Kayla Gatto-Christofferson

I attribute my success to the Highest Power, my children, my resilience, and the professors who guided me throughout my journey, earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology. My faith and spiritual grounding have helped me maintain purpose, direction, and strength during some of the most difficult seasons of my life. My children continue to be one of my greatest motivations, inspiring me to keep growing, healing, and building a better future not only for myself, but for them and the communities I serve. I also attribute my success to resilience developed through lived experiences that taught me perseverance, adaptability, and compassion for others. Lastly, I am deeply grateful for the professors and mentors who challenged me academically, expanded my understanding of human behavior, and encouraged me to use education as a tool for advocacy, healing, and meaningful social change.

The best career advice I have ever received was to stop viewing my lived experiences as limitations and start recognizing them as part of my purpose. For a long time, I believed I had to separate my personal experiences from my professional goals in order to be taken seriously. Over time, I learned that the resilience, empathy, discernment, and perspective developed through adversity are often what allow someone to truly connect with and help others in meaningful ways. I was also reminded that success is not always linear and that building a career rooted in impact, authenticity, and service takes patience, consistency, and faith in the process. That advice continues to guide me as I grow within psychology, advocacy, nonprofit leadership, and community-centered work.

I would tell young women entering this field not to feel like they have to be completely polished before they begin. Many women are already naturally guiding, supporting, and uplifting people in their everyday lives without even realizing they are operating from skills that can translate into coaching, advocacy, or leadership. Growth takes time, and you do not have to have everything figured out overnight. Continue learning, continue evolving, and allow yourself the space to grow both personally and professionally.

I would also encourage women to invest in education and self-development so they can bring something meaningful and unique into their work. Coaching and advocacy have become very popular fields, but what makes someone truly impactful is their ability to combine authenticity, knowledge, lived experience, and ongoing education in ways that genuinely help others. Do not let society convince you that you are not qualified to pursue the purpose you already feel deeply connected to at your core.

I believe some of the biggest challenges in my field right now are access and education. There are many people struggling emotionally, mentally, and financially who either do not know what resources are available to them or do not understand how to access appropriate support. Even when people are aware of the help that exists, affordability remains a major barrier. Many services are still financially out of reach, even for individuals with insurance coverage.

At the same time, I believe this also presents an important opportunity for professionals, advocates, and community organizations to focus on expanding education, improving accessibility, and developing more culturally responsive, community-centered approaches to care. People deserve support that feels understandable, accessible, and realistic for their everyday lives, not just support that technically exists on paper.

The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are authenticity, compassion, integrity, resilience, and community. Much of my work is deeply rooted in lived experience, including surviving domestic violence, navigating grief after the loss of my son, and turning those experiences into purpose-driven advocacy and support for others. These experiences taught me the importance of empathy, emotional honesty, and creating spaces where people feel safe enough to heal without judgment.

I also deeply value education, growth, and ethical responsibility. What began as helping friends and community members access resources and emotional support gradually evolved into formal coaching, nonprofit leadership, and the pursuit of higher education in psychology and social work. I believe it is important to continuously learn and grow so I can support others in a way that is both compassionate and informed.

Community is another core value that guides my work. Through The Onyx Victor Foundation, I have been able to support grieving families through advocacy, grief support initiatives, and community-centered healing. I believe meaningful change happens when people feel seen, connected, and supported rather than isolated in their struggles. My goal in both my personal and professional life is to lead with purpose, integrity, and a genuine desire to help create healing and empowerment within the communities I serve.