Meet Our Team
Rev. Ellen Barron, M.Div. -- Spiritual and Wellness Center Director
Rev. Ellen Barron is a licensed and ordained Unity minister with a Master of Divinity. She is a dedicated, high-energy, enthusiastic leader who is committed to transformation through self-awareness, mindfulness, and meditation. She is a strong communicator with excellent listening skills and is dedicated to inspiring, motivating and empowering others on their spiritual journey. As Director, Ellen and her Board of Trustees focus on expanding the center’s wellness programs and partnering with expert health professionals who educate, enlighten, and inspire individuals to knowing their Authentic Self, and find greater peace and ease through that connection.
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Stacey Paige -- Yoga Instructor, Spiritual Coach
Stacey Paige is a Licensed Yoga Instructor and a Licensed Spiritual Coach. She helps people from all walks of life connect to their authentic selves and personal rhythms. Her passion is to help you understand and embody spiritual principles and practices, aligning you with your best life.
Enjoy Stacey's weekly "5 Minute Fix" meditation podcast here.
For more information or to connect with Stacey visit www.staceypaige.com.
Kate Caporale -- Reiki Master
Kate is a Reiki Master and Ordained Minister who began her career in energy healing in 2021. She is owner of Positively Reiki, located in Raleigh, NC; and she provides Reiki in-person or via distance. She offers 30-60-90-minute sessions, and she provides additional healing modalities, such as knowledge of chakras, crystals, essential oils/aromatherapy, and sound frequencies during treatment. Other services include Reiki for plants and animals; Reiki home blessing; cleansing and charging of crystals. Kate is a member of The Safe Space Alliance. She can be reached on Facebook and Instagram: @PositivelyReikiKate; or via her website: https://heal.me/practitioner/kathleen-caporale
Sharri Gaines -- Integrative Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner, Certified Yoga Instructor, Spiritual Mentor
Sharri is certified in Integrative Reflexology, Usui Reiki and Reiki Tummo Energy Healing, and Hatha Yoga. With over 20 years in private practice, Sharri facilitates workshops on Meditation, Intuitive Development, Hatha Yoga, Creating a Spiritual Practice, and Introduction to the Spiritual Journey. Sharri utilizes her diverse experience, ongoing development, deep listening and reflection, and intuitive nature to help co-create healing and wholeness in the lives of others.
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Email Sharri at sgainesyoga@msn.com to schedule an appointment.
Kelly Nembhard, NBC-HWC, CPMC, ACM
Kelly Nembhard is a Reiki Master Teacher and energy healer. As a former biologist and clinical researcher, Kelly has been an advocate for using both conventional and alternative therapies, including energy healing, to create a self-care toolbox for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Kelly is also a national board-certified health and wellness coach, and an angel intuitive.
To book an appointment, reach out to Kelly using our Contact Form or visit her website www.mywealthinhealth.com.
Joanne ("JP") Pizzino, MD, MPH, FACOEM
Dr. Joanne is a physician and board-certified in Preventive Medicine and Integrative Medicine. With over five decades working in healthcare, she has accumulated extensive knowledge and resources to mentor individuals and organizations to integrate self-empowered healing techniques for optimum well-being. After her own self-empowered healing epiphany in 1998, Joanne practices and uses high-tech and high-touch techniques, including Medical Acupuncture, Reiki, Interactive Guided Imagery, Functional Medicine, condition-specific nutrition, vibrational medicine, and botanical medicine. A special interest is enhancing the effectiveness of allopathic therapies with mind-body and spiritual techniques.
For more information, see www.doctorjp.com.
Carolyn Bard & Deanne Mott, Tai Chi Instructors
Carolyn fell in love with Tai Chi more than 11 years ago when she realized that it was “meditation in motion” and, despite being older, her health improved dramatically. Excited to share this internal art, she started teaching Tai Chi in the style of Moy Lin Shin. She has enriched her practice and knowledge of the internal arts under the guidance of a longtime instructor of the same lineage. Carolyn is a retired psychotherapist and enjoys sitting meditation and spiritual study.
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De (Deanne) has studied and practiced Tai Chi as both student and instructor for many years. Her advancement in this art as a direct student of Moy Lin Shin has brought her numerous benefits to the mind, body, and spirit, along with a desire to share these with others. De’s goal is to help people gain the health, vitality, and calmness of mind that she feels when practicing Tai Chi. To further enhance her knowledge of the internal arts, she also studies the complementary ancient Chinese internal arts of Liu He Ba Fa and Yi Quan. Carolyn and De have been team-teaching Tai Chi since co-founding Connection Tai Chi in 2021.
More information is available at: https://connectiontaichi.org.
Carolyn Bard
De Mott
Larry Burk, MD, CEHP
Dr. Larry Burk is trained in acupuncture and hypnosis and is a Certified Energy Health Practitioner. He was co-founder of Duke Integrative Medicine, and he has an online coaching practice at Healing Imager, LLC, specializing in EFT, hypnosis, dreamwork, and the Enneagram. He retired from Duke University Medical Center in 2021 after a 40-year career as a holistic musculoskeletal radiologist. He has been a guest trainer for workshops at The Monroe Institute and at The Art of Living Retreat Center. His book Let Magic Happen: Adventures in Healing with a Holistic Radiologist was published in 2012.
For more information, see https://letmagichappen.com.
Rev. Annie Nelson -- Spiritual Counselor, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist
Rev. Annie is an ordained Minister with the Alliance of Divine Love Interfaith Ministry. Her transformational ministry includes spiritual counseling, coaching, and hypnotherapy. She is a board-Certified Master Hypnotherapist and Certified Life Coach with decades of experience in the behavioral sciences, management, and public service. Her formal education, training, and natural gifts of compassion bring insights to her ministry, offering a body, mind, and spirit approach to working with her clients. She serves in a co-creator role with clients who wish to address life challenges -- work and personal transition issues, anxiety, career choices, relationships, grieving/loss, divorce, etc.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/annie.nelson.5686.
Nancy Davison -- Physical Therapist, Acupuncturist (PT/Lac)
Nancy has over 20 years as an integrated medicine practitioner. Licensed as an Acupuncturist and Physical Therapist, she is committed to providing her clients with individualized treatments for a holistic approach to health and wellness. By addressing the emotional and spiritual components that affect physical health, Nancy assists clients in restoring balance, relaxation, and peace in their lives.
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To schedule an appointment with Nancy use our Contact Form.
Clara Davis, Life / Wellness Coach
Clara is a Licensed Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and she is also credentialed in Life Coaching. Her talents and skills include providing a calming presence, heart listening, organization, team building, teaching, creating, and facilitating seminars. Clara's other interests include public speaking, small business development, community capacity building, and employing meditation and mindfulness as part of her spiritual practice.
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Clara has been a member of the Unity family since 1979 and a member of UCR since the mid-80s. These teachings have served as a lifeline, particularly in learning that she can really be the change that she wishes to see, and learning how she might be of service to the world. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees and Prayer Ministry Team, along with leading Sunday Morning Meditations. Prior Unity experiences included serving as Prayer Chaplain, Usher, Choir Member, and Greeter.
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Contact Clara at coachinglady.clara@gmail.com
Wende Essrow -- Author, Artist, and Poet
Wende is a local author who has published coffee table poetry books and a photography book, At First Light, that received a national book award. She has also written and illustrated several children’s books. With a background in literature, Wende has been writing poetry and stories for as long as she can remember. Wende looks forward to sharing the joy and powerful healing process that writing has offered her over the years.
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Use our Contact Form to reach out to Wende.
Eugene Holden, RScP
Eugene is a licensed Religious Science Practitioner who has been a student of the Science of Mind and Spirit for over 35 years. He continues to be a well-loved contributor to the Science of Mind magazine, inspiring lives around the world. A dynamic teacher, speaker, and percussionist, Eugene currently serves as co-host on the weekly online show, Race Talk Revolution with Lane and Eugene, a loving, inclusive platform designed to strip away the false beliefs that keep us separated as human beings; uncover the not-so-hidden truth that we all want the same things in life, and heal the wounds created by systemic racism. Eugene allows vision to guide him, prayer that fuels his deep commitment and purpose of joyfully assisting others in remembering who and what they truly are: Divine Beings of Light.
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Eugene may be contacted through our Contact Form.
Amy Murray, Yoga Instructor
Amy is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Amy found yoga over 20 years ago when she began seeking a form of exercise that was not gym-based or competitive. She discovered her body’s abilities and resilience through an intentional practice of self-compassion and mindful movement. Through the study and practice of yoga and yogic philosophy and her work as a psychotherapist, she developed the belief that yoga is a pathway to personal transformation regardless of age or experience. Amy views yoga as a mindful practice that enriches mind/body/spirit wellness, encourages a supportive community, and offers personal development that can lead to experiencing life in a healthier and more joyful way. Amy’s favorite styles of yoga are slow vinyasa, yin, and restorative.
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You may reach Amy through our Contact Form.
Tom Ronen Goddard, JD, Ph.D.
Tom is a psychologist with decades of experience in psycho-spiritual somatic modalities designed to foster healing and expand our capacities for loving. His counseling services, called “Integral Becoming” engage the client’s body, heart, mind, and spirit in an integrated, whole-being approach to aliveness. Dr. Tom’s commitment to his clients is that they develop the knowledge, tools, and motivation to live the life of their dreams. Dr. Goddard has led retreats at Shalom Mountain, a retreat center in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, and elsewhere for nearly 20 years.
For more information, see: https://www.integralbecoming.com.
Jackie Gardner, Reiki Master Teacher
Jackie is an intuitive empath who is committed to being a healer of the heart, body, mind, and soul. Her passion is to touch the heart of those she encounters and to assist them in consciously creating life through the understanding that every thought, word, or action shifts their energy field and creates their experience of life – finding and opening their hearts to unconditional LOVE. As a certified Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master Teacher with a direct lineage to Master Usui, Jackie has taught Reiki certification classes and trained over 500 students. She also offers complimentary workshops for meditation, the law of attraction manifesting, and intuitive living tools such as journaling, personal retreats, chakra balancing, and more.
“I believe there are no accidents in life. We draw to us that which we are ready to hear and experience.” Email Jackie at jackiereiki@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.
Dr. Rodney McBride, DC
What can I say, healthcare and health education has been my passion for years. I was lucky and grew up with a Mother who understood the value of sound nutrition and exercise. I remember going to the Chiropractor for the first time as a child and hearing those joints crack. I would sit up and feel energized. Even though I enjoyed my visits to the Chiropractor, they didn't inspire me to be a Chiropractor at the time, but I knew I wanted to work in healthcare in some capacity.
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After years working as a massage therapist and personal trainer​, I was introduced to Applied Kinesiology (AK) and muscle testing. I was completely hooked and was amazed how you could fix all types of dysfunctions, even long term problems that had been lingering for years. Massage just couldn't do that. I knew I had to be an Applied Kinesiologist and muscle tester. As luck would have it, I ended up going to Chiropractic School and becoming a Chiropractor. Maybe those visits to the Chiropractor as a child had more of an impact on me than I thought.
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Use our Contact Form to reach Dr. McBride.
Constancita “Tita” Nieves
Constancita “Tita” Nieves, MA, is a passionate advocate for healthy living. She is a Functional Nutrition Counselor, and Wellness Coach that has lived a natural approach to health and life for over 35 years. She brings over 18 years of counseling practice and over 35 years of personal and professional development experience in the areas of public health and integrative medicine. Tita has developed a unique approach to assist in the empowerment of individuals through a combination of nutritional practices, exercises, mindfulness, and yoga. During this process she teaches individuals meaningful strategies to change old belief patterns that perpetuate suffering and potential deterioration of health.
She has been a speaker at conferences throughout the northeastern U.S., and two Vegan Festivals organized in Fayetteville. She has just completed a series of presentations on Diabetes for patients of a small medical center in southern North Carolina. In addition, she is a member of a revision board with UNC-Chapel Hill where materials related to health and translated in the Spanish language are being revised to educate patients.
Tita is a Certified Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner, graduate of the Full Body Systems and the Digestive Intensive Programs with the Functional Nutrition Alliance.
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Tita may be reached through our Contact Form.
Diane Stakoe, CRMT, CHT, LMBT, Energy Healing Therapist, Intuitive Channel
After experiencing a health crisis in her early 30s, Diane instinctively knew that her past traumas, stressful events she was going through, and the way she had been showing up for herself were all direct causes of the physical attack on her body’s immune system. She also knew that her body would heal and that she would go on to help others do the same. It took leaving her corporate job and embarking on a journey that not only brought healing in her physical and emotional body, but also led her on a career path helping and empowering others to do the same. As an energy healing therapist, Diane intuitively works with imbalances in one’s energy body, using techniques such as sound, channeled Light Language, crystals and gemstones, hypnosis, and oracle card readings, which in turn all help guide one back to the wisdom and alignment of their soul for their own healing and evolution.
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Contact Diane at https://bio.site/dianestakoe
