Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic - Richmond, VA & Greater DC Area
  • | Home
  • | About
  • | Clinic Info
  • | Modalities
  • | Resources
    • Audio & Video Resources
  • | DONATE
  • | Contact

About Us

We are staffed by volunteer craniosacral therapist, clinical herbalist, reflexologist, acupuncturist, health and wellness coach, mindfulness coach, yoga practitioner, zero balancing practitioner and others who are trauma informed and trained and credentialed to practice holistic medicine.
Modalities offered:
Craniosacral Therapy
Essential Oils
Feldenkrais 
​Clinical Herbalism

Mindfulness
​NADA Acupuncture
Reflexology
Somatic Experiencing
Wellness Coaching
Yoga
We treat people, not diseases!

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Picture
Karen Henderson, MPH, LMT, SEP, BCST, RH(AHG)
Karen is the Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic Coordinator and a holistic health practitioner who integrates sound science, traditional wisdom and intuition in motivating others towards wellness.  Her passion is assisting clients with releasing symptoms of physical and emotional trauma from the body and restoring nervous system regulation and resilience. Karen is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST), Clinical Herbalist (RH-AHG) with a Master of Science Degree in Therapeutic Herbalism, Certified Health Coach and has a Master of Science Degree in Public Health (MPH).  Her training and personal experience with PTSD brings a combination that helps those experiencing the dis-ease of trauma.

Meet Our Practitioners


Picture
Denise Cusack, Clinical Herbalist, Certified Aromatherapist
Denise Cusack is a clinical herbalist, certified aromatherapist, writer and herb grower. Denise completed her master herbalist studies via Jessie Hawkins School of Vintage Remedies, aromatherapy certification at Aromahead Institute, her hydrosols certification with Cathy Skipper at The School of Aromatic Studies, and has thousands of hours of continuing education credits in herbalism and holistic health from universities and well-respected herbal educators/schools. Denise has also completed A Flower's Power course in using flower essences at Floracopeia under Sara Crow. Denise is always learning, and has over 25 years of herbalism, holistic nutrition, and aromatherapy studies.

In her spare time she is often working in one of her gardens, making and measuring in her herbal studio, distilling her own hydrosols or volunteering as Executive Director of Herbalists Without Borders. Denise is a regular contributor to aromatherapy and herbal publications and is the owner of Wholly Rooted, an herbal wellness consulting business.

Web https://www.lunarhollow.farm
LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-cusack-8a886292/
​Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whollyrooted/?fref=ts

Picture
Elaine Goodall
Retired Physical Therapist
​Yoga Teacher 200hr/Therapist
​Certified Veterans Yoga Project Trainer
A newcomer to Richmond, Elaine Goodall is a retired Licensed Physical Therapist with 35 years of experience. She received a Masters Degree in Athletic Training /Sports Medicine from UVA and her certification in Yoga Teacher Training in 2007 from Yoga West in Houston. She used yoga in her therapy practice and has taught group and private classes ever since. She is currently enrolled in the International Svastha Yoga Therapy Program. Presently, there is no license for Yoga Therapists, however the International Yoga Therapy Association defines a yoga therapist as " a well trained and experienced yoga teacher with substantial additional training in therapeutic applications and other supporting skills." 
​
The use of Yoga life principles, movements/asanas, breathing techniques/pranayama, and mindfulness/meditation techniques foster an environment in which the nervous system can self regulate and allow an individual to calm their body and mind and subsequently move towards wellbeing. Research has shown that Yoga practices can reduce autonomic sympathetic activation, reduce muscle and fascial tension and blood pressure, improve neuroendocrine activity and reduce pain. Yoga therapists teach skills which can be practiced independently in many different environments. Elaine is excited to bring her knowledge and talents to the Veterans Resiliency Clinic and looks forward to working with other clinicians to provide a comprehensive , client centered experience to those in need of care. 

Elaine is also a member of Health Volunteers Overseas and has done volunteer work in Bhutan, Vietnam and Tanzania. 
​
Elaine enjoys art, international travel and animals . She and her husband moved to Richmond after living in Rome for 3 years. She hopes to get a dog in the near future who will be trained as a therapy dog. She is available for private sessions. Contact Lanegoodall@gmail.com, 804.837.8340.

Picture
Mary Frances Hobbs
​Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner
Mary Frances Hobbs is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner who completed more than 800 hours of training at the Baltimore Feldenkrais Center under the direction of David Zemach Bersin one of the founders of Feldenkrais Resources and the Feldenkrais Institute. She has also done advanced training with Ellen Solloway of New Orleans.
Mary Frances was employed as a chemistry teacher for thirty-three years in the Richmond and Hanover County Public Schools. She brings her teaching experience and enthusiasm for the Feldenkrais Method to her classes that meet in Ginter Park, Forest Hill and Midlothian. Previously she worked as a volunteer Feldenkrais teacher for a track team, at Mc Guire Veterans Pain Clinic and at a local food pantry. She has worked with clients who have fibromyalgia, PTSD. back pain, surgeries, arthritis and trauma. 
​

More information is available from her website MovinginEase.com and updates are on her Facebook page at movinginease. She can be reached for more class information or times for private sessions at 804-244-6800. 

Shirley Massenburg, Team Support Member
I have practiced yoga more than 20 years and taught 10 years in various settings, including the past 7 years at John Tyler Community College.

I received my basic Hatha (physical postures) training from Yogaville in Buckingham, VA and advanced Anusara (alignment) from Golden Heart Yoga in Annapolis, MD. My academic background is in Occupational Therapy, Education, Publications Design and Therapeutic Recreation respectively from Virginia Commonwealth University, Maryland Institute School for the Arts and Morgan State University.

With lots of twists on these themes, 35 years of my prior work experience was as an Activity Therapist and an Administrator with the Departments of Health & Mental Hygiene and Natural Resources (land preservation) for the State of Maryland.

I have experienced and enthusiastically support our healing modalities to improve and maintain good health.

Picture
​Talia Moser, Reflexologist
Talia was initially drawn to explore reflexology because of foot pain. In 1995 she began studying and practicing foot and hand reflexology with the International Institute of Reflexology. She was certified in 2006 and practices IIR’s Ingham Method and Reiki. She is also a member of the International Council of Reflexologists.

In 2005 Talia established her business Relaxation by the Foot. She does reflexology by appointment at her office on Richmond’s north side. She also teaches Healthy-Steps therapeutic movement and Line Dancing for Fitness.

Talia has been practicing the Ingham Method of foot and hand reflexology since 1995, was certified by the International Institute of Reflexology and is also a member of the International Council of Reflexologists.
Additional information
http://reflexology-usa.org/
http://www.reflexology-usa.net
http://www.icr-reflexology.org
http://www.gohealthysteps.com
Talia Moser
804-399-3353
taliamoser.com
Reflexologist, Healthy-Steps Instructor, gohealthysteps.com; DJ Louisiana Dance Hall wrir.org WRIR 97.3fm alternating Mondays 7-9pm ​​

Picture
Yumei Silva, Certified Aromatherapist
Yumei Silva is an Aromatherapy and Herbal practitioner, owner of Puressential Aromatherapy LLC, located in Henrico Virginia. In her practice, she integrates Aromatherapy and Herbalism to guide her clients towards better health and healthy living.

Yumei received her Aromatherapy certification from Andrea Butje at Aromahead Institute of Essential Oil Studies. She obtained her French Aromatherapy (internal use of essential oils) certification from Jade Shutes and Cathy Skipper through The School of Aromatic Studies and her Aromatherapy Teacher Training Level 1 certification from Jade Shutes and Amy Galper through N.Y. Institute of Aromatherapy. Yumei is a professional member of NAHA.

Yumei is a passionate educator and continues to promote essential oils safety and education through her various workshops and volunteers her time teaching essential oils in various clinics. In her free time, you can find her taking an Aromatherapy course and read a book to deepen her relationship with essential oils.

​She grew up with herbs in China, and has been studying TCM and Western Herbalism and is currently enrolled in Professional Herbalist program - East West school of Planetary Herbology. In her free time, she attends live lectures of local holistic practitioners, webinars by herbalist extraordinaire Matthew Wood and reads a lot of books on herbs to expand her herbal knowledge.

She can be reached by email: yumei@pure-ssential.com, or phone: 678-656-5385. Her business website is: http://www.pure-ssential.com

Picture
Jared Smyser, Certified Wellness Coach
Jared Smyser served in the United States Marine Corps for nine years, deploying to Iraq and Central and South America. He held numerous jobs in the Marine Corps, including Artillery Section Chief, Martial Arts Instructor, Aviation Supply Expediter, and Vehicle Commander, running convoy-security missions throughout Iraq in 2005. After returning home and experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, Jared became curious, and eventually very passionate, about alternative medicine, to include mindfulness, yoga, nutrition, and exercise, to name a few. He began practicing and making changes in his life and saw many benefits, which inspired him to pursue a career where he could share what he found with others. In 2012, he was honorably discharged and began working with the Mind Fitness Training Institute, training a variety of high stress civilian and military audiences in Mindfulness-based resilience skills. Jared has a bachelor’s degree in Digital Cinematography from Full Sail University and founded Still and Motion Art, a photography and videography company. He is a certified wellness coach through the Spencer Institute, a singer and songwriter, and is dedicated to helping others by sharing his many passions and and gifts. ​

Picture
Deborah Woodward, Svaroopa® Yoga
Deborah is a yoga practitioner at the clinic who is dedicated to supporting people as they move through health challenges to become more and more who they really are.  For 15 years, she has worked with students and clients to reduce stress and anxiety, decrease and eliminate pain, and increase calm, clarity and a capacity for healthy, vibrant living.  She is certified to teach beginning to advanced yoga classes, meditation, and to work with people in private Embodyment yoga therapy sessions. 

Picture
Ann Furniss, Acupuncture
​Ann Furniss has been a practicing licensed acupuncturist in Richmond since 2001. She also has spent more than a decade working as an RN primarily in emergency medicine. This background affords her an unusual understanding of the strengths and limitations of both Eastern and Western medicine. She understands that our illness and healing as individuals and of the environment and society as a whole are mutually interdependent.

For more info: www.qinurse.com
Picture
Alternative Health Practitioners

Do you practice one of the modalities we offer, or do you provide a service that you think would be a good fit with us? Are you interested in volunteering your time and services with the Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic? Contact Karen today.
Picture
Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic is a part of Herbalists Without Borders International

The VRHC through Herbalists without Borders promotes and provides natural and holistic approaches to relieving the symptoms of trauma and PTSD for all, regardless of ability to pay. 

​
Herbalists Without Borders organizes more than 15 unique sustainable, herbal, health & wellness projects. 

Home | About Us | Clinic Information | Modalities | Donate | Contact Us 

The Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic is a part of Herbalists Without Borders International


©2017-22 Veterans Resiliency Holistic Clinic, Virginia

The VRHC is a project under the nonprofit organization Herbalists Without Borders.
HWB is a 501c3 nonprofit. 100% of the donations to the VRHC  go to this project.
​Your donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.
  • | Home
  • | About
  • | Clinic Info
  • | Modalities
  • | Resources
    • Audio & Video Resources
  • | DONATE
  • | Contact