Team of Cancer Care Providers

The Healing Garden is fortunate to have a broadly skilled team of cancer care providers who offer complementary care and use evidence-based, best practices for treatments.

All sessions are by appointment. Please email Chris for more information.

ACUPUNCTURE

Dorene Bowe-Shulman, D.Ac., M.Ac., Lic. Ac.

Dorene has been in practice since 2006 at Be Well and Beyond, an integrative wellness center in Acton. She uses a gentle, effective acupuncture technique to help prevent or mitigate cancer treatment side effects. For patients who need a gentler technique, Dorene uses magnet treatments and acupressure techniques. Dorene is on faculty at the New England School of Acupuncture at MCPHS University.  She has her Doctorate in Acupuncture from the Pacific College of Health Sciences (formerly PCOM) and her Master’s in Acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA).

Ken Cerreto, Lic. Ac., DAc, MAOM, Dipl. Ac

Dr. Ken Cerreto is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He completed his Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in December 2021. He completed a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which included a focused study on integrative health care and pain management, in May 2022. Ken also studied advanced orthopedic acupuncture with Steve Cina and Michael Short. Ken completed clinical internships at the NESA Clinic in Worcester, MA, and the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA.

JoAnn Simon, RD, Lic.Ac., MS

Professionally trained in acupuncture, JoAnn has been in practice since 1983. She also maintains a private practice in Littleton and Wayland, where she offers her training in Chinese herbal medicine and nutrition. www.simon-acupuncture-nutrition.com

Isaac Muffoletto, Lic.Ac.

Before getting his acupuncture degree Isaac graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Wellness and Alternative Medicine from Johnson State College. Where he learned about many different ways of promoting health and healing. While going through his program he completed training in massage therapy. Isaac holds a Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University. Isaac studied Chinese acupuncture styles, Chinese herbal medicine, Orthopedic acupuncture, and Japanese acupuncture styles. After graduating, Isaac completed a course on acupuncture for oncology, which gave a better look into how to use acupuncture to support oncology patients. He is currently a part-time adjunct faculty member at the New England School of Acupuncture in Worcester. Isaac has also completed training to be a meditation teacher. www.mendedrootswellness.com

Karen Arsenault, Artist

A metastatic cancer survivor since 2011, Karen Arsenault has found the creative process invaluable in navigating the fear and uncertainty of the cancer journey.  Through the many expressive arts workshops she has participated in, Karen developed a passion for watercolors and now gives back by developing and facilitating her own Creative Mindfulness workshops and donating her art in several forms to The Healing Garden.

Pamela Powell, M.Ed, Certified Psychosynthesis Life Coach

Pamela has been leading writing groups and teaching writing for over thirty years. She loves the deep connections that can be forged when writing from the heart and sharing that work with each other. Pamela is the author of a novel for children, The Turtle Watchers (Viking ’92), and has been published in numerous magazines, journals, and newspapers. Currently, she is working on a memoir about why she went to sea and her search for her father. Pamela is a former sailor and Outward Bound instructor and is the mother of two fabulous young adults. She loves to read, spend time outdoors, (especially in the water), and be real.

Debra Solomon, M.Ed., Artist

Debra Solomon has been teaching and creating art for most of her life. Debra received her M.Ed. in Expressive Arts Therapy from Lesley University and teacher certification from Boston University.  Debra worked as an art therapist for a number of years in a variety of settings as well as teaching art to elementary school students.  After a cancer diagnosis in 2013 left her feeling alone and scared, she began attending art classes at the Healing Garden. Spending time immersed in the creative process and being with others who share similar challenges has played a big role in finding the courage and strength necessary to live with her diagnosis, As a way of giving back, Debra now shares her creative energies with others whose lives have been touched by cancer. Since retiring Debra creates her own artwork with her works for sale in several local galleries.  Debra is on the Board of Directors for the non-profit organization, Arts are Essential, and is a member of the Healing Garden’s Advisory Board.

Erin Raber, MA, MT-BC, Clinical Care Specialist and Music Therapist

Erin is a board-certified music therapist, clinical mental health counselor, and certified sound healing practitioner based in Boston, MA. She recently completed a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Music Therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Erin’s expressive, voice-based music therapy approach combines theories and ideas from transpersonal and psychodynamic frameworks and ancient and modern music and sound healing techniques from a variety of Indigenous and non-Western cultures. She has also received accreditation through the California Institute of Integral Studies in Sound, Voice, and Music Healing and the Vox Mundi School of Sound and the Voice, and vocal training at the California Jazz Conservatory.

Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, OSW-C, Psycho-Oncology, Psychotherapist

Hester has a private practice providing individual counseling and runs a Breast Cancer Support Group (1^st and 3^rd Thursdays from 10:30-12pm) in Concord, MA. Hester has served as the Chief of Oncology Social Work at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an adjunct professor at Simmons College School of Social Work, and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s first Hatcher Professor of Survivorship. She was the Breast Cancer Patient Advocate for RevolutionHealth.com and now writes a daily blog, “Living with Breast Cancer,” for BIDMC. She has authored two books: Woman to Woman: A Handbook for Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and After Breast Cancer: A Commonsense Guide to Life After Treatment. In 1993 and again in 2005, Ms. Schnipper was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. These diagnoses transformed her life’s work into her life. She has two young adult daughters and lives, gratefully, with her husband in Concord, Massachusetts.

The Rev. Maureen Dallison Kemeza, Ph.D.

The Rev. Dr. Maureen Dallison Kemeza is an ordained Episcopal priest/pastor with seventeen years experience in parish caregiving. She received her Master of Divinity from the Episcopal Divinity School, then earned a doctorate in spiritual theology and ethics in Protestant, Catholic, and Anglican traditions from the Boston College/Andover Newton ecumenical Joint Graduate Program. Maureen is a colleague at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington MA, offering spiritual direction and guiding retreats for groups. Since retirement from seminary teaching and parish ministry, she has savored the time with her extended family, finding joy in each present moment, and has practiced varieties of contemplative prayer, illuminated by the zen practice of facing life “as it is” with curiosity and gratitude.

Brianne Carter, MTS, LICSW, OSW-C

Brianne has been with the Healing Garden since 2012 previously serving as our Clinical Care Director. She provides oncology social work counseling and runs the Metastatic Support Group. She has a Master’s Degree in Theology with a focus on psychology and religion from Harvard University and a Master’s in Social Work from Smith School for Social Work. Brianne has worked for The Pluralism Project at Harvard, in community mental health, and at the Mass General Cancer Center at Emerson Hospital-Bethke.

Katherine P. Benson, LICSW

Kathy is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of diverse experience in clinical, medical, and hospice settings, working with teens, adults, and their families. She specializes in working with people who have traumas of various types, loss and grief, anxiety, depression, adjustment to chronic illness, aging, and caregiving. She is a group facilitator with training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Internal Family Systems, Finding the Deep River Within, Reiki, and bereavement work.

Helene Gagliano, LICSW

Helene Gagliano is a seasoned Psychotherapist and Medical Counselor with a NASW Special Certification in Health Care, who offers her patients hope and compassion during their cancer journey. She offers encouragement and empowerment as you navigate treatment choices. She has a special interest in supporting the emotional healing needed for those with metastatic cancers or those who are post treatment. After serving for years on an Interdisciplinary Medical Team at Emerson Hospital, Helene has a breadth of knowledge related to the course of cancer treatment and how the medical system operates. Helene believes in a holistic and palliative care approach to medical treatment and has presented her therapeutic knowledge on a local and national level.

William Lenderking, Ph.D.

William Lenderking, Ph.D. is a musician, certified yoga teacher, and poet, who has worked in the past at McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and was in private practice for 15 years. He has spent most of his career conducting research in quality of life associated with medical treatments. He participated in a 10-month program for men entitled Mythic Warrior, which incorporated a wide variety of techniques and experiences to guide men on a hero’s journey back to themselves and into the community. He is currently facilitating a Men’s Support Group at the Healing Garden.

Cindy Ryan, LMHC

Cindy Ryan is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), specializing in Expressive Arts Therapy. She is compassionate and respectful of her clients’ vulnerability. Trained in the use of experiential therapy approaches such as art, music, play, and drama therapy, Cindy gives you the option to explore these methods in your session. Expressive Arts Therapy allows you to reconnect with your innate creativity, a uniquely human trait that can be an effective resource when tackling depression, anxiety, grief, relationship difficulties, and other distressing life situations.

Eleanor Mathews, LICSW

Eleanor is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience working with seriously ill patients and their families in the hospice setting and in private practice, as well as in facilitating bereavement support groups. Her expertise is in the area of major loss (illness, aging, dying, significant life change, bereavement) also caregiving and end-of-life planning.

Christine Zinke, MA, LICSW

Christine, Clinical Care Specialist, runs the Metastatic Cancer and Post Treatment Support Groups and is available for individual counseling sessions. Christine comes to The Healing Garden with extensive experience in group, individual, family, and couples therapy for adults and adolescents. She brings compassion and empathy to her mindful work with clients. Along with this, she is a Level 2 Shamanic Reiki practitioner. In the past, she served as the Program Director for The Renfrew Women’s Mental Health Center of New Jersey.

Erin Raber, MA, MT-BC, Clinical Care Specialist and Music Therapist

Erin is a board-certified music therapist, clinical mental health counselor, and certified sound healing practitioner based in Boston, MA. She recently completed a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Music Therapy at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Erin’s expressive, voice-based music therapy approach combines theories and ideas from transpersonal and psychodynamic frameworks and ancient and modern music and sound healing techniques from a variety of Indigenous and non-Western cultures. She has also received accreditation through the California Institute of Integral Studies in Sound, Voice, and Music Healing and the Vox Mundi School of Sound and the Voice, and vocal training at the California Jazz Conservatory.

Sarah Maker, LMHC, REAT, MDIV

Sarah Maker is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT), spiritual companion, and ordained clergy.  She has experience counseling people of all ages and diverse backgrounds within her work in these various roles.  Her counseling has focused on companioning people as they navigate life purpose and transitions, grief work, identity questions, stress management, and wellness/illness.  The work has the potential to incorporate the creative art process and/or spiritual exploration into sessions based upon your interests. In her counseling and spiritual companioning, Sarah seeks to foster qualities of self-awareness, creative expression, self-advocacy, and compassion. This is an opportunity to be curious, play, and explore new parts of self, and to broaden perspective, during these challenging times.

John Barrett, CPT

John is a certified personal trainer who creates a unique fitness plan that integrates your personal goals and assessment results. John is a lifelong exercise enthusiast who set out to help cancer patients with their own fitness goals following his recovery from pancreatic cancer. Also, he is working and collaborating with Nancy Campbell, MS, the exercise physiologist in Dana-Farber’s Adult Survivorship Program. He has completed the Boston Marathon four times and trekked his way up to Mt. Everest Base Camp.

Pam Turci, LMT, GCFP

Pam completed her 4-year training in the Feldenkrais Method® of Somatic Education in September 2020 and is now a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner (GCFP). As such, she is authorized to teach Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement® lessons to groups, as well as enhancing ease of movement for individuals in private sessions called Functional Integration®. These lessons use small, gentle movements to open self-awareness, to which each person brings their curiosity – without judgment – into their own sensations. Bringing this awareness to movement allows the discovery of easier ways to move, with a soothing time of mindfulness.

Angela Raymond, LMT, Certified QiGong Instructor

Angela loves exploring Qigong. Qigong is a combination of meditation, movement, breathing, and massage which helps build clarity, focus, strength, flexibility, connection, and peace of mind. Angela has been a Qigong practice leader since 2015 and is certified in medical Qigong. Class is open to everyone, no experience necessary, and can be done sitting, lying down, or standing up. For something that helps clear your mind, calm your heart and help revitalize your energy, give qigong a try. Angela’s other ambitions include practicing massage therapy for over 20 years, enjoying the great outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

Katherine W. Lee, RPP, Certified Yoga Instructor

Kathie is a Registered Polarity Practitioner, and Certified Yoga Instructor. She offers healing bodywork sessions using polarity energy balancing and therapeutic touch to deepen relaxation and expand inner awareness and harmony. Her weekly yoga classes recognize the need for individualized attention, and provide space for each student to open up her body and breath in a loving, safe, and mindful way.

Nadine Mazzola, Certified Forest Therapy Guide

Nadine is the author of the award-winning book “Forest Bathing with Your Dog”, a Certified Forest Therapy Guide and founder/director of New England Nature and Forest Therapy Consulting based in Massachusetts. Her book, “Forest Bathing with your Dog” combines the practice of forest therapy with our practice of walking our dogs and elevates the depth of both. Nadine’s training includes special knowledge in guiding people of all ages in Shinrin-Yoku, “Forest Bathing,” walks and the body of scientific knowledge demonstrating the benefits of spending time in nature as a wellness practice and an effective way to manage stress. As a breast cancer survivor and client of the Healing Garden herself, practicing good self-care is Nadine’s most important guiding principle for herself. She has come to know the healing and support that nature can offer us through her own personal wellness journey. She was formerly a world professional pocket billiards player competing on the Women’s Professional Billiard Tour and has a business and marketing background. Also, an artist, Nadine facilitates Expressive Arts classes at the Healing Garden often incorporating elements of forest therapy throughout. She works with a wide variety of populations and enjoys giving talks about forest bathing for various organizations. A Massachusetts native who loves spending time wandering and exploring in nature, she is joyous to be sharing forest bathing and creating environments for forest therapy.

Monica Aranguren, LMT, CST-T

Monica is a Technique Certified CranioSacral Therapist (CST-T) and owner and sole practitioner of Vital Core Healing, with an office in Acton.  She has extensive training in structural bodywork and energy therapies and has been helping clients optimize their health for over 20 years.  Her passion and the focus of her practice is advanced CranioSacral Therapy, a very gentle, yet powerful, tissue-based approach that releases tension in your central nervous system, so that your entire body can relax, self-adjust, and naturally free itself of pain and dysfunction.

Through her complete presence, non-judgment, and gentle, nurturing touch, Monica holds a space for you to rest, unwind and soften; connect deeply; awaken to new awareness; release physical and emotional holding and pain; open and lighten; reclaim your spark and true self, and discover your natural direction of ease and balance.

In addition, Monica offers her skills through Telehealth-Distance Healing from the Core® to help empower clients in their own healing capabilities and keep their immune and nervous systems strong while they enjoy the comfort of home.

Jaclyn Delrosario MOT, OTR/L, CLT, CORE 

Jaclyn Delrosario received her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University. In 2017, Jaclyn became certified as a Lymphedema Therapist and since has been devoted to the emerging field of Oncology Rehab. She has an extreme passion for providing rehabilitation for patients with all cancer diagnoses, in all phases of
treatment. Jaclyn believes that therapy is a crucial piece of cancer care that empowers patients to be able to take on an active role in their recovery. She has specialized skills in treating lymphedema, lipedema, scar management, manual lymph drainage massage (MLD), Axillary Web Syndrome, breast cancer rehabilitation, pain management,
compression wrapping for full complete decongestive treatment (CDT), fitting for compression garments, and overall education to improve functional movement and overall quality of life.

Julie Ervin, LMT

Julie is a licensed massage therapist, certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist, and Reiki Master. Her passion is working with clients and caregivers to provide fluid, nurturing, and gentle yet effective sessions to facilitate positive change in the body and to soothe the mind. She is a graduate of the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, completed Tracy Walton & Associates’ Oncology Massage Therapy intensive course, and Hospice Massage training with Irene Smith of Everflowing.  She completed trauma-sensitivity training with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, as well as the Trauma Resource Institute’s Community Resiliency Model workshop. She is a certified ABMP member, as well as a Preferred Practitioner with the Society for Oncology Massage. She maintains a private practice in Leominster.  www.JulieErvinLMT.com 

Katherine W. Lee, RPP

Kathie is a Registered Polarity Practitioner and certified yoga instructor. She offers healing bodywork sessions using Polarity energy balancing and gentle, safe, touch techniques to deepen relaxation and expand inner awareness and harmony. Her weekly yoga classes recognize the need for individualized attention and provide space for each student to open up her body and breath in a loving, safe, and mindful way.

Lisa W. MacDonnell, Muscular Therapist, Energy Worker, Trauma Healer, Prepare for Surgery Facilitator

Lisa has been a licensed body and energy worker since 1990. She integrates her years of study in body-centered psychotherapies, oncology bodywork, energy and trauma healing, and spiritual psychology to guide clients in opening to their innate ability to heal.

Lisa holds certifications in two integrated modalities that focus on healing trauma: Life Centered Therapy and Nirodha Karma Healing. Both address the underlying causes of trauma (any unintegrated negative experiences) and clear the way to freedom.

Lisa’s clients report feeling relief, lightness-of-being, clarity, open-heartedness, embodied presence, and forward movement from sessions. Sessions are 90 minutes in length and take place via Zoom.

Visit Lisa’s website to learn more: www.lisamacdonnell.com

Mary McAlister, Shiatsu Practitioner

Mary practices Shiatsu, a Japanese style of acupressure that supports healing by balancing the body’s energy system. Shiatsu is performed on a massage table while clients are clothed by applying pressure, gentle or deep, to the bodies energy pathways, or meridians, to free energy that has become obstructed through disease, trauma or stress. By harmonizing energy Shiatsu facilitates the body’s own ability to heal. Shiatsu supports the immune system and can help increase mobility, relieve muscle pain, tension and headaches, improve digestion, and promote relaxation.

Mary has been a Shiatsu practitioner and instructor since 1987. She studied under Sensei Tsuneo Kaneko and teaches and practices a style known as Shiatsu Anma which incorporates techniques of Anma, an ancient form of Japanese massage. Mary has also studied shiatsu for trauma release with Michael Deagro. Mary has practiced in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Worcester and taught Shiatsu at the Shiatsu Massage School of Southern California in Santa Monica, Samra University in Los Angeles, and the Heartland School of Massage in Kansas City, Missouri. She was a founding Board Member, in 1990, of the AOBTA, the national certifying body for Asian bodywork modalities.

Pam Turci, BCTMB, GCFP, LMT

Pam is a board-certified Muscular Therapist, in practice since 2005, who practices Swedish relaxation massage, using Positional Release Therapy (PRT) and other gentle methods to relax tight, contracted tissues in the body. She has also been trained in gentle tissue mobilization techniques to release pain in scars. Pam has been trained in Tracy Walton’s method of Caring for Clients with Cancer.

Patty Kitchen, LMT

Patty is a licensed massage therapist, bringing a blend of relaxation and deep tissue work to tailor a therapeutic session for your particular needs.

She earned her certification in 2009 from the Cortiva Institute of Boston. Since graduating Patty has added to her training in the areas of oncology and hospice massage through Tracy Walton & Assoc. Oncology Massage and Irene Smith of Everflowing.  Patty has worked as part of a team offering oncology massage at Lowell General Hospital to aid in the healing and wellness process.

Jocelyn Kasper, PhD, MPH

Jocelyn is a certified Health Coach with a PhD and MPH from Harvard University. She studied basic cancer cell biology and cancer epidemiology and nutrition and has worked at Dana-Farber Cancer Center, MetroWest Medical Center, and Tufts Community Care. She now works at Harvard Medical School and does health coaching on the side.

Amy Noordzij, M.Ed., Chef

Amy is a chef trained at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in NYC, a whole foods-plant based culinary school. She is a personal chef to individuals in cancer treatment and those who are looking for support for healthy survivorship. Amy has a Master’s in Education from Lesley University.