My love and respect for the human body came from a background in the Performance Arts, trying on different roles and expressing myself through various artistic mediums. I felt I could best express myself safely and more clearly through creativity. Everyday interaction was a scary place for me and one that brought with it copious anxiety. The creative world was full of wander and brought with it excitement and the promise of a new way of being. The language of creative expression has been both a healing and a safe refuge. It’s been a place to face my fears and a sanctuary where I could discover myself and the world around me.

Simultaneously, I would spend nights staying up studying math or delving into the rich land of some of my favorite authors: Willa Cather, Margaret Atwood and Toni Morrison among others. I connected to the world through these literary geniuses. I also found solace in numbers and would spend hours solving a math problem because the satisfaction found in the answer filled a place in me so deeply and so completely.

These two parts of me have always functioned separately until the last few years when I met my now mentor, Dr Patricia Frisch PhD whose work in Somatic Psychotherapy bridged the mental and the physical; honoring both with a forged communion whose sanctity touched to my very core. I felt like I had found my home, a place where I could firmly root my two feet in my physical body while exploring the vast terrain of all that we humans in our consciousness experience. The split in my life is slowly coming together in a celebratory dance of recognition and gratitude. This work has transformed me, completed me and compelled me to carry the torch onward.

I am currently functioning as a mind/body Orgonomics Practitioner, and an Associate MFT alongside a Chiropractic practice full of long standing clients whose commitment to their health always inspires. Relationships have become the cornerstone of the work I do. One could say relational dynamics ARE the cornerstone of all life. To work in this sphere bridging the mind/body, mending this split between matter and consciousness is exactly where I choose to be. It would be an honor to work with you!

My credentials include:

  • Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine, graduating Valedictorian in 2011

  • Certifications in Orgonomy at Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced 1 levels thru Orgonomic Institute of Northern California

  • Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Therapy, graduating Summa Cum Laude October 2021

  • BA in Theatre, Dance and Music from Bucknell University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1995

  • Anatomy in Motion Gait Analysis and Rewiring through Gary Ward

  • Active Myofascial Release Certifications in Extremities, Trunk and Nerve Entrapments

  • 24 years as a Master PIlates Instructor with certification through Madeline Black, Lizz Roman and Carol Appel

  • 1 year certification completed in Yoga Therapy through Harvey Deutsche, PT

  • Craniosacral One and Two through the Upledger Institute

  • Somato-emotional Release through the Upledger Institute

  • 20 seminars in Carrick Functional Neurology

  • 20 seminar complete coursework in Applied Kinesiology through Standard Process

  • A lifetime in the Performing Arts working professionally as an Aerialist and Dancer in Cirque Productions, A creative Director and Performer in Theatre, and as a Bossanova Jazz Vocalist.

TESTIMONIALS

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“Your work has been the most healing, and your instructions and inspiration for me to do my own practice, have worked more than any other practioner I have tried. Seriously!!! you are amazing!”

-Mona B

“Joanna offers holistic therapy in a way I haven’t experienced before. Part talk, part physical/energetic release, Joanna creates a space where I can work out an issue, hear her keen, unbiased observation, and then work through and release any associated blocks in the body through breath, bodywork, and insightful follow up reflections. This rare combination of working with the body and mind together has allowed me to better understand myself as a whole, have key breakthroughs, and walk away from each session more clear, empowered and grounded in myself. Highly recommend this work to anyone looking whose into a more holistic mode of emotional, mental and physical growth and healing.

— Kim G

“In working with Joanna I work though my life experiences from traumatic ones all the way to celebratory ones and my feelings attached to those and how my emotions are directly connected to my physical and energy body. Her style is a well rounded scope of physical and sensory therapy with a dose of magical, spiritual and artistic touch to add some light and fun. It is a unique, customized, interactive program that is summarized each session by a creative email about what was discussed, discovered that day, and suggestions on how to proceed.”

-Jill W 

“I went to see Joanna because she was highly recommended through another patient of hers. I am recovering from a major car accident: fractured ribs, lower vertebra, whiplash, and extreme pain in both of my shoulders. When I had my first session I was in excruciating pain because of a pinched nerve. I was wondering if I could be helped especially because of my limited movement due to my other injuries.

Joanna took everything in account and went right to it; I was so positively overwhelmed by her expertise. I felt safe in her - I don’t have other words to describe it- truly healing hands. At the end of my session the pinched nerve was gone and I had went through so many different layers of emotional and physical stages while Joanna worked on me which showed up couple days later in my well-being.

I am grateful that I got to meet Joanna, and that she will be part of my healing journey.”

— Joanna K



“I wish there was an option for infinite stars. I started seeing Joanna after being diagnosed with bulging discs in my neck and back, widespread nerve irritation and severe muscular pain due to the dreaded desk job. As a woman in my mid-30s who is used to being athletic, facing both the physical problems along with the mental/emotional stress of being “disabled” was no easy task. Enter Joanna and her vast array of healing skills and I was on the path to recovery. Not only does Joanna combine a TON of different modalities - ART, chiropractic, pilates, cranio-sacral, massage, etc - you name it, the woman knows it - but in addition to being a gifted technician, Joanna is one of the warmest, funniest, most delightful humans out there. She puts up with my whining, frustration and occasional depression around my condition with ease, and in addition to being my go-to for all things back and neck-related, she’s become a de facto life coach (and doesn’t even charge me for listening to my non-back related rambling). I genuinely look forward to seeing her 2x a week and the results speak for themselves - 6 months after a nerve study revealed pretty bad nerve damage in both arms and legs, a repeat study showed a few weeks ago that almost ALL of the damage had healed. My core strength has increased a ton, and my mood and outlook on recovery have done a 180 since diagnosis and that’s due in large part to Joanna’s skill and general good influence. I literally cannot say enough things about Joanna and only waited this long to write a review because I’m scared she’ll get too busy to see me 2x a week. :)

PS she’s also got a vast array of knowledge of vitamins, nutrition, etc so if you’re looking to add a diet overhaul to your healing, she’s got you covered. Seriously, not sure there is much this woman can’t do!”

— Kerry D


“Phenomenal chiropractor whose knowledge level allows her to provide a broad range of service to heal the body. Simply amazing !”

— Tanya C

“Joanna is literally the miracle body healer! I have been seeing Dr. Joanna once a week for eight months now. I came to her for a two year old hamstring injury. I really wish I knew about her when I first had injured it. I saw a pt at St Francis for awhile, but nothing she did seemed to be working. Two years later, I finally decided to talk to a dancer friend about what I should do. She immediately recommended Joanna. The first day I met Joanna, she did more for me than the pt at St. Francis ever did. I’ve had some other injuries along the way, and Joanna has healed them. She is amazing! I highly recommend!!!”

— Vanessa R