METHODOLOGY: 56 patients with a physician confirmed diagnosis of a cardiovascular disease will be recruited through clinic referrals and community-based study advertisement. Inclusion criteria are: (a) moderate stress (stress subscale score of 15 or more on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale), (b) at least 18 years of age, (c) not participated in a stress management intervention in the past year, (e) regular access to a computer with internet and e-mail capabilities, and (f) reports understanding English or French. Eligibility will be confirmed mainly by self-report at the time of a screening interview. After completing their consent form and baseline questionnaire (T0), participants will be randomized to either: (a) a 6-week self-directed, web-based stress management program or (b) the same program plus weekly lay coaching. At the end of 6 weeks, intervention response will be assessed (T1 questionnaire), and non-responders will include those who have a stress score that did not improve (i.e., less than 50% decrease) or have a stress score above the cut-off point for mild stress (primary tailoring variable). In both groups, non-responders will then be randomized a second time to either (a) continue with their first stage program or (b) professionally-led motivational interviewing for another 6 weeks. During this time, responders will continue their first stage programs. The internet-based stress management program is available through my Health CheckUp. All participants will then complete their 12-13 weeks follow-up questionnaire (T2) to examine changes in stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), anxiety, depression, illness appraisal, self-efficacy, physical activity, and coping (secondary outcomes). Acceptability will be assessed by the satisfaction measure included in the follow-up questionnaire and further explored during an exit interview with participants. Feasibility measures will focus on the characteristics of the participants reached, protocol fidelity, percent of missing data, and recruitment and retention rates.