Damian Paglia is a therapeutic life coach and certified holistic health practitioner with more than 20 years of experience helping people reconnect with themselves, their bodies, and their relationships. As Co-Founder and Wellness Director of West Rock Wellness, he works at the meeting point of emotional healing, embodied practice, and everyday integration.
He focuses on relational coaching for people navigating trauma, life transitions, emotional dysregulation, or complex support needs. His work is rooted in presence, trust, and attentive listening, and it often takes place beyond 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 rebuilding after treatment, grief, or a period of feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure of the next step. He also supports high-level professionals who want to better integrate their emotional lives and create more balance within leadership demands.
Damian is known for creating environments where clients feel emotionally safe, understood, and capable of growth. Whether someone is learning to regulate intense emotions, explore family dynamics, or show up for themselves in new ways, his coaching combines practical life skills with emotional insight. He often works in collaboration with therapists, psychiatrists, and families.
He holds a degree in exercise physiology and studio art and has studied nutrition and health counseling. His advanced training includes 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.
Beyond one-on-one support, Damian is a community architect. He founded New Haven Ecstatic Dance and the Harmonizer Festival, and he served as a lead organizer for the Under 91 Project, New Haven’s largest public arts initiative. He continues to create wellness-centered events that bring together music, movement, and healing.
Damian is also a trained and experienced co-facilitator in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy and men’s groups. A lifelong New Haven native, he brings deep local roots and a genuine love for the city’s art and wellness culture to everything he does.
“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.”