Clyde Anderson, LMT, CMT
Clyde Anderson graduated from PMTI in July 2001and joined the faculty in 2002. He teaches hands’ on theory of Swedish and deep tissue massage to 1st and 2nd level students and Introduction to Active Isolated Stretching-Mattes Method (AIS-MM) to 3rd level students. Clyde also teaches Active Isolated Stretching to massage therapists for continuing education. Clyde has continued his own education by taking advanced courses in Oncology Massage, Orthopedic Massage, and Active Isolated Stretching. Clyde participated as a board member for the District of Columbia Massage Licensing Board from 2004-2005, served on the Ethics and Standard Committee as an Investigative Panel member from 2006-2008 and is currently serving as a voting board member of Maryland Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners. He is co-owner of A Calmness Within Massage Therapy—a Silver Spring, Maryland therapeutic massage practice which he helped envision and create.
Jaime Bernardo, LCMT. B.S.
Jaime holds a degree in Business Management from the University of Maryland and graduated from PMTI in 2000. Jaime maintains a private practice in massage therapy, and has additional training in Craniosacral Therapy, Thai massage, Facilitated Stretching, Lymph drainage, Myokinesthetic Therapy, Musculoskeletal alignment technique and La Stone Therapy certification. He also has advanced training in Active Isolated Stretching, Reflexology, Reiki I & II. Jaime is a member of the National Capital Area Sports Massage Team and the Massage Emergency Response Team (M.E.R.T.).
Jean Briggs, LMT, NCTMB
Jean holds an AA degree from Prince Georges Community College in studio art, attended Towson State University from 1975-1977 studying Communications, and attended the University of Maryland from 1986-1987 studying Art History. Jean graduated from PMTI in 2005. After participating in the PMTI teaching intern program from March 2005 through February 2006, Jean joined the faculty as a Teaching Assistant in March 2006. Jean has additional training in Reiki Levels 1 and 2, hot stone massage and participated in the Georgetown Mini-Med Gross Anatomy class. Jean maintains a private practice in massage, integrating her Swedish and deep tissue work with Reiki energy healing. Jean is the Faculty Staff Representative on the PMTI Board of Directors and also serves as the Level 3 Student Advisor.
Cathy Taylor Cahill, LCMT, NCTMB
Cathy graduated from PMTI in February 2004. She also holds a B.S. in Consumer Affairs from Auburn University. Continuing Education courses that she has completed include Bodywork for the Childbearing Year and Hot Stone Massage. She is currently working toward certification in Neuromuscular Therapy. Cathy practices massage in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA and is a member of AMTA.
P. Marcia Castrence
P. Marcia Castrence is a 2000 graduate of PMTI. She holds a B.A. in Communication Arts with a Dance Minor. Marcia is currently on staff as a clinic instructor and as an instructor in Level 2. She currently maintains a private practice in Dupont Circle.
Caren Clift, LCMT, NCTMB
Caren graduated from PMTI in 2002 and is currently attending the University of Maryland, working towards a degree in Kinesiology. Before joining the PMTI faculty, Caren was a lead instructor in an Associate’s Degree massage therapy program. Caren join the PMTI teaching team in 2006. She has additional training in neuromuscular therapy, active isolated stretching, hot stone massage, trigger point therapy, sports massage, reflexology, and Reiki. Caren maintains a private practice in massage.
S. Michael Duggan, LCMT, NCTMB
Mike attended Towson State University and graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage in 1993. Mike has additional training in Orthobionomy, Mechanical Link I and is certified in Zero Balancing. He maintains a private practice in massage therapy. Mike also serves as the Level 2 Student Advisor.
Lucille Eddy, CMT, NCTMB
Lucille graduated from PMTI in 2004, having earned an Associates of Science degree from the Northern Virginia Community College in 1999. Lucille received basic teaching instruction during her service in the United State Navy. Lucille joined the PMTI faculty in 2005 as a teaching assistant in the practical classes. She has additional training in orthopedic assessment and massage, massage for cancer patients and hot stone massage. Lucille maintains a private practice in massage therapy.
Timothy Fisher, LMT, NCTMB
Tim Fisher is a licensed massage therapist practicing in Bethesda, Maryland. Having excavated skeletal remains in the jungles of Belize, he brings a background in Archaeology and Anthropology (BA - Pennsylvania 80; MA - Arizona 82) to the study of muscular skeletal anatomy and physiology. As a competitive adult figure skater, he is interested in sports massage and is continuing his practical education in the field of Neuromuscular Therapy.
Tam Gelman, LMT, CMT
A PMTI graduate from 2002 attended Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN Tam is a Reiki III Teacher and ARCH Master. She has additional training in Reconnective Healing, Thai Yoga Massage, and Myofascial Release. Tam owns and operates a wellness center in Kensington, Maryland where she maintains a private practice in massage therapy and energy work.
Linda Goodbrake, LCMT
Linda graduated from PMTI’s Professional Training Program in February 2000. She joined the PMTI staff as an Intern for Level II Academics in 2000. Her modalities include Swedish, Deep Tissue, Trigger Point Therapy, Connective Tissue Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Reiki. Linda has returned to the PMTI as a Clinic Instructor for the school. Linda maintains her own practice in Falls Church. She is licensed in Alabama, Virginia and Washington DC. She is a professional member of AMTA.
Amanda Groner Avenoso
Joani “Aja” Hartman, LCMT, NCTMB, AMTA
Having graduated from PMTI in 1997, Aja has since received advanced training in Namikoshi Shiatsu, Reiki, Ancient Rainbow Conscious Healing, Infant Massage, and Tui Na Seated Stool. Aja currently serves as the staff massage therapist at National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. She maintains a private practice in Germantown, MD. She says, “When teaching and giving massage, my desire is to impart kind intention, energy from the heart, an open mind and soft hands. Add a little mindfulness and only good can happen.”
Monika Holland, LMT, NCTMB
Graduated from PMTI in 2004 and joined the faculty in 2005 as a fieldwork instructor. Monica learned her teaching skills in the PMTI teaching intern program from 2004-2005. She has additional training in hot stone massage, table Thai and pregnancy massage. Monika maintains a private practice in massage therapy.
Melinda Hull, MSW, LMT
Melinda is very proud to be born and raised in the great state of Maine. She completed her undergraduate and graduate work at New York University and Boston University. After living and working in several major U.S. cities, the United Arab Emirates and Cyprus, Melinda moved to the DC-metro area in 2003 to work for the Embassy of Kuwait. Melinda joined PMTI as a student in 2006 and graduated in February 2008. In addition to practicing massage part-time, Melinda is the Level Three coordinator for the evening classes at PMTI, and is pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Administration at The George Washington University.
Nichole Jefferson, LCMT, NCTMB, AMTA
Nichole Jefferson is a graduate of PMTI. She is a nationally certified and licensed massage therapist and a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association, and has 17 years of medical experience, including medical technology, cardiovascular invasive technology, and education. She is currently teaching Massage Therapy and Business Practices at PMTI, and is the owner of Caressence Therapeutic Massage and Caressential Oils and Butters. Nichole is trained in a variety of modalities from Reiki, to Swedish and deep tissue massage, aromatherapy using Young Living Essential oils, hot stone massage, back massage, corporate chair massage, raindrop technique, and vita-flex. Nichole believes in doing what is necessary to ensure that each client experiences healing through touch.
Kathleen Keller, LCMT, SNJM, NCTMB, AMTA. MS in Health Education
Russell Sage College; graduated from PMTI in1990.Kathleen was named PMTI’s Teacher of the Year for 1996 and the American Massage Therapy Association’s Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year Award for 1996. She has advanced training in Reiki, Neuromuscular Therapy, Reflexology, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Trager, Polarity, Ethics, Massage for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, Manual Lymph Drainage, Medical Massage for Cancer Patients and Communicable Diseases. Kathleen has worked as a massage therapist in a psychiatric setting since 1991 and maintains a private practice in massage therapy. She says, “As a teacher, I feel my job is to help the student become the best massage therapist they can be. That means learning to care for themselves as they care for another in a competent and professional manner. I teach at PMTI because it gives me the opportunity to share some of the wealth I have gained from my years as a massage therapist. I love watching the “aha” moments students have when they put their techniques, body mechanics, and intuition together, creating their own style from what they have learned.”
Jessica LaGarde, LMT, NCTMB
Jessica attended Washington College from 1998-2000 in the liberal arts program. She graduated from PMTI in 2006. Jessica learned her teaching skills in the PMTI teaching intern program and joined the faculty in 2007 as a clinic instructor. Jessica maintains a private practice in massage therapy.
Susan Landau, LMT, NCTMB
Susan has a B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland and an M.B.A. from Florida State University. She graduated from PMTI in 1988. Susan is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and has advanced training in Seated Massage. She maintains a private practice in massage therapy.
Masha Levy, LMT
Masha came to PMTI with a BS in Business and Psychology from University of Maryland. She graduated from PMTI in 2003 and served as a teaching intern prior to joining the faculty. Currently Masha is a Practical Lead Instructor in Level 1. Masha works in the spa industry and maintains a private practice in Rockville, MD. She incorporates her training in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Pregnancy and Thai Yoga Massage in her work. Masha credits PMTI with teaching her to view massage therapy as a deeply meaningful and creative profession. She strongly believes in PMTI mission and considers it an honor to teach side by side with some of the best and most knowledgeable massage educators in the US. Please visit Masha’s website at www. mashalevy.com.
Brenda Rayner, LMT
Received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Dramatic Literature from Goucher College in Towson MD and completed the PMTI program in 2002. Brenda has continued to teach and practice massage part time while working full time as a staff accountant. Her continuing education training in massage therapy includes orthopedic massage, sports massage, and pregnancy massage, and she is an Instructor of Infant Massage. Brenda has also taken numerous classes specific to adult education in massage therapy programs through the AMTA Council of Schools and is an Instructor in the level 2 academic and practical classes, as well as serving as a member of the Research Team. Brenda sees clients in Washington DC in a group practice owned and staffed by PMTI graduates. Brenda also serves as the Level 1 Student Advisor. She says, “I feel this is a unique program where information is not simply memorized; it is experienced, embodied and expressed by each student. Being able to contribute to and share in that experience with students is a privilege.”
Bob Schleichert, LMT, RMP, NCTMB
Bob graduated from PMTI in 2004 and has additional training in Reiki, Compassionate Touch, Couples Massage, Massage for Low Back Pain, Massage for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, HIV/AIDS and Ethics for Massage Therapists. He teaches in various levels of the training program and maintains a private practice in Maryland and DC.
Rob Sherrod, LMT
Rob attended the University of Maryland and graduated from PMTI in 1998. He has advanced training in Connective Tissue Massage, Infant Massage Instructor Training, Massage as Medical Intervention, Repetitive Strain Injuries, and hot stone massage. Rob is a lead instructor in the Level 1 practical courses and maintains a private practice in massage therapy.
Dori Ann Steele, CMT
Dori Anne Steele, CMT, CSP, has been nationally certified in Swedish and deep tissue massage and has practiced bodywork for 14 years. She is a 1994 graduate of PMTI and graduated from the French Institute of Cosmetology and Esthetics of Washington DC in 2006 She also has a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from Goddard College in Vermont, and is a published author. Dori Anne has advanced post-graduate training in Myofascial Release, Craniosacral Therapy, Reflexology, and Facial Rejuvenation. She has also been a Reiki Master since 1999.
Lydia Weber, LCMT
Lydia is a member of AMTA and graduated from PMTI in 2006. She also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in New York City. Since 1981, she has worked in the Washington area as a graphic designer/art director at several art studios and at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Before assuming her current position as a lead instructor for PMTI’s Heart of Touch workshop, she served as Assistant Instructor for the Professional Training Program. Lydia also serves as an Intern Instructor in the Professional Training Program and practices massage therapy in the PMTI professional clinic, while she continues to build her private practice.