I profoundly respect the innate wisdom of the body, which is a reflection of the whole person: body, mind and spirit. I see the Healing Arts as a process of vision, heart and hands. Skill and compassion join forces to heal, empower and reconnect us to our humanity.

I have practiced massage therapy for over 20 years in Bay Area chiropractic and acupuncture clinics, as well as in private practice. I also offer hypnotherapy and Reiki to help clients reach their overall health goals.

I studied hypnotherapy at Marilyn Gordon's Center for Hypnotherapy Certification in Oakland, which specializes in the Transformational Healing Method (THM). This method was developed by Marilyn, who has received several awards, among them the Hypnosis Achievement Award and has published numerous books on hypnosis and healing. I also have advanced training in medical hypnotherapy.

I am a graduate of the Amma School of Massage in San Francisco and continue to take massage workshops, mostly through the McKinnen School of Massage in Oakland. I also regularly attend specialized tutorials.

I serve on the Curriculum Advisory Board for the Massage Therapy Program of Bryman College (San Francisco Campus), and have done so since the inception of the program. I am a regular guest speaker to the Massage Therapy students at Bryman College on such topics as, Wholism, Reiki and Working with Energy.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Health Studies from New College of California in San Francisco. This program was designed as a Holistic Health or equivalent Medical Anthropology degree, and covered various healing approaches, cultural outlooks and medical models. My emphasis was the comparative study of Western and Asian systems, including etiology (what causes illness and what cures it) nutrition, anatomy and physiology.

This education helps me integrate hypnotherapy and various massage styles into a coordinated approach that can be based on recommendations from primary care practitioners in a variety of disciplines, as well as meeting the needs and preferences of each client.

I am also one of an increasing number of non-traditional Reiki Master Teachers who believe that well-being is a birth right that must be affordable and accessible to all who will honor and use the energy. I regularly offer Reiki and Chakra classes at reasonable rates as part of my dedication to the healing arts.

In addition to classes, I work with individuals to create rituals and ceremonies that support their healing process and help them maintain balance once healing has been achieved. Ritual can be used to mark important life transitions, such as marriage, birth, coming of age and becoming an elder. My interest and experience in this area is inspired by my anthropology background, which has given me a deep respect for the use of ritual both for healing and for building community. As a minister of the Universal Life Church with over six years of experience, I have created and performed ceremonies meeting many tastes and needs.