Instructors
Rita Melissano, Ph.D
Executive Director
Meditation, Reiki Training, Spiritual Retreats
(309) 793-7881
Rita R. Melissano, Ph.D. graduated from the University of Padua and was a Clinical Psychologist in Italy before coming to the United States. She has also received a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT in 1990 and is currently practicing as such in both states of Illinois and Iowa.
With almost 30 years of clinical experience, Dr. Melissano has worked with individuals, couples, families and groups of every socio-economic and ethnic background, spiritual belief, age and sexual orientation. She is a Clinical Member and an Approved Supervisor of AAMFT, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Melissano speaks Spanish, French, Italian, and English, some Mandarin Chinese and Modern Greek. She has traveled extensively and presented in international university settings and world congresses (e.g. China, India, Hungary, Norway, Ecuador). She has played multiple roles professionally as a speaker, workshop leader, educator (St. Ambrose University, University of Iowa) and a diversity trainer. As such, Dr. Melissano combines her theoretical and directly acquired knowledge of different cultures with her clinical experience and spiritual philosophy. Indeed, her spiritual philosophy permeates her entire professional work and personal life. Her knowledge and teachings of the diverse spiritual traditions and ancient healing practices have been an inspiration to her audiences. She is currently writing a book on the art of mindful and spiritual living. For almost 30 years of her life, she has engaged in a variety of meditation practices, as well as the practices of yoga and T’ai Chi. Dr. Melissano is a meditation teacher and also a certified Reiki Master-Teacher of the Usui Shiki Ryoho tradition and provides training in this field. When she was the executive director of Trinity Enrichment Center she created and organized two regional conferences on “Science and Spirituality” bringing awareness of holistic methodologies into health care practice to address body, mind, and spirit as one. She is often interviewed and consulted by local magazines and newspapers, and has been a frequent guest on live talk shows and local TV stations.
John Hawry, MA, MSN, BS, RN
T’ai Chi
(309) 793-7881
John Hawry began practicing T’ai Chi Chuan 25 years ago and has been teaching it for 18. He teaches both the short and long form of T’ai Chi Chuan as well as T’ai Chi for couples at the Satva Center. He began his career in Anthropology in 1974 at the age of 13 when he participated in his first archaeological dig in southern Illinois. He received his bachelors in Anthropology in 1983 from Illinois State University and his Masters in Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology at Black Hawk College for the last 19 years. He currently works as a registered nurse at Illini hospital and has recently received his Masters as Community Nurse Specialist from the University of Illinois, Chicago. He is currently teaching in the nursing department at Black Hawk College.
Venerable Somnieng
Buddhist Education, Spiritual Retreats
(563) 340-0679
Somneing became a novice monk in 1996 at the age of 16 and moved to Wat Damnak in 1997. He is called Venerable Somnieng in position as the Second Head Monk of Wat Damnak (Damnak Buddhist Temple) in Siem Reap Angkor, Cambodia since 2000. In 2005, he founded the Life and Hope Association (LHA) and continues to lead the Association as the Executive Director. In addition, he is head of the NGO Network in Siem Reap Province, deputy head of NGO advocacy network as well as a head of Social Service Network Against Child Labor and is a founding member of Siem Reap’s Rotary Club. 2002 to May 2005, he was a program manager of the Salvation Center Cambodia, where he worked on issues related to HIV/AIDS and as provincial monk core trainer on HIV/AIDS and drug prevention programs.
Renee Long, B.S.N.
Reiki Treatments
(309) 496-9006
Renee Long is a Reiki Ⅲ Master Practitioner educated in the Usui Shiki Ryoho Tradition. Reiki gently balances life energies and brings health and well being to the recipient. Reiki is a noninvasive healing method administered by the touch of the hands. As a Master Practitioner, Renee has empowerments and advanced techniques promoting wholeness of Mind, Body, and Spirit. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois Wesleyan University and is a Professional Registered Nurse in Illinois and Iowa. Her work has been in the areas of community nursing, education and prevention.
“Reiki has brought focus and purpose to many life experiences. I feel humility, grace, and exuberance when I do any form of energy work. It is an honor to be at Satva.”
Pat McLaughlin, Ph.D, CLF
Labyrinth Walks
(309) 269-4213
Pat is a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator, having received her training from Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress, Founder and Director of Veriditas˜The Worldwide Labyrinth Project, and Robert Ferre, Founder and Director of Labyrinth Enterprises, in 2001. Pat also holds a doctoral degree in Rhetoric and Composition from the University of Oregon (1995). She has taught at the University of Oregon, Lane Community College (Eugene, Oregon), and Central Michigan University. During her academic career, she received several awards for outstanding teaching, distinguished service, and excellence in the field of staff and organizational development.
Art and Sound Healing
Cell- (563) 340-4453
Home- (563) 285-1305
Colleen began her music studies at the age of 10 in the Davenport Public School System. She began teaching privately and playing with the then ‘Tri-City Symphony’ at the age of 17. She received her
BME degree from Augustana College after which she was a band director for 6 years. She then received her MS degree form Western Ill. U. in percussion performance and music education. This brought her back to the Q.C. area where she began teaching at Blackhawk College and St. Ambrose U. All during this time she developed her art skills. Upon leaving St. Ambrose U. she delved into the use of music and art as healing tools, studying the use of toning and receiving certification from the Jonathan Goldman Sound Healers course.
Vicki Sommer, Ph.D
Feng Shui
(309) 755-6132
Vicki L. Sommer’s work life began as a psychiatric social worker for a year, after which she entered graduate school, earning a master’s degree in social work from the University of Iowa. Her second career has been as a college professor at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois, teaching social work, sociology, and gender. She earned her Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education from the University of Iowa in 1987. Her personal interests have in many ways paralleled her professional work – helping and teaching. She is passionate about vibrational (energy) medicine, alternative methods of healing, and Feng Shui. In September of 2003, Vicki was gathered as a Master of the Angelic Gateway, in Woodhull, Illinois. Vicki L. Sommer is a graduate from the first class [2005] of Feng Shui for Us™ training programs for Practitioners and Teachers.
Feng Shui Certificates
*Nine Steps to Feng Shui Practicioner™
*Nine Steps to Feng Shui Teacher™
Dr. Harsha Mehta, M.D.
Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Ayurveda
(309) 335-3720
Harsha Mehta M.D. is a family physician practicing in Galesburg, IL for over 25 years. Prior to that she practiced for 3 years in Mumbai, India with her father and received training in Ayurvedic Medicine.
She received training in Acupuncture staring in June of 2000, initially through the Academy of Pain affiliated with Stanford University, 2 years later through Helms Institute affiliated with UCLA and practicing acupuncture since late 2000. She received the Board Certification through the American Board of Medical Acupuncture in February 2006, and received training in Dr. Tung’s style as well.
Dr. Mehta recently received training in Homeopathy through the CEDH this year and is incorporating homeopathy into her practice as well as Ayurveda.
She has practiced Yoga for many years and trained in Kathak (North Indian) Style dancing and has had the good fortune to teach a few young children. She is also an avid gardener, painter and potter.
Dr. Shrikant Mehta, M.D.
Acupuncture, Homeopathy
(309) 335-3718
Shrikant Mehta M.D. has been a General Family Practitioner in the Galesburg area for the last 25 years. At present he is an active staff member in the Department of Family Practice at Cottage Hospital and also at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, both in Galesburg, IL. He received extensive Acupuncture training through the Stanford School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology and also at St. Luke’s Hospital and Academy of Pain Research in 2000. He received additional training in acupuncture through the UCLA School of Medicine in 2003. He was certified by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture in February 2006 and is a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists. He has been practicing acupuncture for over 8 years. Dr. Shrikant Mehta also received training in Homeopathy through CEDM and has incorporated it into his practice.
Janet Darmour-Paul
Hatha and Gentle Yoga
563 391-5723
Janet is a certified yoga instructor trained under Jeani Mackenzie of the Davenport School of Yoga. She was introduced to hatha yoga in 1995 by Indira Ghosh. Janet has a master’s degree from Eden Seminary and has served several churches as a minister in the United Church of Christ. She became interested in meditation and contemplative practices for spiritual nurture. She finds yoga and meditation to be vital for health and growth.
Gig Wisuporn
Thai Massage
(563) 340-8185
Gig began practicing Thai massage in 2000, beginning with facial massage using Artistry and Thai herbal treatments. Soon after she developed her speciality, foot massage. In 2002, Gig came to the U.S., practicing as a Thai masseuse in Augusta, Georgia. In 2004 she relocated to the Quad Cities, and currently manages “Crazy Wok” in Davenport, and “Tantra” in Muscatine. Gig offers her clients the deeply relaxing integrated practice of passive Yoga, meditation, reflexology and acupressure as part of the Thai massage experience. She is certified in traditional Thai Massage (400 hours), foot massage (60 hours), herbal sauna and hot compress (100 hours) through the Udonthani School in Thailand. Gig’s family has practiced herbal healing for many generations. She offers traditional Thai massage exclusively through the Satva Center.
Aeed Chantawee, BSN, MS, RN, Scientist
Thai Massage
(309) 716-7399
Aeed Chantawee has a BS. in Nursing and a MS. in Pharmacology. She is a skilled RN with a broad range of health care experiences. Aeed graduated from the nursing program of Khon Kaen University, Thailand in 1992. She earned a Master’s degree of Science in Pharmacology from the same university in the Faculty of Medicine in 2000. She is a caring professional with superior communication and management skills. With more than 15 years as an oncology nurse and over 6 years of clinical research experience as a scientist. Aeed has worked with a broad range of diverse clientele. She is certified from the School of Professional Carrier Extension and Thai Cultural Spa, Thailand, in the science and art of Thai massage, oil massage, and foot massage. She has been offering Thai massage since her coming to the USA in 2006.
Audrey Dalchow
Reiki, Facilitator for Oncology Patients
Office- (563) 289-3469
Cell- (563) 340-1817
Audrey’s personal life journey is what influenced her down many paths of the spiritual and healing arts. Graduating from St. Ambrose University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, helped her incorporate these concentrated areas with the Healing Arts: for the purpose of healing
disruptions to the body and spirit. Emotional or physical illness begins when chakras are blocked. Her own life’s journey of stage Ⅳ lung cancer that had metastasized to through her lymph-nodes and brain, gave her great inspiration to use all her knowledge and techniques to combine the Eastern and
Western culture practice in her long term fight for cancer survival. Cancer like many illnesses is a very personal and life altering journey. Using the combination of Eastern and Western practices, one can find “peace”, that will help to heal a person physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Life is a wonderful journey, which needs embraced and loved.
May your spirit be guided daily towards “Enlightenment and Peace.”
Amy Petersen
Integrative Reflexology
Office- (563) 381-1030
Cell- (563) 343-6821
Amy Petersen is a certified Integrative Reflexology practitioner and instructor. She has been in practice for six years and teaches Compassionate Care Integrative Reflexology classes for family members interested in supporting the health care of their family members. She is a professional member and Board Secretary of the Reflexology Association of Iowa. She lives on a sustainable dairy farm with her husband, her children, and 115 of those cute black and white cows.
