Practitioners

The Progressive Health Center brings together a diverse team of highly qualified, experienced practitioners who specialize in a wide range of complementary and holistic therapies, including nutrition, stress management, acupuncture, massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, meditation and more. Each professional maintains a holistic approach to care, focusing on understanding and addressing the mental, physical, spirit and emotional needs of each individual-in order to help them achieve their specific health and wellness goals.

Each of our therapists has been carefully selected based on specific criteria and qualifications, which include:

Minimum five years experience in professional discipline
Relevant state and local licenses or certifications (where relevant)
Professional liability insurance
Current CPR certification

Our Practitioners

Allison Archard, MD Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture

Dr. Archard, a family physician who is board certified in family medicine as well as integrative and holistic medicine. She is also trained in medical acupuncture. Dr. Archard attended medical school at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and did her family medicine residency training at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. She received her acupuncture training through Helms’ Medical Institute, an acupuncture training program for physicians. Dr. Archard believes in the importance of treating the whole person, which often involves using complementary medical modalities integrated into traditional medical care.

David Armstrong M.Ac, L.Ac. certified in Acupuncture and Chinese herbs

David received honors in massage school, a Masters Degree in Acupuncture, is board certified in Acupuncture and Chinese herbs and continues to study Universal Life Energy Flow Tai Yi healing techniques. With 14 years experience in the healing profession, David respects and considers each patient as an individual who manifest illness in their own personal way. He uses his intuition to assist with determining the cause of illness and help you understand how life experiences relate to the origins of your health imbalance. This brings about a complete, through and long lasting healing.

Megan Burtt, Certified Reflexologist

Megan incorporates her passion for reflexology, alternative healing and music into an integrative holistic therapy focusing on relaxation and helping the body to heal itself. Megan is a certified Reflexologist through the Academy of Natural Healing and is a RYT 200-registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance. She is a lifetime student of alternative medicine and from personal experience understands the profound effects of helping to bring the body into balance. Similar to acupressure and massage, reflexology is an ancient healing art that maps out the entire body on the hands and feet. Through gentle manipulation, balance can be restored, blood flow increased and nerves calmed. It is a powerful non-invasive practice that can increase relaxation and promote healing. Megan also offers Raindrop Therapy, which uses 9 essential oils for balancing and rejuvenating the mind and body.

Stephanie Carlile, Certified Massage Therapist

Stephanie graduated from the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado in 1997 and operating her private practice ever since. Stephanie specializes in Swedish, Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular, Hot Stone and Prenatal Massage. She works with clients to develop a customized massage session with a variety of techniques to meet individual needs. Overall, the goal is to achieve optimal results. Stephanie is enthusiastic and passionate about the benefits of massage as an integral part of wellness. When not working she enjoys spending time with her husband and five children.

Lee Golub, Life Energy Flow Tai Yi ® and Craniosacral

Lee was honored as one of “Who’s Who Women in Colorado” for her work as a private practitioner, Lee has more than 21 years of experience in hands on healing. In addition to specializing in Tai Yi and cranialsacral therapy for over 12 years, Lee offers a wide range of therapies that include Healing Touch, Mari-El, Triom, reflexology, bioenergetics as well as Tai Yi and cranialsacral therapy.

Lee also offers Maori art self-assessment classes with meditations as well as holds workshops throughout the year at her Flowing Spirit Ranch, which encourages participants to experience self, laughter and rejuvenation in nature. Since 1987, she has also led annual spiritual retreats that allow individuals to be with dolphins and/or whales. Lee earned undergraduate degrees in both sociology and psychology from the University of Denver and attended Naropa College for graduate work.

Julie Kora, Registered Dietitian

Julie earned her undergraduate degree in nutrition at Bastyr University and completed her master's degree at SUNY Stony Brook. Julie is devoted to incorporating integrative therapies into treatment protocols for those struggling with medical issues. She offers nutrition counseling for individuals, couples and families. Julie prepares individualized meal plans, diet analyses, personalized handouts, recipes, book recommendations and supplemental information to support optimal nutrition as a lifestyle. Julie also offers grocery store tours at a grocery store of the client's choice to navigate the aisles to help make healthy eating even more accessible. Julie has treated a wide range of nutrition and health conditions, including: diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure and cholesterol, nutrition and food choices for weight loss or gain, PCOS, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, cancer, GI conditions, skin health, sports nutrition, eating disorders, food allergies and sensitivities, improving vitality and reducing fatigue through food, nutrition for children and healthy aging.

Kim Oliva, Certified Yoga Teacher

In 2007, she studied and trained with Karen Quinn at Rishis Crossing, receiving her Yoga Alliance Certification. She also received her certification with Abby Wills with Yoga Ed. providing certification to teach a K-8 curriculum and Tools for Teachers in the classroom as a piece for professional development. Kim has recently created an after-school programs for Elementary schools in Denver and Centennial entitled, “Mind, Body & Fun,” using the curriculum from Yoga Ed. Kim also teaches for The Wellness Initiative at Brown Elementary in Denver. She also teaches Family Yoga classes at Progressive Health Center and Gentle Restorative class at the Denver Athletic Club.

Karen J. Quinn, Certified Yoga Therapist and Registered Yoga Teacher

Karen works with clients to alleviate pain, create balance and expand awareness of body, breath and healing. Offering classes and private sessions, she teaches individuals the many tools of yoga therapy to alleviate stress, improve sleep, ease chronic illnesses and repair athletic injuries. She is the director and lead instructor for the Rishis Crossing Yoga School, providing Yoga Alliance approved-200 hour Yoga Teacher Training.

Karen has completed 1,200 hours of training in a variety of modalities, including anatomy, physiology; breathe practices, ayurveda, therapeutic touch, meditation and inner conscious relaxation. Prior to her yoga career, Karen spent many years as a patient advocate and international public speaker, working with insurance companies, hospice, healthcare associations and hospital staff to examine and create a place of safety and calm around the shared experience of life’s ending.

Karen worked as the Executive Director of Leadership Denver Association and was CFO of Aerial Colorado, an aerial film company. For six years, she served on the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners and the Craig Hospital Board of Directors. Currently, she serves as a member of the Craig Hospital Foundation Board.

O’Tasha Rivers, Life Energy Flow Tai Yi ® and Craniosacral

O’Tasha brings more than 15 years of experience in assisting individuals through alternative therapies to unify the mind, body and heart. Through this holistic approach, she helps individuals access and allow the expression of health, joy, love, creativity and purpose. She is a graduate of the School of Therapeutic Touch in Colorado and has completed more than 925 hours of study with a Master Healer in the Chinese art of Tai Yi. In addition to assisting clients in their lives and healing processes, O'Tasha has held key positions within various non- profit organizations, including board member and fundraising chair for the American Cancer Society in Colorado and serves as co-facilitator of annual wild dolphin swim workshops in Kona, Hawaii.

Jan Ruscio L.Ac. Nationally Board Certified Acupuncturist (NCCAOM)

Jan Ruscio is a licensed acupuncturist with the State of Colorado, and she is nationally certified as a Diplomat in Acupuncture (NCCAOM). She has had an acupuncture practice since 2002. Jan was inspired to study acupuncture after having seen the many health benefits of the ancient healing art of yoga. She is interested in enhancing not only the physical aspects of health, but also helping her clients change their life patterns, emotionally and mentally. A Colorado native, Jan has practiced and taught yoga for eighteen years.

Jan has additional training for allergy elimination. A new technique for eliminating allergies based on a technique developed by Dr. Nambrudipad. The technique involves no needles, but is based on the acupuncture meridian system, and applied kinesiology. This system re-trains the body and corrects errant responses in the immune system. It is painless and effective. In addition to hay fever like symptoms: sneezing and itchy, watery eyes allergies are responsible for a variety of health problems including: Headaches, Eczema and Skin Rashes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Autoimmune System Disorders, Digestive and Colon Disorders, Multiple chemical sensitivites, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia.

Michael Timmons, MA, MT-BC, NMT; Board-Certified Music Therapist

Michael uses music therapy and client-centered psychotherapy to help people relieve emotional distress, achieve optimal health and develop their fullest potential. Research demonstrates music therapy helps people achieve significant mental and physical health benefits largely through the profound effect music has on the human brain. In addition to directly stimulating healthy brain activity, music therapy has been shown to help people increase their physical, mental and creative activity, improve immune system functioning, regulate heart and breathing rates, and allow for greater emotional processing and connection to one’s spiritual belief system. Michael has seen music therapy have a profound positive effect on individuals and groups of all ages and conditions because it is easy to engage in, actively involves clients in the healing process, and mobilizes each person’s innate potential and strengths.

Michael has been working in the human services field with people of all ages and backgrounds since 1993. He received a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University in 1997 and an M.A. in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology with a Concentration in Music Therapy from Naropa University in 2006. In 2008, he became Board-Certified in Music Therapy and completed advanced-level training in Neurologic Music Therapy—enabling him to use targeted music therapy interventions to address specific neurological disorders.

Susan Schmidt, Certified Yoga Instructor

After an initial introducing to yoga more than 30 years ago, Susan has continually developed her knowledge and teaching skills through unique study opportunities and teaching commitments. While the demands of raising four children limited ability to teach consistently over the next several years, Susan always continued her individual practice while furthering her studies of yoga philosophy. In 2001, she completed her 200-hour yoga instructor training with the Gentle Strength Yoga center in Denver and has continued her education by working with established leaders within the yoga community, including Karen Quinn. Susan has also attended six consecutive Yoga Journal Annual Conferences, studying with nationally known yoga teachers, and has also attended numerous continuing education workshops to refine her skills and expertise in various yoga therapies, including ayurvedic therapy. As a teacher, Susan's philosophy is that yoga should leave you feeling renewed, restored, and revitalized--regardless of age, gender or physical strength.

Jeannie Smith, Certified Gestalt Therapist and Advanced Tai Yi Practitioner

Jeannie's counseling and Tai Yi energy work go beyond just working with symptoms, assisting clients to identify and work toward healing the causes that block joy and a sense of well-being. In doing so, clients can gain deeper insights into themselves and a broader perspective on what is happening in their life. Jeannie helps clients to understand that the body, mind, emotions and spirit are integrated and how they work together and helps them make choices to heal on all levels. Jeannie received her BS degree in Counseling and Mental Health, graduating suma cum laude and is a member of Colorado Association of Psychotherapists. She completed her post-graduate work at Boulder Psychotherapy Institute and is a Certified Gestalt Therapist. Jeannie is in her 15th year of on-going training in Life Energy Flow Tai Yi and is a Certified Advanced Tai Yi Practitioner. She has been in private practice for over 10 years.

Jeanne Thornton,Certified Yoga Instructor

Jeanne has taught full-time in South Denver metro area since 1999. Following careers in social work and healthcare, she certified to teach yoga at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts and taught for several years at The Yoga Connection in Littleton, CO before going out "on her own" in 2002. Eventually she opened Yoga Oasis in January 2005.

Jeanne's teaching style integrates the ancient teachings of Yoga and other wisdom traditions with the realities of living life "in the present moment", honoring our Divine expression, attentively listening to our bodies and cultivating equanimity and compassion towards self and others. Her gentle and nurturing approach to the study and practice of yoga invites students to get in touch with who they truly are, not only in their bodies, but at all levels of being. Jeanne currently teaches classes at various locations in Littleton and Englewood. In addition, she offers private instruction, yoga retreats and a variety of workshops.

Tami Urbanek, MA

Tami has over 12 years experience in education, with seven of those years as a certified teacher in the public school and private school system in Colorado. Tami earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, a Master's Degree in Special Education and a Master's Degree in Public Administration-all completed at The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Her teaching certificates include Special Education, K-12, and regular education Secondary Language Arts. Her certified teaching experience began for Pikes Peak Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), running a self-contained, center-based program for high school students who were identified with emotional disabilities in the Eastern El Paso County. Tami's experience expanded to middle school students at Fountain Fort Carson-District 8, Carson Middle School, as a teacher for students with learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, and students without identified disabilities. Eagle's Nest School employed Tami as the Academic Director as well. Her time at Eagle's Nest was centered on assisting adolescent boys in working through their academic difficulties and creating an academic plan that fit their needs specifically while the student worked on his emotional healing during his stay at Eagle's Nest School.

Tami also occasionally teaches incoming teachers earning their certificate at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, as well as serving as a board director for a Teller County nonprofit and working with adolescent girls and women. While working at Carson Middle School, she earned two awards: Certified Employee of the Year 2005 and Distinguished Teacher Award 2006.

Susan Wong,Certified Massage Therapist, CAC III

Susan is a graduate of the Massage Therapy Institute of Colorado, where she has also served as a Teaching Assistant. Susan is a certified member of the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. While completing her studies in massage, Susan was an addictions counselor for Denver’s homeless at Stout Street Clinic. She had a special alliance with many homeless American Indians from a wide variety of Nations and held a weekly Talking Circle. She continues to work diligently in developing her skills. Susan’s ongoing education to date includes CranioSacral, Reflexology, Jin Shin Jyutsu and Essential Oils. Susan incorporates these elements into each of her individualized sessions, in addition to Swedish, Deep Tissue, Range of Motion, and Neuromuscular therapeutic applications. Drawing on her many years of working with people in the field of cognitive/behavioral change, Susan has come to deeply value the non-verbal use of touch as a powerful tool for well-being and healing change.