For as long as I can remember, I have had an ache within me that yearned to belong. From a young age, I could sense that I was different from those around me. I unconsciously became a chameleon that was skilled at giving people what they seemed to want.
I did not feel safe
to be me.
Alongside the chameleon,
I had a rebellious spirit.
I knew in my heart I was a leader.
On the outside, I was perceived as
confident, strong, and bold.
On the inside, I felt passionate, yet contained, caring, yet detached.
More than anything
I felt alone.
Around 14 is also when I had a spiritual awakening of sorts. It was a subtle sort of knowing that came in with great clarity that I was a spiritual being, that we all were. I did not grow up with any religious or spiritual influence from my family.
I just knew.
This knowing was a spark that continued to be fanned into a bright fire within me. I began to seek communities that could foster the inquisitive stirring I had. For years, I traveled far and wide seeking, finding, and seeking some more.
I was looking for something outside of me
to tell me I was worthy of being all of me …
It became evident I was tapped into my innate healing capacities. For years, personally and professionally, I attempted to “fix” others’ problems (that is how we are conditioned after all) unknowingly thinking this would bridge the gap
in my heart and dissolve the guard I had so well assembled.
My comfort zone was
in the spiritual realms.
It was time to come home to my body.
Like many women, I experienced sexual trauma as a girl.
It took me many years to have compassion for this little girl within me and not blame myself.
(It is often still my immediate default to blame myself for most things.)
debilitating
self-shaming & blaming
that kept me
contained & small.
One of my chronic conditions has been
Coming home to my body, my femininity, and my sexuality has been an arduous and subtle journey.
It became about creating safety within myself, for myself.
It has been a journey of
becoming a master boundary setter
(still a work in progress) &
being my greatest advocate and protector.
I have a profound curiosity about the body and understanding this magnificent vessel.
I contemplated going to med school and opted not to as I was aware of the limitations of the conventional medical system (plus I was a touring musician.) I sensed an even more expansive and comprehensive relationship to healing than these systems taught. I spent many years exploring and learning alternative healing modalities that came closer to what I sensed was possible.
Still, I knew there was more.
One of my biggest desires is to have a system of healthcare where all are encouraged to believe in their body’s innate healing capacity and where being the expert of our bodies’ whispers, needs, and desires is the norm - A non-hierarchical system where patients & providers are collaborators on a respectful journey of discovery.
The Wheel of Whole Body Healing is
an answer to this desire.
PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY
Kristen D’Amato believes every person has valuable gifts and talents that contribute to the well-being of the global community. Upliftment is at the heart of all the work she shares.
Kristen is keynote speaker, educator, and author. Over a decade ago, she created the Wheel of Whole Body Healing, a health and wellness model that places the power of wellness back into the hands, hearts, and minds of the individual so they can become confident co-creators in their healing journey. This evolving model has deeply impacted the lives of those who have integrated the philosophy of the Wheel into their lives.
Kristen is the founder and CEO of Come to Life, a business dedicated to inspiring change in healthcare through educating providers and patients about the Wheel of Whole Body Healing. Her decade as a wellness practitioner informed theWheel and her newest book, We Choose Love: Redefining Our Relationship to Healing - An empowered approach to chronic conditions & beyond.
Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in music theory and composition, and painting. She earned her master’s degree in mind-body medicine with a certificate in contemplative end-of-life care. Her doctoral research, in the field of mind-body medicine, explores themes of the relationship between belonging, grief, and chronic conditions.
In addition to her work with Come to Life, Kristen has guided women for several years through facilitating grief rituals and practices that help them feel more at home in their bodies. She completed a 500-hour certification in sex and relationship coaching and is a trained energy medicine practitioner.
Her first book, Food for the Light Body: simple plant-based & gluten-free recipes for the body & soul, is a cookbook that is the culmination of several years of professionally working with food as medicine. It offers a seasonal collection of fast, simple-to-make recipes inspired by international cuisines.
Kristen is a plant-based artist, conservationist, rebel heart, and mother of two gorgeous children. She currently resides oceanside in Los Angeles.