Practitioners

Peter Marinakis, PhD, MAc, LicAc, FNAAOM, Dipl CH,
is a distinguished lecturer and faculty at Tai Sophia Institute and cofounder of FULL CIRCLE Healing Arts, a full service integrative health center. He is the founder and first director of the Community Health Inititative (CHI) at one time operating community health sites at the Baltimore City Detention Center (BCDC); The Johns Hopkins Hospital Comprehensive Womens Center; Howard County comprehensive drug abuse treatment center; Bons Secour Hospital, and The Penn North Community Health Center.


Dr. Marinakis has a long history in the health care field spanning some three decades. He has been a clinical psychologist, in private practice and served as a psychologist with the Deptartment of Commerce, in Washington D.C., serving the NOAA scientists; He served with the Department of the Navy for two years at Bethesda Naval Hospital, TriSarf, as a Clinical preceptor to serviceman and staff, suffering from PTSD. He has developed training and development programs for the National Institutes of Health ( NIAAA, NIDA, ADAMHA), Univeristy Research Associates, Department of Justice and USDA Graduate School all in the capacity as (TOT) training development and consultant in the fields of addiction, organizational development, clinical rehabilitation, family therapy, personality development and group and individual therapy and developed and lead training programs in stress relief and physiology nationally; to a name a few.

He is the past president of the (AAAOM) American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; past president of the (MAS) Maryland Acupuncture Society, Past Commissioner for (ACAOM) Natioal Accrediation Commission for Acupuncture and Orientl Medicine, He is a certified trainer for NADA and has served on the board for the National Commission for licensing review and examination. He loves working with children and the elderly in his OM practice and leads an extensive practice involving community wellness programs, teaching, lecturing, writing and enjoying his two daughters and wife. He enjoys gardening as his stress relief.

Clemency Knox, M.Ac., L.Ac.,
is cofounder of FULL CIRCLE Healing Arts and a licensed acupuncturist since 1994. She graduated from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia Maryland where she also studied herbology. She is certified in Facial Rejuvination Acupuncture and by the National Association of Detox Acupuncture. With a special interest in addictions work she has facilitated the development of acupuncture detox clinics at various sites including PennNorth, Baltimore, John’s Hopkins and the Baltimore Women’s Detention Center. Clem served on the board of the Maryland Acupuncture Society and is past assistant faculty at the Tai Sophia Institute and guest lecturer at the Maryland Institute of Chinese Medicine.

Monna Laird, L.Ac,. Dipl.Ac. (NCCAOM),
has a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.S. in Oriental Medicine from the Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture in Phoenix, Arizona. Monna’s practice combines the best traditions of Chinese acupuncture and herbology with modern needleless techniques of electroacupuncture and Colorpuncture. She is studying Esogetic Medicine, the innovative work of the German naturopath Dr. Peter Mandel, a complete therapeutic system using light frequencies on acupuncture points to gently heal deep seated disease patterns.

Brittney Turner, M.Ac., L.Ac.

Brittney recieved her Master of Acupuncture degree from the Tai Sophia Institute in Columbia, Maryland and has studied with various teachers at different schools throughout the country. She is certified as a an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association. and is a member of the Maryland Acupuncture Society.

Acupuncture helped Brittney to overcome chronic health issues that were ruling her life. Based on her positive experience she chose to study acupuncture so that she could share its healing benefits with others. She has a particular interest in working with people who experience fibromyalgia, MS and various psychological disorders.

In addition to her ongoing studies of acupuncture and chinese medicine, Brittney is a longtime student of yoga and and Eastern Philosophy. She incorporates the information she learns through ongoing yoga practice and studies into each patient's unique treatment plan for wellness.

Click here to visit Brittney's website.

Judy Brecka, BS, AA, CMT, CE,
is a national and state licensed Massage Therapist, Reiki Master/Teacher and Certified Esthetiian. She earned her BS in Sociology and her AA in Education and worked in the public domain for 32 years. In 2000 she was licensed as a massage therapist and Esthetician. With continuing studies in holistic healing, she became a Reiki Master/Teacher holding classes at Full Circle Healing Arts. Her specialties include Swedish, myofacial release, deep tissue, pregnancy and European hot stone massage. Combining her skills in these areas, Judy can customize a massage or Reiki protocol to meet your personal medical, emotional or spiritual needs.

Audrey Goldberg is a Certified Rolfer™ and will be a Certified Rolf Movement® Practitioner by October 2010.
She graduated from the Rolf Institute® of Structural Integration in Boulder, Colorado. Audrey incorporates CranioSacral therapy in her work and is studying with The Upledger Institute.
Prior to her studies in Boulder, Audrey studied Outdoor Experiential Education, Environmental Studies, and Yoga at Prescott College in Arizona. She explored the western U.S. boating rivers, skiing mountains, hiking canyons, and scaling rocks. These adventures took her from Arizona to California, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, and Mexico and everywhere in between. After a low back skiing injury, Audrey sought help from many doctors that were unable to help her get long term relief. She turned to Rolfing® and after a ten series she was sold on the effectiveness of the work. Feeling called to offer this help to others, she began studies in Boulder. "I have always been fascinated by the way bodies move and work. And I have studied my own relationship to movement and expression in my athletic pursuits and yoga training. Becoming a Rolfer has allowed me to help others explore and deepen their relationships to movement and their bodies. There is an inherent blueprint of optimal health for everyone and it is unique to each individual. To hold space and allow that health to be expressed and rediscovered is truly an honor."
After graduating from the Rolf Institute, lived in California where she was Rolfing® and farming part time in the Sierra Nevada foothills. She has returned to Maryland to be near family, uncover new mysteries of an old place, and share Rolfing® in the community.

Don Firmani, LCSW-C, LCSW,
has been practicing psychotherapy since 1992 primarily with adults, couples, adolescents and families since completing his MSW at The Catholic University of America. Don also completed the Certificate Program for Children and Adolescent Treatment at the University of Maryland School of Social Work, and EMDR training for treatment of PTSD and anxiety at EMDR of Greater Washington. He has studied in The Pastoral Counseling CAS Program at Loyola University in Maryland and is an Auricular Detoxification Specialist.

Don retired in 2007 from a 35 year career as owner/manager of Northeast Iron Works in Washington, DC and now enjoys devoting more time to his psychotherapy practice at Catholic Charities, Arlington and private practice in Silver Spring, Columbia and Annapolis, MD. He has a particular interest in the spiritual aspects of therapy, trauma survivors, addiction recovery, and couple's treatment. Don relaxes by swimming, kayaking, cycling, and cooking and treasures his time with his wife and family. He is a doting grandfather and has a very energetic Airedale Terrier that walks him daily.

Dr. Gwen G. MacGregor, MhT
is a nationally recognized Intuitive Life Coach, Reiki Master, Medical Intuitive, and a Certified Transpersonal Hypnotherapist. Her background in Sociology, Hospice, 20 years of empowerment work stopping abuse against children and adults, counseling and utilizing her Masters in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy (NATH), has led to a career rich in compassionate action. She teaches Ascendant Masters Classes throughout the Metro area and works with Past-Life Regression Therapy. Dr. Gwen taught Continuing Education Courses at Prince George's and Howard County Community Colleges for 15 years.

Dr. Gwen has dedicated the past thirty-eight years of her life to promoting spiritual and physical integration as a way of life. She regularly consults with medical doctors, psychologists, acupuncturists and chiropractors, assisting with patient diagnosis. Her spiritual consultations address such issues as personal health, addictions, success, loving relationships and self-empowerment techniques. Clients are moved to take greater responsibility for their lives. Dr. Gwen believes, "We have been sent here to Earth to learn about love and experience all kinds of compassionate relationships. Once we take responsibility for our actions and our own happiness, the destiny we were born into becomes a natural progression for us."