From Self Doubt and Feeling “Not Enough” to Confidence and Clarity
My Story
Healing & Finding Real Life Balance
At first glance, I probably look like I’ve got my sh*t together.
I’m confident. I have energy. I’m happy. And yes, I’d 100% consider myself healthy in every sense of the word.
But what you can’t tell by looking at me is that I spent YEARS being a people-pleasing workaholic.
I did not know how to create healthy boundaries at work or in my relationships. I didn’t know what made me happy because I was too worried about everyone else.
I was always sick.
I was suffering from panic attacks.
I was permanently exhausted.
And that’s because my life literally looked like this
I broke out in hives.
I carried debilitating fatigue.
My hair fell out in clumps.
Even though I was “successful” by society’s standards, I didn’t like my life. I was unhappy in my relationship and unfulfilled in my career. I didn’t recognize myself anymore. And my body? It was paying the price.
After many visits to many doctors I grew incredibly frustrated. I felt like my concerns weren’t being taken seriously. Instead of trying to figure out the root cause of my symptoms, I was given a prescription for an anti-depressant, a sleeping pill, or sometimes both.
At first, my desperation grew out of fear that I wouldn’t be able to show up full force at work. But then, it was really about my quality of life.
I can’t go on this way.
I had already been diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus as a teenager and I knew there was still confusion about treatments and chronic issues associated with the virus. But I also knew that I felt just like I did at 17 when I was first diagnosed with EBV.
I knew I needed to change my lifestyle and this lead me to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Not only did I learn how to heal my body, I became a certified Holistic Health Coach.
The more I learned in my health coaching program, the more curious I was. I realized there was more to the story than just recurrent Epstein-Barr. I needed to know more about what was really going on with me: body, mind, and spirit.
An acupuncturist and a naturopath were the key to unearthing my thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, and recurrent Epstein-Barr virus—all of which had been triggered by STRESS.
Stress that I created for myself with my type A personality and perfectionist people-pleasing!
Getting a sound diagnosis empowered me to make much-needed changes in my life including…working out every day, preparing healthy meals, and learning how to use essential oils to improve all aspects of my life. However, I still needed to get to the root cause of my unhappiness, that “stuck” feeling. I spent all my free time taking courses and collecting certifications in Transpersonal Hynotherapy, Life Coaching, and even Reiki. And most importantly (and most challenging of all), I learned to create healthy boundaries. (Meaning, I learned how to love myself and stopped putting everyone else’s needs before my own.)
The Results?
I slept better.
I had more energy, but felt calm.
I felt more in control and confident.
And I finally started to see the symptoms subside. It was incredible. And for the first time in a long time, I felt reinvigorated and alive. I was so amazed at the impacts of my lifestyle changes, that I had to pursue it further.
Which led me to take more courses on functional health coaching, mindset & meditation, and I even attended several healing retreats. And eventually, I left my stressful job for work that I love and am motivated by.
Arriving on the other side of my journey
—happy, healthy, and fulfilled—is what inspired me to serve women who are just like I was.
Women who are on the brink of burnout, frustrated, and full of limiting beliefs
Today, I’m devoted to awakening unfulfilled women to the fact that you CAN find your authentic self again. It IS possible to unearth the root cause of your stagnation and cultivate freedom and fulfillment in your every day life...body, mind, and soul.
Some fun facts about me…
Professional Bio
Kristen empowers women to identify and release the blocks keeping them stuck and helps them back on their path to the best versions of themselves.
After years of sacrificing her own wellbeing, focusing more on an unfulfilling career and relationship rather than her own needs, she woke up to the truth—ignoring herself was making her physically and mentally unwell. After leveraging the power of alternative modalities to heal, she realized that there is a way to strike a balance between the pursuit of career and relationship goals and the creation of a fulfilling life. Today, she is devoted to awakening women to the truth that they too can find health, happiness, and freedom in their everyday life.
Kristen holds her BA in Education from the State University of New York, College at Geneseo. She is a certified Holistic Health & Life Coach and holds a certification in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy. As a lifelong learner, Kristen makes it a point to take new courses every year including, Gabrielle Bernstein’s Masterclass Levels 1 & 2, Andrea Beaman’s New Healers Master Coaching Program, the Institute for Functional Health Coaching Program, most recently Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s new program, Whole-Person Health. She is a Reiki practitioner, an essential oils educator and focuses on a holistic approach to healing. In addition to coaching, Kristen uses modalities such as guided meditation, journaling, and crystal healing.