Imagine having a best friend who totally gets you.

You’re feeling tired? They know just the pick me up you need!

You’re feeling anxious? They take things off your plate so you can take a minute for yourself.

You’re feeling a lot of pain? They give you just the right remedy to ease your body and mind.

This is Chronic Pain.

Now, you might be thinking “Hold your scroll, Kristen. Chronic Pain is not my friend!”

But wait!

Chronic Pain can appear to be an overeager, even needy friend — always vying for your attention, especially at the most inopportune times — but it really is looking out for your best interests.

I wanted to get rid of Chronic Pain. And that was a huge mistake.

When I was 14 years old, I started experiencing neck tension and frequent headaches.

My struggle with chronic pain continued for a very long time. I experienced daily headaches and frequent migraines while I was in college.

I spent the next 15 years attempting to alleviate my pain by educating myself and seeking the expertise of others in areas like diet change and functional nutrition, eliminating toxins, increasing hydration, breathing and meditation, movement therapies, massage therapy, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, light therapy, and energy work.

While each attempt was a very beneficial educational experience, still nothing gave me long-term relief.

My body was trying to tell me I was missing something — something really important.

The pain persisted, but so did I! Throughout this, I learned the root cause of my pain. It was not only physical; it was emotional.

Because of responses I had to past traumas, I had developed ways of coping that I wasn’t aware of.

Chronic stress and/or trauma will generate subconscious responses that require conscious reprogramming. Patterns develop as a response to preserve energy usage and avoid repeating pain.

Migraines took me out of my life. I’ve lost cumulative years to them, including the years when my daughter was little.

Once I learned that my pain was here to help me, I began to experience freedom from it. I now live migraine-free.

A little more about me…

I’m an entrepreneur, wife, and momma (order of occurrence, not importance). I have worked in health and fitness since 2001. Helping others form deeper connections and trust in their body has always been a passion of mine.

I feel inspired by moving my body in new and challenging ways. I love biking, kayaking, hiking, and spent many years in the air as an amateur aerialist. I graduated college with a degree in Theatre Performance. Entertainment and the arts light me up. I love cooking for my family — they love it, too, so that’s a bonus!

I am also immensely inspired each day by the clients I work with and the opportunity I have to be a part of their health. I’m so happy to be here with you on your journey to Health Made Happy.

My Training

Beyond the education of my experiences, I’ve signed up for the all-you-can-eat buffet of education. And I keep going back for more! In college, I studied Theatre Performance and Human Biology while separately obtaining certifications in personal training, yoga, and Pilates (Mat and Apparatuses). I went on to receive advanced certifications in holistic lifestyle coaching , neuro-movement, and Reiki. I’ve taken continuing education courses in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, meditation, breathwork, corrective exercise, functional nutrition, and trauma-informed care.