Before becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist through the Bancroft School of Massage, Marissa created and instructed a yoga practice for 17 years based on the Astanga, Vinyasa, and Iyengar methods. Prior to and during those 17 years, Marissa was trained as a professional dancer and holds both a High School degree in the performing arts as well as a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University. In addition to being a massage therapist and yoga instructor, Marissa is a trained ALACE doula and CAPPA certified childbirth educator. She uses these certifications as well as extensive training in prenatal massage through the MotherTouch Massage Therapy certification training, to bring comfort to her prenatal and postpartum clients. Marissa is an Abdominal Therapist, which is a technique for men and women hoping to heal from gastrointestinal discomforts and reproductive pathology. It is especially beneficial for women preconception through postpartum.
Marissa has spent her lifetime in the care of people at different stages of their lives. This includes raising her 2 boys and step daughter.
Marissa’s career focus is on rehabilitating mobility, grace and comfort through the generation of strength, flexibility, and relaxation. She intends to assist her clients to feel balanced through a holistic approach to passive and active movement both on and off the massage table.
Contact Marissa directly by emailing marissa@steppingstoneacu.com.
Before becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist through the Bancroft School of Massage, Marissa crea...
Read More
Erica graduated with a BA (with honors) from Hofstra University in 1999 and an AOS (with honors) from New York College of Health Professions in 2003. Erica is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association, and is licensed to practice massage in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. At New York College, Erica’s education included studies in both Western (Swedish) massage as well as Eastern (AMMA), aromatherapy, deep tissue, and sports massage techniques.
Erica has been practicing Abdominal Therapy since 2011, and had the honor of traveling to Belize to study with Dr. Rosita Arvigo. Erica is an Abdominal Therapy Educator, and has also trained additionally in fertility enhancement and pre/postnatal care. Erica is available to teach private and group classes, seminars, retreats and lectures.
Erica’s primary focus is supporting women throughout the childbearing years, but she also finds joy in helping “weekend warriors” and “average Joes” break through repetitive pain patterns and injury.
Erica is also a competitive amateur ballroom dancer and loves spending time with her husband and daughter.
Contact Erica directly by emailing erica@steppingstoneacu.com.
Erica graduated with a BA (with honors) from Hofstra University in 1999 and an AOS (with honors) ...
Read More
Maryssa’s passion has always been to help others. Prior to her massage career, she worked for 12 years as an infant and preschool teacher. In 2014, Maryssa realized she could turn her life-long love of massage therapy into a full-time career. She attended the Cortiva Institute of Massage Therapy in Watertown, Massachusetts, gaining over 700 hours of massage training. After securing her massage license, she worked as a Massage Therapist with Wellbridge Physical Therapy, learning how to treat patients with chronic and acute conditions. Maryssa is thrilled to be a part of the Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness Therapy Team to continue her pursuit of effective clinical work.
Maryssa’s treatments are always individually customized to each patient’s needs. Her modalities include Swedish/Relaxation, sports massage and myofascial release. On her way towards Neuromuscular Therapy certification, she completed the lower extremity continuing education course (i.e. cervical spine, hip, leg, and foot) with Precision Neuromuscular Therapy.
When she is not working, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling with friends, and spending time with her family and dog, named Runner Miles. Maryssa is always looking to expand her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.
Maryssa’s passion has always been to help others. Prior to her massage career, she worked for 12 ...
Read More
Marcie founded Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness to provide acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and associated wellness therapies to individuals and families in Wellesley.
Marcie received her Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture, the oldest college of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine in the United States. She is licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine to practice Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, and holds a Diplomate in Oriental Medicine from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She is a winner of the Tsay Fellowship Award for Excellence in the Art and Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Marcie has treated patients with many different health conditions in a variety of clinical settings, including community health centers, public health projects, inpatient and outpatient hospital clinics, and private practice.
Marcie is passionate about Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and integrative medicine, and is dedicated to each and every patient. She thinks that the power of Chinese Medicine lies in its ability to understand each individual as a whole person and recognize the intricate relationships at work in each human being. She loves that Chinese Medicine allows her to treat patients of all backgrounds and ages. At Stepping Stone Acupuncture and Wellness, Marcie treats children, teens, and adults with acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. She is experienced at treating patients for mental/emotional issues, acute and chronic pain, women’s health, infertility, and hormonal disorders.
Marcie has a passion for and extensive experience in alternative medicine research. She has worked at Tufts Medical Center on National Institute of Health-funded studies of the effects of Tai Chi (a traditional Chinese mind-body therapy) on Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis. Her ultimate goal is to better integrate Chinese Medicine into the dominant medical system, thereby making it more available to more patients who will benefit from its use.
Outside of the office, Marcie enjoys spending time with her husband Karl and their young daughter, as well as running, doing yoga, reading, and networking with other entrepreneurs.
Contact Marcie directly by emailing marcie@steppingstoneacu.com.
Marcie founded Stepping Stone Acupuncture & Wellness to provide acupuncture, Chinese Herbal M...
Read More
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.
In his clinical education, Ken was able to work with a wide range of patients and health conditions including acute and chronic pain, migraine, neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, digestive disorders, insomnia, depression, mental illness, male and female reproductive health, stress-related conditions, substance dependence, and many more. Among his patients, Ken has had the pleasure to work with people from all walks of life. He has worked with veterans, fellow students, athletes, elderly, stroke patients, artists and musicians, and healthcare providers to name a few. As he begins his professional practice, Ken is excited to meet and work with new patients.
Ken’s treatment approach includes incorporating evidence-based therapies, when available, with traditional Eastern medicine techniques, lifestyle modifications and education, orthopedic assessment and treatment, and adjunctive therapies such as gua sha, cupping, electro-acupuncture, and tui na. Ken always tries to approach a health condition by understanding it through both eastern and western medical viewpoints.
Prior to acupuncture school, Ken earned a BA in Biology/Premed from the College of the Holy Cross and a MS in Zoology & Physiology from the University of Wyoming. He worked in the environmental consulting industry for two decades as an aquatic ecologist. As a scientist, Ken is continually amazed by the power and effectiveness of traditional Eastern medicine. Traditional Eastern medicine views an individual not unlike how an ecologist views an ecosystem.
Ken is board-certified by the National Certification Commission of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is licensed to practice acupuncture by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Dr. Ken Cerreto is a graduate of the New England School of Acupuncture at the Massachusetts Colle...
Read More
Robin graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) at MCPHS in 2022 with a Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She is nationally board certified by the NCCAOM and a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Massachusetts. At NESA, she pursued tracks in Chinese Herbal Medicine, Japanese Style Acupuncture, and Orthopedic Style Needling. Robin’s clinical internships included rotations at the NESA clinic in Worcester, Ma and the Edith Nourse Memorial Veterans Memorial Hospital in Bedford, Ma. Prior to attending school for acupuncture, Robin received her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Umass Amherst and later worked as an exercise therapist for a postural therapy clinic in Newton, Ma.
Robin enjoys treating a wide variety of conditions among all age groups; her specialties include women’s health, digestion, mental-emotional support, and musculoskeletal pain. She appreciates both Eastern and Western medical approaches. She believes everyone can benefit from having a “team” of health practitioners and lifestyle tools to navigate through various seasons of life. Some of her favorite tools include acupuncture, herbal and nutritional support, targeted movement or exercise, and connecting with nature’s biological rhythms. In her experience, the body is always communicating with us. She believes integrating this feedback can provide valuable insight, and help us to create a more optimal environment for health.
In her free time, Robin loves hiking, traveling, horseback riding, and spending time with family and friends.
Robin graduated from the New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) at MCPHS in 2022 with a Master’...
Read More
Alana is a licensed acupuncturist providing acupuncture for over ten years, as well as herbal medicine and other adjunctive therapies to treat acute and chronic pain, orthopedic conditions, digestive disorders, stress and anxiety, sleep disorders, and cosmetic acupuncture. She works with a diverse group of patients, from extreme athletes to terminally ill, and welcomes cultural diversity in all its forms.
Many people who come to see Alana are struggling with an illness or an injury that has not responded fully to conventional treatments. Most have never seen an acupuncturist before and are unsure what to expect. Part of Alana’s goal as a practitioner is to help move clients back onto a path towards a better quality of life.
Alana believes that Western and Eastern Medicine are not mutually exclusive. Each day, she works with individuals who incorporate physical therapy, reproductive endocrinology, and general western medicine as part of their health regimen. she has seen the “hybrid power” of combining western and eastern medicine.
Acupuncture Styles Include:
Distal Needling Acupuncture
Scalp
Cupping (body and facial slide cupping)
Gua Sha (body and facial)
Auricular
Electro-Acupuncture
To best suit the individual needs of her patients, Alana uses 2 different styles of acupuncture. Her training, schooling and foundation are in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which often combines Chinese herbs with acupuncture. Additionally, she incorporates a style that uses very few needles and often obtains dramatic results. This style is known as Balance Method/Dr. Tan style and Master Tung needling. Both of these styles use a holistic approach to minimize discomfort and maximize health benefits.
Alana earned a Masters in Science Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM) from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco, California. She is board-certified by the National Certification Commission of Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and licensed to practice acupuncture by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, state of Wisconsin, and state of California.
Alana is a licensed acupuncturist providing acupuncture for over ten years, as well as herbal med...
Read More
A native of Brazil, Renato graduated with the equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in Law to persue a career in the State Police Department of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
When life brought him to New England, Renato joined the work force of Whole Foods Market for almost ten years. Here he learned the importance, and the impact that a healthy lifestyle can do to the daily basis of one individual. Based on that experience, he became inspired to learn more about massage therapy and the great benefits that this part of a holistic lifestyle can truly help in someone’s life.
He graduated from Acusage Academy in 2012, where he earned his Licensed Massage Therapist credentials (LMT) and became certified in Reflexology. Renato’s treatment consists of deep tissue and sports massage, manual lymphatic drainage, and reflexology. He focuses on these modalities to help people achieve their goals of healing from injuries and chronic pains.
Renato believes in the body’s ability to heal itself through relaxation, and the benefits that a customized treatment can help someone to achieve a greater sense of well being.
A native of Brazil, Renato graduated with the equivalent of a Bachelor of Science in Law to persu...
Read More