Therapists

Candace Anderson serves as Artist-in-Residence for the Healing Garden, offering many opportunities for expressive therapy using art and nature. Director of ARTS-Art and Research for Transcendence and Survival, Candace is an award-winning watercolor artist and teacher.

Fran Booth, LICSW  Fran is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose work integrates the fields of psychology and Eastern spirituality. She teaches meditation, self-hypnosis and visualization to quiet the mind, develop self-observation, and facilitate the discovery of personal images to promote growth and healing. She offers short-term groups and individual psychotherapy and brings a profound belief in the healing power within us.

Laurie Cohen, MA.  Laurie is a mosiac artist who brings her skills as a psychologist to the process of healing through the arts.  She has many years of experience as an Expressive Therapist at Children's Hospital in addition to her own private studio work. 

Catherine Collins RN, MS, CHES, QTTP  Catherine is a Registered Nurse, Health Educator and Therapeutic Touch practitioner. Therapeutic touch is an intentionally directed process of energy exchange during which the practitioner uses the hands as a focus to faciliatate the healing process. The technique promotes relaxation, alters perceptions of pain, and mobilizes the individual's own healing energies to restore health, balance and order. Catherine also provides Integrative Imagery.

Heather E. Connor, LMT a massage therapist since 1996.  She specializes in deep tissue, Tui Na, and myofascial release.  She has studied Thai massage and Energy Medicine and holds a B.S. in Psychology. She advocates an integrated model of healthcare and mind-body-spirit empowerment through physical activity, meditation, and nutrition as important complementary therapies to traditional medicine. 

Francoise Coyne, RE  Fran is a registered esthetician who offers refreshing and revitalizing facial massages, using high quality, natural products. Fran offers her facials free of charge on the first Monday of every month. 

Blanche Dietz, LICSW, DCSW  Blanche is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who guides breast cancer patients to regain a sense of control in their lives. Her goal is to help clients improve their ability to cope with the treatment experience through the teaching of stress reducing relaxation and meditation techniques. She is also a trained couples therapist with many years of experience in working with clients who have relationship problems. Blanche provides individual psychotherapy and leads support groups at the center.

Sara Feld, LMT,  Sara is a licensed massage therapist in Concord, MA. In practice for 14 years, she is also certified in Zero Balancing and Trager Bodywork, and is currently completing certification in Ortho-Bionomy. During a session, Sara interweaves the principles of these muscular, somatic, osteopathic and energetic techniques. Her focus is to help guide her client to an experience of profound deep healing relaxation and expanded awareness.

Elaine Olmstead, RN, MS, CS  Elaine is a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist who has over 30 years of experience and is in private practice in Acton, MA with Streff Associates.  She has worked with people with a wide variety of mental health issues including depression and anxiety and has developed an interest and expertise in the emotional and psychosocial aspects of medical illness.  She uses relaxation techniques, hypnosis, guided visualization and cognitive therapy and promotes integration of mind, body, and spirit.  She provides individual and family counseling and leads a metastatic support group at the Healing Garden. 

Diane Ouellette Barnaby, RN,CLMTA Diane is a Pilates/dance instructor. Diane, a breast cancer survivor, is trained in Stott Pilates and is a certified LeBed instructor. The LeBed Method is an effective therapeutic program of exercise and movement to music specifically designed for women who have experienced breast cancer. It is developed to increase range of motion and to reduce or deter lymphedema. Diane brings her many years of dance education, her experience as a nurse, and her wisdom as a survivor to her work..

Helene Gagliano, LICSW  Helene is Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in medical crisis counseling for individuals and families.  Helene offers guidance and techniques to manage the overwhelming emotional and practical issues related to a cancer diagnosis.  As a family medical social worker, Helene has a special interest in caring for the caregiver.  She has extensive experience with hospice and patient navagation needs.  Helene also offers telephone sessions when clients are unable to come to the Healing Garden. 

Marilyn Brine Gilmour, MSW, LICSW  Marilyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over thirty-five years of experience in the field. In addition to her work as a psychotherapist, Marilyn has practiced Reiki since 1998. She is trained in EMDR and several mind/body modalities incorporating Gestalt and energy based work such as Tapas Acupressure Technique (TAT). Marilyn has a special interest in the area of emotional trauma and has experience in the areas of hospice and crisis intervention. She is also a support group facilitator for women with metastatic breast cancer.

Kathleen Howland, PhD, MT-BC  Kathleen is a board certified music therapist who provides stress reduction and relaxation programs with music and imagery. These techniques create a meaningful focus and distraction for cancer treatments and surgeries. During an individual session a woman receives a customized recording that she can play for herself and re-experience this deep state of relaxation independently. Kathleen also provides music for Healing Garden events and is available to make music for the sheer joy of it!

Cynthia McMahon King, RPh, Lac  Cynthia is a Registered Pharmacist and Licensed Acupuncturist offering acupuncture treatment and herbal consultations. Acupuncture is very effective for nausea, vomiting and other side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is also helpful in maintaining a good energy level, relieving stress and depression, and promoting emotional and physical healing.

Katherine W. Lee, LMT, RPP  Katherine is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Registered Polarity Practitioner and Certified Yoga Instructor. She offers healing bodywork sessions using polarity energy balancing and therapeutic massage to deepen relaxation and expand inner awareness and harmony. She teaches weekly yoga classes recognizing the need for individualized attention and providing space for each student to open up her body and breath in a loving, safe and mindful way.

Lisa Whittemore MacDonnell, CMT  Lisa is a certified Muscular Therapist and has had a private practice in Concord, MA since 1988. she now practices an integrated style of gentle body and energy work that helps to restore wellness and peace of mind. Lisa's style of therapeutic touch has evolved through her years of extensive training in muscular therapy, Reiki, reflexology, cranio-sacral therapy, Trager bodywork, spiritual psychology and other forms of energy work. Lisa is also certified and trained to present Peggy Huddleston's Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster Workshop. Her primary objective is to help her clients relax more deeply into their bodies, to open their hearts, and to feel more present and alive.

Stephanie D. Meyers, MS, RD is a senior clinical nutritionist in cancer care at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Stephanie's area of expertise is in helping people use nutrition as a major tool in their recovery process. She integrates practical scientific knowledge with strategies of mindfulness based approaches to eating. Stephanie is available for beginning and advanced level nutrition workshops and for personalized phone consultations.

Joan Scialo Rubin, RN, BSN, a Board certified Holistic Nurse and a Reiki, Healing Touch and Cranial Sacral Practitioner.  These modalities consist of light touch with the focus being to assist with relaxation, pain management, and to promote self-healing.  Joan has over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families with behavioral health issues.  She believes in the healing power of nature and is passionate about teaching one how to integrate allopathic and complementary medicine. She is the facilitator of the Young Women's Support Group and the In Treatment Support Group. 

Julie Seavy, RN, HN-BC, MTS  Julie is Director of Integrative Care and joined the Garden in 2004. She brings over 25 years of experience as a nurse with a background in critical care, community health, and hospice. She also has a Masters in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. A board certified holistic nurse, Julie has special interests in spirituality, the environment, and the arts. She leads retreats for clients and health care providers in addition to providing support to a variety of groups at the Healing Garden. Julie has completed the CancerGuide Training of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine of Georgetown University. 

Jane Shustin, MSW, LICSW  Jane embraces an alternative, progressive approach integrating psychotherapy with clinical hypnosis, biofeedback, stress management, and relaxation training. Practicing privately at a holistic health center in Groton, she has been helping people make wanted changes to their lives for over twenty-five years. Working individually and in groups, her methods help to calm the nervous system, reduce anxiety and worry, and restore balance to the mind and body. Jane is an Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis by the ASCH.

JoAnn Simon, Lic Ac, MS, RD  JoAnn is professionally trained in acupuncture and has been in professional practice since 1983. She also has a private practice in Littleton and Wayland and there she offers her training in Chinese herbal medicine and nutrition as well.

Dana Snyder-Grant, MSW, LICSW is a freelance writer and a clinical social worker, specializing in chronic illness and disability. She offers individual and group psychotherapy at The Eliot Center in Concord, MA, where she helps individuals cope with medical illness and its challenges. She also facilitates groups and workshops for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Dana is a writer and speaker on her specialty and uses writing and relaxation for healing in her work. Dana is the author of Women with Chronic Illness: Overcoming Disconnection (1999) and author of Just Like Life, Only More So and Other Stories of Illness (2006).

Marilyn Strong, RN is a Certified Master Reiki Practitioner. This gentle, relaxing technique channels energy to facilitate mental/physical healing. Reiki is a non-invasive, non-manipulative process that may revitalize and restore inner harmony, as well as enhance the creative self.  Marilyn also works as a therapeutic clown, visiting children and families confronting illness. She will make home and hospital visits as desired.

Kat Tringo, LMT Kat is a massage therapist with experience in Polarity and Reiki.  She offers a variety of balancing energy movements during her massage that encourage relaxation and re-energization. She enjoys teaching these techniques, especially those who are new to complementary medicine.  She brings a gentle presence and appreciation for women in transition.  Kat was a legal secretary for many years before following her interests into healthcare.

Pam Turci, LMT  Pam is a certified Muscular Therapist in practice since 2005. Pam practices Swedish relaxation massage as well as Core Integration Movement Massage (CIMM) and Positional Release Therapy (PRT). Both are very gentle techniques to relax tight, contracted tissues in the body. The Movement Massage has been developed from the work of Moshe Feldenkrais. It enables the client to learn new movement patterns that will alleviate habitual contraction of muscles that are currently being strained in daily activities, and can also improve posture and flexibility. Pam has also been trained in Tracy Walton's method of "Caring for Clients with Cancer." Pam lives here in Harvard.

Dona Villandry, Licensed Aesthetician Dona has 25 years of experience providing facial massage therapy. Facial massage therapy is designed to relax your body and calm your mind. Using all organic products, this extensive massage of your face, neck, and shoulders deeply nourishes your skin, eliminates toxins, and stimulates collegen production. Feel the love as warmed towels drenched in aroma oils are wrapped around your head and neck. A hand and arm massage are also added to this truly amazing experience. According to studies at the "Touch Research Institute" in Miami FL, touch in the form of massage during Aesthetic treatments help to reduce pain, mood disturbance (anxiety, anger, depression, confusion) and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Page Wasson, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM) is a certified Shiatsu therapist who has had a private practice in Lincoln since 1997. She “listens” with her fingers and responds to the varied needs of each individual with sensitivity. Her gentle touch along the energy meridians facilitates deep relaxation and restores a sense of ease and well-being to body, mind and spirit. In addition to her education and experience in Oriental Medicine, Page brings to her practice an in-depth background in yoga, anatomy, dance, meditation and competitive swimming.