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

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

Read More

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

Daniel is licensed in acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy in the state of Massachusetts. He received his master’s degree in acupuncture and Oriental medicine from the Arizona School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ASAOM) in Tucson, AZ. He is nationally board certified in Oriental medicine, acupuncture, Chinese herbology, and Western biomedicine by the National Certification and Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). He also remains a licensed acupuncturist in the state of Arizona.

Upon completion of graduation, Daniel continued his studies by doing an externship at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Zhuhai, located in the Guangdong Province in China. Here he worked closely under the supervision of Dr. Ai Zhou as well as side by side with many other doctors of Oriental medicine, providing him with extensive hands on clinical experience in treating patients. This rich educational background has made Daniel a very skillful and competent practitioner who is able to treat a wide variety of conditions with an emphasis on pain management and stress/anxiety relief.

Daniel bases his treatments on traditional Chinese medicine theory and commonly uses local and distal points along an acupuncture channel. He works closely with patients to formulate an agreed upon treatment plan. He will often employ additional tools, such as tui na massage, cupping, moxibustion, or Chinese herbal therapy, based on the patient and the condition being treated. In any treatment modality used, Daniel is very dedicated to provide his patients with the best treatment possible.

Daniel is also a registered nurse (BSN) in the state of Massachusetts. On his free time, he enjoys pottery, gardening, and spending time outdoors.

Daniel is licensed in acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy in the state of Massachusetts. He re... Read More

Jean Crawford is a licensed Massage Therapist, Vibrational Sound Therapy Certified Licensed Practitioner, and Certified Polarity Therapy Practitioner, which is a trauma-informed form of energy work. She graduated from the SpaTech Institute in Plymouth.

Jean is interested in the mind-body connection and how sound and energy interact with the physical body. Her massage modalities include: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, and Trigger Point.

Particular areas of expertise include remedying physical ailments resulting from work stress, and long days spent at a desk or in practice with a musical instrument. She is a member of the Association for Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP) and the Vibrational Sound Therapy Association (VSTA).

Jean moved to Boston for graduate school and never left. Before pursuing a career in massage therapy, Jean worked in the tech industry and in academia. She earned her MA in Applied Linguistics from Boston University and her PhD in Theoretical Linguistics from the University of Connecticut. Outside of Stepping Stone, Jean has a private sound and massage practice, and is a singer, baker, yogi, social media junkie, and karaoke DJ.

Jean Crawford is a licensed Massage Therapist, Vibrational Sound Therapy Certified Licensed Pract... Read More

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

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