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Practitioner Profile

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You will be contacted to review your initial profile page to ensure accuracy. Any updates in future should be sent to the email listed above.

See Practitioner Profiles for examples.

If you’re a regular renter of a WCHA office space
Address for your website outside of WCHA. Please do not include social media at this time.
E.g. Mental Health Counselor, Yoga Instructor, etc.
Please limit to 150-300 words.
Please provide BASIC info about your current offerings: e.g. 60 min sessions for $100. You may also provide a link to a class registration page, etc.
Any info you’d like to provide to help people understand your modality. (e.g. “About Reiki”). Please limit to 300-500 words.
Doing this immediately after submitting your form helps us get your profile done quickly & keep costs low.
Clinical Hypnotherapist, Cancer and Trauma Recovery Coaching
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: avinoam01@gmail.com
Phone: 781-492-2294
Office: WCHA Office #10 (Mt. Auburn St. entrance)
Website: avinoamlerner.com
Cancer and Trauma Recovery Coaching

About Avinoam

Avinoam Lerner, Cancer Trauma & Recovery Specialist, Author, TEDx Speaker

Growing up in a war-torn part of the world, where loss and trauma are rampant, I remember this seminal moment, at the age of six, witnessing a woman I looked up to breaking down after learning her husband did not return from the war.

The look in her eyes, of fear and loss, burned into my brain with intensity. I wanted it to go away so badly! But, being so young, I couldn’t do anything; I felt powerless and helpless.

Many years later, I saw the very same look in someone else’s eyes, a cancer patient who came to me for a consultation seeking relief. At that moment, I was no longer that helpless child; I had the tools and the knowledge and could finally help.

That patient changed the direction of my practice and gave it a clear and defined focus – to help people facing cancer and trauma break through to recovery.

I am asked sometimes – how can you do it? How can you stay so present, focused, and content in the face of others’ fears, trauma, and grief? My answer is – it’s what I am here for. I can support people this way because that’s who I am.

As an army veteran, I know the value of discipline and pushing through. Cancer is a battlefield of a sort, which is why my approach is goal-oriented and result-driven. And yet, as a parent of two daughters, I’ve learned to be nurturing and grounded. That is what I offer those I work with, a safe and structured place for healing of both mind and body.

Professional Training

I earned my degree as a Holistic Therapist from the Reidman International College for Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Israel in 2000. I am certified as a Clinical Hypnotherapist by the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) and the National Federation of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NFNLP) in the USA.

Mitchell Kossak
Mental Health Counselor & Expressive Arts Therapist
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: kossak7613@yahoo.com
Phone: 617-926-3221
Office: WCHA Office #3 (Mt. Auburn St entrance)
Website: N/A
Private sessions

About Mitchell

Mitchell Kossak, Ph.D., LMHC, REAT, has been a licensed mental health counselor, since 1994, and a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) since 2005. His clinical work combines expressive arts therapies with body-centered approaches with a variety of populations addressing concerns related to chronic pain, recovery from trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions and relationship issues.

Dr. Kossak has trained in a variety of mind body modalities including Polarity Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Deep Tissue Massage and Bioenergetics.  In Expressive Arts Therapies he has training in, music therapy, experimental theater, psychodrama, and authentic movement.  

He studied Sound Healing with pioneers in the field of sacred sound and transformation of consciousness, such as Dr. John Beaulieu author of Music and Sound in the Healing Arts and Silvia Nakkach director of the Vox Mundi Project.  

In addition to these trainings, he has studied and practiced contemplative based healing forms such as Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Vispassana meditation, and Iyengar yoga for over 30 years. He earned his doctorate from the Union Institute and University in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy and Transpersonal Psychology.  

He has written about and presented his research on rhythmic attunement, improvisation, psychospiritual and community based approaches to working with trauma and embodied states of consciousness at conferences nationally and internationally.

He is the Associate Editor of The Journal of Applied Arts and Health and Co-Chair of the Institute for Arts and Health at Lesley University where he has been a professor since 1999.  He is the author of Attunement in Expressive Arts Therapy: Toward an Understanding of Embodied Empathy – https://www.ccthomas.com/details.cfm?P_ISBN13=9780398081362.

Mary Gail Sullivan
Muscular & Deep Tissue Therapy
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: marygail15@hotmail.com
Phone: 617-926-8871
Office: WCHA Office #1 (Mt. Auburn St entrance)
Website: N/A
30 minute session: $70
60 minute session: $125
90 minute session: $170

What is Muscular Therapy?

Muscular Therapy was developed in the 1960’s by Ben Benjamin, PhD (Sports Medicine). This bodywork system incorporates Swedish massage, deep tissue bodywork, and myofascial and friction therapies.

According to the Benjamin system, in most cases of chronic pain the real culprit is adhesive scar tissue formation. The body responds to soft tissue injury by producing scar tissue wherever muscles, tendons or ligaments are located. When adhesive scar tissue forms, all movement that pulls, stretches or compresses the injured and inflamed tissue causes pain.

Muscular therapy treats a variety of pain, injury, body perception and muscle tension problems. Techniques are used specifically to reduce scar tissue that accumulates because of injury to soft tissue structures in the body.

What is Deep Tissue?

Deep tissue and myofascial work address the muscular and connective tissues using various methods that elongate and alter the fascia layer, increasing range of motion and pain free mobility, as well as releasing trigger points, often called ‘knots’, within the muscle itself. This deep work requires extra time to warm up the tissue, breaking up scar tissue (adhesions), and releasing trigger points. This work is highly recommended to rehabilitate injury or to alleviate chronic pain.

About Mary Gail

Mary Gail Sullivan is a 1993 graduate of the Muscular Therapy Institute (MTI) in Cambridge, MA, and taught at MTI for 15 years, including a stint as department chair of the Massage Technique department. She has been in private practice since 1992, focusing on injury evaluation and treatment.

Mary Gail is certified in the Benjamin system of musculoskeletal injury assessment and treatment (also known as Orthopedic Massage), and has taught orthopedic massage workshops alongside MTI founder Dr. Ben Benjamin for the past decade. She is Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and is a member of the AMTA .

Mary Gail played competitive Rugby for twenty-two years. In 1991 as Team Captain, she led the USA team to victory in the first Women’s World Cup against Great Britain. When she is not chasing after her dog, two cats, parrot or hamsters, Mary Gail stays active with off-road uni-cycling, snowboarding, rollerblading and restorative yoga.

Samvedam Randles
Mental Health Counselor & Bodyworker
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: samvedam@innerartsinstitute.com
Phone: 617-926-1301
Office: N/A
Website: www.innerartsinstitute.com
Private sessions

About Samvedam

Samvedam Bettina Randles, Dipl. Psych. is a German Psychologist who graduated from Wilhelms-University in Muenster, Germany. In the US, she is licensed as a mental health counselor and as a bodyworker. After training in traditional Psychology, she spent several years in India studying and experiencing the Eastern approaches to inner growth and transformation.

Samvedam trained in Wilhelm Reich’s methods of body oriented Psychotherapy, combining breath work with deep tissue massage work (Postural Integration) and became certified by The National Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. She co-founded the Center for Body Oriented Psychotherapy in Somerville, MA.

Samvedam worked as a trainer for the International Breath Institute, Colorado and eventually designed her own breath training, which she has been conducting over the last 8 years. She studied the systemic work of Bert Hellinger, Family Constellations, and is a graduate of the Hellinger Institute USA. She incorporates the constellation approach in her work with individuals, couples and groups. Samvedam is the founder of the Inner Arts Institute.

Peter Wayne
Tai Chi
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: treeoflifetaichi@earthlink.net
Phone: 617-623-1173
Office:
Website: www.Treeoflifetaichi.com
View upcoming classes here

About Peter

Peter Wayne, Ph.D., is the founder and director of the Tree of Life Tai Chi Center, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and director of the Tai Chi/Mind-Body Research Program at Harvard Medical School’s Osher Research Center.

Peter has been trained and certified to teach by numerous internal arts masters including Robert Morningstar, Arthur Goodridge, Mantak Chia, and Michael Winn. During 2000, he studied in China and received certification from the World Academic Society of Medical Qigong.

A seasoned nationally recognized practitioner and teacher with 30 years of experience, Peter enjoys sharing his knowledge of the internal arts with all interested students. He particularly enjoys drawing on the principles of Western Science to help elucidate the ancient principles of traditional Oriental healing arts.

Between 2000-2007, Peter was the Research Director of the New England School of Acupuncture, where he developed and oversaw studies evaluating all branches of Chinese medicine.

Peter’s current research at the Harvard Medical School includes clinical and basic research evaluating the effectiveness of Tai Chi for numerous medical conditions including balance disorders, cardiovascular health, and osteoporosis. Peter’s research has been published in a number of leading medical journals.

Raman Magay
Functional Nutritionist
Structural Integration Bodywork
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: rkmagay@gmail.com
Phone: 978-413-0614
Website: https://www.thebodyproject.me/
Office:
See Work With Me

About Raman

About Functional Nutrition

Through a combination of nutrition, lab testing, high-quality supplements and lifestyle modifications we will work together to address imbalances related to pain in your joints/body, skin rashes, gas, digestive issues–gas, bloating, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, food allergies, food cravings, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, depression, brain fog, adrenal health, hormonal health-night sweats, hot flashes, PMS, and fertility, weight gain/loss and more.

About Structural Integration Bodywork

Acupuncturist, Massage, & Chinese Herbal Therapy
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: jeff@matrician.com
Phone: 617-924-9990 & 617-794-5787 (cell)
Website: https://www.matrician.com/
Office: WHCA office #11 & #12 (Mt. Auburn St. entrance)
Acupuncture (Chinese, Japanese, ear and scalp)
Massage (Chinese Tuina and Japanese Shiatsu)
Traditional Chinese Herbal Therapy in modern extracted form and in individual powdered form
Qi Gong treatment or instruction
Tai Chi instruction

About Jeff

Jeffrey Shih-chung Matrician is licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to practice Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy. He is also certified by NCCAOM and holds a MAOM (Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) from the New England School of Acupuncture.

Jeff currently sees patients at his private practice in Watertown and the Harvard Wellness Center, Harvard University Health Services.

He received his first exposure to Chinese Medicine through his grandmother, whose knowledge of Chinese folk medicine and diet therapy made a deep impression on him during his youth. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a B.A. in East Asian Studies concentrating in Chinese Philosophy and Religion. He has worked in China at Nanjing University, and in Japan for the Ministry of Education.

Jeff has been a member of the faculty at the New England School of Acupuncture since 2002 and also teaches Tai Chi privately and at various sites around Boston, including the Harvard Wellness Center, and the Newton Senior Center.

Zhanna Lee
Holistic Intimacy & Sexuality Coach
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: zhannaradha@gmail.com
Phone: 508-449-0634
Office: WCHA Spring St. #2
Website: www.flourishingintimacy.com

Have a phone call with me
Find Your Bliss: 15-hour Immersion Program for couples.
Build Your Intimacy Skills: Bi-weekly Coaching Program for couples or singles.
Educational Date Night: Introductory Session for couples or singles.

About Zhanna

Former university teacher and occupational therapy practitioner, a long-time yogini, Reiki Master, and personal and professional development coach, Zhanna began to study sacred sexuality in 2016 and started her Holistic Sex and Intimacy Coaching Practice shortly thereafter. She is passionate about bringing more wellness, harmony, and sensuality into people’s lives, and helping couples to create pleasurable and lasting relationships. 

About Holistic Intimacy Coaching

Intimacy Coaching is an alternative or complementary to traditional sex and couples therapy.

While therapy focuses on resolving specific issues, intimacy coaching focuses on education and sexual empowerment.

Intimacy is not taught at school but is something we experience. Intimacy is where we all can use a more wholesome, practical, body-mind-heart-centered approach.

The goal of an intimacy coach is to help clients understand their unique relationship with pleasure, develop better verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and guide them toward deeper physical,  emotional, and spiritual connection.

Eric Jacobson
Rolf Structural Integration and Cranio-sacral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Meditation Training
Contact informationCurrent offerings
Email: ejacobson74@comcast.net
Phone: 617 642 3023
Office: WCHA Office #4
Website: ericjacobsonbodywork.com
Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11:30 am to 9:30 pm

The current fee is $ 230 for 90 minute sessions; briefer consultations are available

About Eric

Trained by Ida Rolf in 1974, and advanced training with the Rolf Institute in 2005. Certified member of the International Association of Structural Integrators. Cranio-sacral with John Upledger and with Edgar Miller. Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – Transcendental Meditation – in 1968, then Tibetan Buddhist meditation since 1974 with Chogyam Thrungpa and Dodrup Chen, Rinpoche. Gestalt training with Irving Polster at San Diego Center for Gestalt Therapy and subsequently with Isadore Fromm.

About Rolf Structural Integration, Cranio-sacral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, & Meditation

Rolf Structural Integration improves the human body’s biomechanical competence in the gravity field by adjusting the elasticity of the myofascial network . This can be helpful in alleviating chronic musculoskeletal pains, and general somatic tension. It can also contribute to reductions in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic distress.

Cranio-sacral therapy does the same for the bones and connective tissues of the skull and their relationship to the spine and sacrum.

Gestalt therapy provides an opportunity to explore how one’s perceptions and behavior limit the ability to have good social interactions.

Meditation training extends and deepens the long-term effects of those methods.