About
Kat Bucciantini
Interfaith/Inter-Spiritual Director
I hold a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University Chicago, where I focused on pastoral care as a way of accompanying others through life’s joys and struggles. Building on that foundation, I became a certified Interfaith/Inter-Spiritual Director, trained through The Spiritual Guidance Training Institute, a program that honors the depth, mystery, and diversity of the human spirit. My formation followed the five guiding principles outlined by Spiritual Directors International, which means I hold a commitment to ethical practice, deep listening, and inclusive, soul-centered care.
Alongside my formation in spiritual direction, I bring over a decade of experience in nursing caring for people across the lifespan, including those living with chronic illness and those nearing the end of life. These experiences inform and deepen the support I offer through Wildbody Companioning.​
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​​In addition to my companioning work, I make art as a way of reflecting and making meaning, and while I’m still growing into the word, I’m beginning to call myself an artist. Many of my pieces are visual meditations inspired by my own spiritual journey and reflections on the practice and profession of companioning. You’ll find some of these reflections in my journal Unfurl and my creative process on YouTube, where I explore themes like embodiment, transformation, and the inner journey.​
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​I live in the lush Pacific Northwest with my partner, Ben, and our dog, Loa. This corner of the world fills me up with its rivers, mossy forests, and ever-changing skies. When I’m not meeting with companions, you’ll probably find me gardening, hiking, kayaking, dancing Nia, or elbow-deep in some DIY project.
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​Whether you're seeking clarity, connection, or simply a place to be heard, I'm here to walk alongside you.
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Curious about how I companion others? Learn more about my training and approach here:
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Spiritual Companioning
As an Inter-Spiritual Director, I am deeply committed to creating a space where you can explore your spiritual journey with honesty, depth, and curiosity. I believe that each person’s spiritual path is unique, and I approach each companioning relationship with openness, compassion, and a reverence for the sacredness of your individual experience. My training in pastoral care and background in hospice has given me the tools to sit with people in some of life’s most difficult moments. These experiences have helped me develop a deep sensitivity to the nuances of grief, joy, transformation, and the sacred in everyday life.
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My own spiritual journey has been shaped by multiple traditions and my own sacred wandering. I grew up within Catholicism but have since been enriched by practices from Buddhism, Indigenous teachings, and a variety of spiritual teachings that honor the diversity of the human soul. I am currently spiritually independent, without a specific religious affiliation, seeking nourishment from nature, art, dance, meditation, and silence. These sources continue to ground me, and I hold that same spaciousness and flexibility in the companioning I offer to others. Whether you are rooted in a particular tradition or exploring spirituality outside of organized religion, I am here to meet you where you are, without judgment or expectation.
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I understand that spiritual journeys are not linear. They are rich with contradictions, questions, and moments of uncertainty. I offer a listening presence, attuned to the whispers of your spirit that show up in the midst of everyday life. In our work together, I will invite you to lean into your own inner wisdom and trust in the unfolding process. This is a space where you don’t need to have it all figured out, and you don’t need to “fit” into any box. My role is not to give answers, but to help you listen to the questions and the moments of insight that arise, nurturing your own sense of connection with the sacred.
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The spiritual path is a journey of becoming, becoming more aligned with your true self, with the sacred (whatever that looks like for you), and with the world around you. Whether you’re looking for clarity, purpose, or simply a place to reflect, I will walk beside you as you listen to your soul’s call. We don’t need to have all the answers, but we can begin with curiosity and an open heart.
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I am a member of Spiritual Director’s International and abide by their Guidelines for Ethical Conduct.
Do you know what you are?
You are a manuscript of a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face.
This universe is not outside of you.
Look inside yourself,
everything that you want,
you are already that.
~Rumi
To be whole. To be complete. Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from.
~Terry Tempest Williams
Wildbody Companioning
My approach to Wildbody Companioning is shaped by my experience as a nurse practitioner and my ongoing journey with my own body. My background includes working in both primary care supporting those living with chronic illness, and in hospice, walking alongside those facing the end of life. These experiences have deeply shaped how I hold space: with presence, reverence, and a respect for the wisdom each body carries.
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I live with a chronic illness myself and have had to slowly re-friend my body through shifting abilities, loss of function, and changing rhythms. I have grieved what was no longer possible, while learning to listen to the new ways my body speaks. This isn’t theoretical for me, it’s personal, lived-in, and ongoing. And I know how often those messages get dismissed, by systems designed not for deep listening, but for efficiency. Too often, we’re met with rushed appointments, a quick prescription, and an undercurrent of doubt about what we know to be true in our own bodies.
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I value the diversity of human bodies and identities. I hold tender space for those who are transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse, and I celebrate the diversity of how we each live in and relate to our bodies.
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I also know the toll that productivity can take on our ability to care for ourselves. I’ve worked in environments where self-neglect was normalized, and I understand how easily disconnection can become a survival strategy.
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Spiritually, I’ve had to unlearn the body-spirit dualism passed down through many religious traditions. I do not see the body as something to overcome or control. I believe our bodies are a vital part of our whole experience, full of information and presence. My approach to companioning is intuitive, grounded, and attuned to what shows up through breath, movement, stillness, grief, and joy. You don’t need to be “at peace” with your body to begin. You just need to be curious. I’ll meet you there.
"I've known Kat for many years and observed her own spiritual growth while transitioning from being a medical practitioner to a spiritual director. Kat's intuitive, creative perspective makes her a wonderful companion for tapping into one's own spirit. Unlike a therapist or a pastor, Kat does not direct nor advise, instead, she helps draw out our own wisdom by connecting us with our hearts and bodies, instead of just our minds. Even in one session, I found new insights that surprised and delighted me!"
​-J.W., client
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