on self-compassion, body image and physical activity promotion for young girls. She is also a dynamic leader in youth empowerment and social impact initiatives. Book one of her middle grade and young adult series, The Mirror Diaries, is out now, along with the accompanying workbook, Beyond the Mirror.
Vanessa currently serves as the Director of Research Project Management for RE.sport—a groundbreaking national research initiative working to change knowledge, innovate sport practices, evolve sport access, and improve sport participation in youth sports, particularly among girls—as well as other national initiatives at the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, housed at the University of Toronto, and will be pursuing her doctorate beginning in the fall. She is also a dynamic leader in youth empowerment and social impact initiatives in Toronto and worldwide, and is In fact, the founder of a physical activity tech startup focused on connecting individuals and building communities through movement.
Through partnerships with national and international organizations, Vanessa has developed impactful resources, including sport engagement frameworks, body image programming, and school-based physical activity projects promoting wellness for youth, which she has presented in international spaces to drive systemic change. As she engaged in this work with various charity organizations, including one of Strong Girl Publishing’s favorite organizations, Fast and Female, she facilitated programming for girls and continues to work with the organization as they develop more initiatives around body image. In doing this work and connecting directly with young women, she has seen how these shifts in thinking could help them embrace themselves and recognize their potential. She also saw this shift through leading sessions with Big Brothers and Big Sisters youth. The idea for the book series stemmed from her desire to share these messages and resources with a broader audience.
Vanessa’s own athletic journey began early, excelling as a provincial soccer player and competing in national championships. She also thrived in basketball, volleyball, and track and field, holding the 100m sprint record in London elementary schools for five consecutive years. However, her path was not without challenges. Injuries distanced her from competitive sport, but she reconnected with the transformative power of physical activity through volunteer and research initiatives during university.
Vanessa’s work with body image and self-compassion, which has been built on research first done by Dr. Kristen Neff, and inspired by her supervisors in the space Dr. Catherine Sabiston, Dr. Eva Pila, and mentor Dr. Zali Yager, will be highlighted in the books. Utilizing research-based tactics for improving and developing a better relationship with self to the pages so that girls can not just read about other girls experiencing similar challenges, they’ll also discover tools to help them through the tough moments. These books are part of a larger mission to dismantle barriers to mental and physical well-being for young girls, particularly within school and sport settings. By fostering this sense of self-compassion, Vanessa aims to create a ripple effect of empowerment that extends far beyond the page.
Vanessa believes sport is a powerful platform for girls to express themselves, build resilience, and experience joy. Combined with education, it equips them to challenge stereotypes, dismantle barriers, and lead meaningful change in their communities. She envisions a future where every girl has the confidence, resilience, and opportunities to reach their full potential, with sport serving as a catalyst for growth, empowerment, and equality. Through her work, Vanessa continues to champion initiatives that empower girls to believe in their abilities, appreciate their bodies, and build supportive, inclusive communities—a mission that Strong Girl Publishing wholeheartedly shares.
The Mirror Diaries: Finding Grace
by Vanessa Coulbeck
In book 1 of the Mirror Diaries series, Grace isn't sure who she is, or how to feel good in her own skin and embrace the girl she sees in the mirror. Is she the sporty girl who loves competition, like her friend Emma? The smart one with all the answers, like Lilly? Or maybe the effortlessly funny one, like her new friend Anna? And when it comes to showing up with confidence for anything, from tryouts to her new volunteering gig, the questions only get louder.
Everyone around her seems to know exactly who they are, but Grace just feels... invisible.
That is, until she finds a mysterious mirror hidden in her attic (yes, really!) and gets a surprise journaling assignment from her teacher that sends her on the ultimate quest. Suddenly, Grace is on a journey she didn't expect: to not only figure out who she is but to learn how to be kinder to the girl she sees in the mirror.
With friendship ups and downs, navigating the pressures of being a young girl, tryouts that test her courage, and some major self-discovery moments (plus a few laugh-out-loud fails), Grace begins to realize that being herself is her true superpower.
For anyone who's ever wondered where they fit in, Grace's journey will feel familiar-and maybe even spark some self-reflection! -as she discovers her unique self through the power of self-compassion, empowering exercises and reflections.
Developed by body image and physical activity researcher and advocate Vanessa Coulbeck, Finding Grace invites young readers to explore self-compassion and body acceptance—and discover their own inner strengths—alongside Grace as she goes on this journey.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Vanessa Coulbeck is a researcher and advocate passionate about empowering girls through body image, self-compassion, and movement. She has worked with national and international organizations to develop educational tools and evidence-informed strategies that promote body acceptance, self-compassion and inclusive physical activity. Drawing from her experience in research, innovation and social impact initiatives, Vanessa aims to inspire real change that supports girls’ confidence and well-being. She has shared her work at national and global conferences and continues to lead and advise on initiatives that foster empowerment and positive movement experiences for girls and women.
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Mirror Diaries References and Resources
The worksheets and exercises in this workbook are evidence-informed and draw upon research across several key themes: body appreciation and functionality, self-compassion and mindfulness, positive psychology interventions, and social-psychological strategies.
Body Appreciation and Functionality
- Alleva, J.M., & Tylka, T.L. (2021). Body functionality: A review of the literature. Body Image, 36, 149-171.
- Seekis, V., Bradley, G. L., & Duffy, A. (2017). The effectiveness of self-compassion and self-esteem writing tasks in reducing body image concerns. Body Image, 23, 206-213.
Self-Compassion and Mindfulness
- Neff, K. D. (2023). Self-Compassion: Theory, Method, Research, and Intervention. Annual Review of Psychology, 74:193-217.
- Neff, K. D. (2009). The role of self-compassion in development: A healthier way to relate to oneself. Human development, 52(4), 211.
- Petrocchi, N., Ottaviani, C., & Couyoumdjian, A. (2017). Compassion at the mirror: Exposure to a mirror increases the efficacy of a self-compassion manipulation in enhancing soothing positive affect and heart rate variability. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(6), 525-536.
Positive Psychology and Well-being Interventions
- Broderick, P. C., & Metz, S. (2009). Learning to BREATHE: A pilot trial of a mindfulness curriculum for adolescents. Advances in school mental health promotion, 2(1), 35-46.
- Froh, J. J., Kashdan, T. B., Ozimkowski, K. M., & Miller, N. (2009). Who benefits the most from a gratitude intervention in children and adolescents? Examining positive affect as a moderator. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(5), 408-422.
- Owens, R. L., & Patterson, M. M. (2013). Positive psychological interventions for children: A comparison of gratitude and best possible selves approaches. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 174(4), 403-428.
- Howell, A. J. (2017). Self-affirmation theory and the science of well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 18, 293-311.
- Tylka, T. L. (2011). Positive psychology perspectives on body image.
Social-Psychological Strategies
Cuddy, Amy J.C., Caroline A. Wilmuth, and Dana R. Carney. (2012). The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation. Harvard Business School Working Paper No. 13-027.