Damian Paglia is a therapeutic life coach and certified holistic health practitioner who has spent more than two decades helping people reconnect with themselves, their bodies, and their relationships. As Co-Founder and Wellness Director of West Rock Wellness, he works at the intersection of emotional healing, embodied practice, and real-life integration.

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Damian specializes in relational coaching for individuals navigating trauma, life transitions, emotional dysregulation, or complex support needs. His approach is grounded in presence, trust, and deep listening, often happening outside the therapy room while walking, sharing meals, moving the body, or simply “doing life” together. His clients include young adults, neurodivergent individuals, men in recovery or transition, and those building life after treatment, grief, or feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure how to move forward. He also supports high-level professionals seeking to better integrate their emotional lives and find balance amidst the demands of leadership.

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He is known for creating spaces where clients feel emotionally safe, seen, and capable of growth, whether they are learning to regulate big emotions, unpack family dynamics, or simply show up for themselves in new ways. His coaching bridges practical life skills with emotional insight and often includes collaboration with therapists, psychiatrists, and families.

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Damian holds a degree in exercise physiology and studio art and has studied nutrition and health counseling, with advanced training in movement science, strength restoration through ATG Coach certification, and Harvard Medical School’s Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching program. He is also a Kundalini yoga instructor, Usui Master Reiki practitioner, and longtime integration group facilitator.

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In addition to one-on-one work, Damian is a community architect. He founded New Haven Ecstatic Dance and the Harmonizer Festival and was a lead organizer for the Under 91 Project, New Haven’s largest public arts initiative. He continues to produce wellness-centered events that blend music, movement, and healing.

Damian is also a trained and experienced co-facilitator in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and men’s groups. As a lifelong New Haven native, he brings deep community ties and a love of the city’s art and wellness culture to all of his work.

“My coaching is about helping people feel safe enough to be seen and strong enough to show up for the lives they want to live.”