Our holistic partnerships include providers with shared values, ethics, and passion to support the whole body in healing. We value networking, referring, and collaborating closely with our partners to support our clients and community.
In September 2022, Anchored Hope welcomed several Craniosacral Facilitators into the suite at Jennifer Road. Catherine Whelan (formerly at Alchemy Healing Arts) specializes in Craniosacral Therapy for all ages. Elizabeth Sanders and Shelbi Miles (formerly at Alchemy Healing Arts) have come together to create Annapolis Alchemists. Elizabeth and Shelbi specialize in Craniosacral Therapy and Therapeutic Massage for all ages.
CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the function of the physiological body system called the craniosacral system. This system is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, the cerebrospinal fluid, and the corresponding structures.
Catherine Whelan LMT, CST-D
Catherine is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. She chose a degree in kinesiology because of her lifelong interest in anatomy and the way the body works. After finishing her undergraduate degree, she became a Certified Health and Fitness Specialist through American College of Sports Medicine. With the desire to achieve a more encompassing understanding of the body, Catherine attended Boulder College of Massage Therapy and became a licensed Massage Therapist. Catherine's hands on experience and continued education led her ultimately to Upledger CranioSacral Therapy. She is a Diplomate level CranioSacral Therapist and now a certified instructor for the Upledger Institute.
Catherine has been working as a wellness professional for over eighteen years, learning from each client and medical professional she meets. Her background in kinesiology, personal training, craniosacral therapy, and massage therapy enables her to work in concert with osteopaths, MDs, chiropractors, physical therapists, massage therapists, and other wellness professionals. Catherine has spent years working in medical settings that focus on chronic pain with an emphasis on fibromyalgia. Combining craniosacral therapy and kinesiology gives Catherine a unique therapeutic approach when dealing with injury and disease. She uses both passive soft tissue manipulations and active therapies during her sessions, focusing on education, and encourages personalized home exercises to help speed recovery and attain goals. Her curiosity and desire to learn enables her to tailor each session to both the client’s long-term and immediate needs.
"Health is a lifelong journey with an ebb and flow; the more mindfulness we can bring to the journey, the more likely we are to succeed. I understand the challenges and obstacles life can present and want to help you succeed on your journey of conscious health and wellness."
Erin Kennedy
Erin Kennedy has been practicing massage and bodywork in the Annapolis area for over 20 years. She provides heart centered, trauma informed care to her clients with a focus on women’s health, inclusive of trans and non-binary individuals. She uses intuitive touch, integrative massage, and craniosacral techniques to provide relief from pain and tension in the body and promote overall wellness, with an additional aim of cultivating body awareness and self acceptance.
Erin has always been passionate about working with women throughout all stages of life, and has recently found immense joy in helping those over the age of 40 learn to prioritize themselves, often after decades of prioritizing others. As she holds space for their bodies to be listened to, held, and supported, clients are able to access their own innate wisdom and find a path to healing. Aside from the physical benefits, this rediscovery of the connection to the inner self ultimately leads to feelings of peace, clarity, and empowerment.
Erin has had a lifelong special interest in pregnancy, birth, and babies, and has been certified in Nurturing the Mother®️ Prenatal and Postpartum massage since 2001. She has worked with countless expectant clients to bring comfort, ease, and stress relief to their pregnancies, which in turn supports mental well-being, healthy fetal development, and family bonding. She is also certified in Nurturing the Mother®️ Fertility Massage for clients who are trying to conceive, utilizing a combination of modalities that balance the body and help prepare it for conception.
Over the last 4 years, Erin has done extensive training in Upledger CranioSacral Therapy (CST), adjusting her approach to and understanding of the body, and allowing for deeper healing to occur. CST is particularly helpful for headaches, TMJ dysfunction, chronic pain, digestive issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and sleep problems. In addition, Erin has completed specialty training in CST for conception, pregnancy, birth, and the newborn period; and is also certified in Integrative Reflexology.
Erin’s endless curiosity and compassion for others inspire her to perpetually continue her self-education and development. She allows her intuition, rooted in two decades of hands-on experience, to be her guide as she blends elements of her foundational modalities in unique ways to meet each client’s individual needs.
Erin identifies as a white, queer, able bodied, neurodivergent cis woman and is committed to providing access to compassionate, high quality care in a safe, supportive environment to all who identify as women (and/or AFAB) and their children, regardless of body size/shape, race, ability, or orientation.
Shelbi Miles
Shelbi is the co-owner of Annapolis Alchemists and an Upledger Institute Certified CranioSacral Techniques Therapist. She is a knowledgeable and skilled practitioner who brings over 20 years of training and experience to her intuitive therapeutic presence.
Shelbi is qualified to work with clients who are experiencing chronic conditions, brain trauma, complex PTSD, depression, anxiety, GI issues, cancer, surgery recovery, and emotional and physical trauma. She has trained to work with clients during all the stages of pregnancy as well as with newborns, infants, and children.
She is a Therapeutic Medical Intuitive and has practiced Remote and Energy Healing work for nearly a decade; using her skill and experience in this modality even more frequently since March 2020. She is an Energy Codes Certified Facilitator with Dr. Sue Morter and has studied and practiced Energy Healing techniques with Donna Eden and Prune Harris to aid in healing from long term chronic conditions, including Covid-19.
In addition to CST, Shelbi is a 500 hr E-RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) and has traveled across the US to lead Advanced Yoga Teacher Training programs for Pranakriya School of Yoga Healing Arts. She is on the Schools Board and is also the Curriculum Chair.
She is a Therapeutic Medical Intuitive and has practiced Remote and Energy Healing work for nearly a decade; using her skill and experience in this modality even more frequently since March 2020. She is an Energy Codes Certified Facilitator with Dr. Sue Morter and has studied and practiced Energy Healing techniques with Donna Eden and Prune Harris to aid in healing from long term chronic conditions, including Covid-19.
In addition to CST, Shelbi is a 500 hr E-RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) and has traveled across the US to lead Advanced Yoga Teacher Training programs for Pranakriya School of Yoga Healing Arts. She is on the Schools Board and is also the Curriculum Chair.
Elizabeth Sanders
Elizabeth is a Licensed Massage Therapist with 10 years of bodywork experience. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.S. in Kinesiology. She received her foundational massage training at Hawaii Healing Arts College, located on the island of Oahu. She spent several years in Hawaii where she worked as a Licensed Massage Therapist and obtained a certification in Clinical Massage Therapy. She also holds certifications in Manual Lymph Drainage (Vodder Technique), Prenatal and Postpartum massage, and is skilled in Myofascial Release and CranioSacral Therapy.
Elizabeth finds the human body’s complexity wonderfully fascinating. She has a passion for listening and learning about each client’s unique life experiences and then using this knowledge to assist them in developing a deeper relationship with their bodies. In addition to providing preventative wellness care, she is experienced in working with challenges such as chronic pain, pre and post-surgical care, oncology treatment support, and scar tissue/adhesion release.
Outside of the treatment room, Elizabeth works as a lab instructor for the Massage Therapy program at Anne Arundel Community College. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for bodywork with her students and learns just as much from them in return. They continually remind her to stay humble, and that there is always more to learn.
Adele Muir
Adele Muir, Licensed Acupuncturist, offers compassionate health care using acupuncture therapy (both with needles or needle-less), and Asian bodywork techniques such as Gua Sha and Cupping Therapy. Treatments are based on Chinese Medical Diagnosis, Five Element Acupuncture, and the Body-Mind-Spirit connection.
Your individual constitution and healthcare needs are thoughtfully considered. Lifestyle coaching and dietary therapy are given as needed/requested, as well as collaboration with your Western Healthcare Professionals.
Adele treats individual acupuncture patients in Annapolis with special interests in: mental health, C-PTSD, anxiety, depression, women’s health, digestion, and managing chronic illness. She practices Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Five Element Acupuncture, and incorporates her own intuition, compassion, and deep understanding of chronic physical and mental health conditions.
Adele Muir began her career in Integrative Health in 2008 as a marketing professional and office manager for several acupuncture clinics and wellness centers. She then earned her Master of Acupuncture Degree from the Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) and became a Licensed Acupuncturist in the State of Maryland in 2019.
Adele has practiced Yoga for 20+ years. She taught over 1,000 hours as a private and group Yin Yang Yoga instructor in Annapolis from 2011-2021. Adele holds 200 hours of training in Yin Yang Yoga with Tina Lanzoni and 100 hours of Yin Yoga with Biff Mithoefer, author of The Yin Yoga Kit. She uses her knowledge and practice of Yogic philosophy to apply Ayurvedic principles to Acupuncture, including using constitutional treatments, nutrition, and Chakra healing.
Adele is excited to weave together her love of acupuncture and yoga by offering acupuncture treatment during yoga workshops and special events! Adele has offered many workshops including seasonal Yin Yoga workshops with Chinese Medicine education and acupressure, as well as co-facilitated acupuncture and yoga workshops at Prana Studio, Capital SUP, Yoga Barn, True Moon Yoga, and Yogavibez. Adele is an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher.
Liz Gallelli
Liz Gallelli is an expert manual therapist with a doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine.
Her skillset runs deep and stems from over a dozen years in manually-based, outpatient orthopedic clinics and intensive training in several institutes of manual therapy, notably in Functional Manual Therapy (The Institute of Physical Art) and Visceral Mobilization (Barral Institute). She has additional training in Craniosacral technique (Upledger Institute).
Unlike traditional physical therapy, which often focuses on treating isolated symptoms or areas of dysfunction, Liz’s approach regards the entire body and spirit as a wise and interconnected system. She uses both her experience as a physical therapist (expert touch, observation, and interview skills,) and as a bodyworker (intuition and body-led practices) to provide her patients with more integrated and effective treatments.
Treatments can include a blend of manual techniques, body re-education activities, ergonomic training, and patient education.
Liz enjoys meeting new people and helping them not only alleviate pain and dysfunction but also empowers them to actively participate in their own healing journey.
She feels honored to be able to work closely with the human body and spirit on a regular basis.
Christina Baird
Christina is a Licensed Massage Therapist with a passion for healing and helping others. She graduated from Anne Arundel Community College where she learned several techniques and modalities, such as deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, myofascial release, and trigger point therapy from a variety of instructors providing an integrated education. She has a love for learning about the human body and the mind-body connection.
Christina is committed to learning about her client’s experiences and history and creates an individualized plan for each client. She believes that a trusting client-practitioner relationship is integral to providing the most effective care for the best results. She communicates with her clients about how they are feeling, what they like, and what they don’t like to improve their experience during each session.
Christina is a Georgia native, where she worked for several years as an EMS dispatcher. In addition to her passion for massage therapy, she continues to work towards her college educational goals, loves animals, and enjoys collecting and caring for her plant collection.
Vela Haven
Kimberly Marie
Kimberly Marie founded Vela Haven to offer support for new parents in an environment that is non-judgemental, supportive, and knowledgeable. She is certified for each step of the process as a Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Breastfeeding Specialist, and in Lamaze Childbirth. She uses a holistic approach, supporting the needs of the baby as well as the parents to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. With a focus on the whole health, she brings a compassionate and empathic approach to every situation.
Kimberly is committed to the principle that every family is entitled to empowering birth, pregnancy, and postpartum care. Her love of giving back and supporting the community is seen in her volunteer work and advocacy. Kimberly works with many organizations and advocates for pregnancy and birth rights, as well as advocating for support for postnatal health. As an extension of this service, she has authored ‘My Pregnancy Haven’ a guided pregnancy journal to prepare families for a confident pregnancy and postpartum period.
Rooted Cadence Music Therapy
Amanda Rosado, MMT, LPMT, MT-BC, CDP (she/they)
Session spaces with me are about cultivating and sharing collaborative, authentic music experiences to support participants in healing, joy, and understanding. Approaching my work from a person-affirming lens, my therapeutic approach comes almost from what I don’t know, more so than what I do. I strive to enter each interaction with open curiosity, authenticity, flexibility, and even humor - and I empower folks to control their own body, voice, and narrative.
I have been a music therapist for 12 years, supporting folks with mental health needs, neurological disorders, neurodivergence, teens, adults, seniors, and families in end-of-life support. My experience of supporting a variety of needs has given me a lot of perspective on how unique healing looks from person-to-person, and body-to-body. I identify as white, Latine, queer, able-bodied, middle-class, and neurotypical. I am a long-time musician, which is a large part of my identity and wellness.