Kirstine Keel

My life began as the daughter of Howard Keel, the MGM movie star in the classic era of the ’50s and ’60s in such notable movies as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate, Calamity Jane, Annie Get Your Gun, among others. As a child, being raised in Beverly Hills, I saw my life through a lens of privilege. The world of entertainment presented an outward sense of beauty and power but for me lacked the internal sense of belonging I craved.
In my search for something more, I had many experiences and learned what it means to belong. Over time I became a wife and mother of five children, obtained a multiple-subject teaching credential, and eventually a master’s degree as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC). I have worked with teenagers, adults, and families who are suffering from mental health issues such as addiction, childhood trauma, depression, anxiety, and the loss of a child. Due to my personal interest in addictive behavior, along with my oldest son, David, I appeared on Utah’s KTVX CW30 News to advocate for the bill that made it possible for first responders to carry Narcan shots in the state of Utah.
Presently, after moving to California, I continue to offer my experience to clients that need guidance in their search for belonging. While teaching kindergarten, 1st and 3rd grade with the help of SCBWI, I wrote and illustrated a children’s book entitled, Marley the Motmot in the Land of Trees. Other artistic endeavors have included oil portraits and my association with an organization conserving the Peninsular Bighorn ram. My art has appeared in its publication of Path of the Bighorn, Connecting a Community. Lastly, I have written my memoir, I Left to describe my experience with embracing peaceful power with learning to love and be loved.