Our story
One might even say… our roots. Our sprouts? Too much?
ABOUT OUR PRACTICE
We are a holistic healing center designed to simplify your healing journey. Through the power of integrative medicine, we address pain or discomfort in the body and mind - so that you can get back to living life, wholeheartedly.
OUR PRACTITIONERS
MEET THE SOUL SQUAD
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MEET THE SOUL SQUAD
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MEET THE SOUL SQUAD
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MEET THE SOUL SQUAD ✸ MEET THE SOUL SQUAD ✸ MEET THE SOUL SQUAD ✸
DR. MAUREEN GIESE,
DACM, LAc, LMT / Founder & Owner
“I believe that treating the source of disease and empowering people to take control of their own health gives people what they need to bring positivity to their own lives and the lives of others.”
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Dr. Maureen Giese graduated from Pacific College of Health and Science with a Masters in Traditional Oriental Medicine and a Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She also received her Associates Degree in Occupational Studies in Massage Therapy from the Swedish Institute of Allied Health.
Maureen studied Pediatric Acupuncture alongside Robin Green of the Center for Acupuncture Pediatrics and studied oncology support acupuncture with Yair Maimon. So, you know, very educated on this topic.
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At Soul Sprout, Maureen specializes in Cancer Support, Pain Management, and Gastrointestinal Disorders. Beyond the Soul Sprout home base, she works as an Integrative Therapist in the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, NJ.
To say Dr. Giese is passionate is an understatement. She lives and breathes wellness work with a flair for humor and warmth that transforms seemingly heavy situations into empowering opportunities. She works with families using acupuncture, herbal medicine, essential oils, exercise, and nutrition. It is Maureen’s intention to help people live symptom-free or symptom managed lives while limiting the need for pharmaceutical interventions.
STEPHANIE ANIKE
Office Manager
“I love a lot of things about working at Soul Sprout. My coworkers are all so fun, helpful and friendly; the atmosphere is calm, warm, and inviting; but above all, I love hearing from patients and helping connect them to the help they need.”
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Stephanie is the warm-hearted powerhouse who keeps everything running smoothly at Soul Sprout Acupuncture. (Really and truly, we’d be lost without her.)
Intrigued by the notion of an interconnected body and “healing the root cause to in turn heal all of the underlying issues,” is the philosophy that propelled Stephanie towards a life in wellness. She graduated with a Bachelors of Public Health from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing her Masters in Health Care Administration at Purdue University Global. She’s growing and thriving here and we cannot wait to see where in the wellness world she lands long term.
JENNIFER MCINTOSH
LAc & HERBALIST
“I was fascinated by alternative medicine from the time I was a teenager. It helped me through my own health issues and I felt empowered by it from the start.”
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Jennifer Mcintosh is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Board Certified Herbalist who graduated from Pacific College of Health and Sciences. Highly trained in Chinese medicine fertility as it is used adjacent to IVF, IUI, and other reproductive technologies, Jennifer is your go-to human for anything related to fertility, reproduction and gynecology. As a mom to 2 adorable little boys, she is passionate about women’s wellness and helping people produce adorable tiny humans.
“I apprenticed with 3 fertility practices when I first graduated, and most of my continuing education hours have been focused on fertility. I have been working at Reproductive Medical Associates for the past year doing acupuncture for embryo transfers so I have a lot of knowledge on conceiving naturally and also the IVF process.”
Jennifer firmly believes in a holistic approach to health care and provides a tailor-made treatment plan to fit each patient’s needs. If you’re looking for a relaxing experience that leaves you feeling reassured, Jennifer is available every Monday and Thursday from 9am to 3:30pm!
DR. Maria Phillips
DAOM, LAc
“There is no good or bad to Western or Chinese medicine in general. It is how we use it that matters. Do what works best for your body, whether that’s either/or, or some of both!”
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Dr. Maria Phillips, DAOM, LAc, brings over two decades of dedicated experience to the realm of health, wellness, and holistic transformation. She's not just a practitioner; she's a seasoned guide in the journey of mind, body, and spirit.
Maria earned her Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine from Tri-State College of Acupuncture in 2004, followed by her Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the American College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2010, where she focused on the nuanced areas of Pain Management and Women’s Health. So, you know, deeply specialized.
Beyond her foundational training, Maria is certified to provide crucial support to cancer patients through training from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She's also a Reiki Master and well-versed in Cranial Sacral Therapy, adding layers of therapeutic depth to her practice.
Her pursuit of knowledge extends to clinical nutrition, with post-graduate studies at the University of Bridgeport, CT, and she's also certified in Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture, marrying internal health with external radiance.
But Maria's expertise doesn't stop at the physical. A graduate of the New Seminary of New York, she is an Interfaith Minister and Spiritual Counselor, and she has been a Zen Studies Society Meditation Practitioner since 1980, integrating spiritual well-being into her comprehensive approach.
When she's not nurturing others, Maria finds joy in dancing, exploring new cultures through travel, and soaking up the serenity of the beach.
You can find Dr. Phillips at Soul Sprout on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3pm – 8pm!
Lauren Mooney
Sound Therapist + Reiki Practitioner
"It took me a long time to learn that healing is not about advancing, it's about returning repeatedly to forage something." - Chanel Miller
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Lauren Mooney is a certified Reiki Teacher, Sound Therapist & Grief Guide, creating sensory experiences as an invitation for slowing down. She believes in accessing the body to relieve the mind, in the healing power of the individual and the collective, and describes Reiki as tuning in to your own gorgeous frequency.
Through Reiki, breath work & sound, Lauren looks to aid you in your path to greater awareness and clarity. She is intentional about keeping her work accessible from free meditations on Instagram and group work at Align, to a monthly Reiki & Meditation offering for the Red Door Community.
Mama to two big pups, a California native and a Brooklyn transplant, Lauren is light hearted and warm, perfect for putting you at ease in preparation for whichever mode of healing you prefer.
"I believe that we are all spiritual beings with souls and energy, even if we don’t feel connected to it all the time. As overwhelming as life can be, each individual has the power to take a step back and reevaluate whenever, and however they choose."
CAROL CRYSTAL
LMT
“Body work is one way we can better learn our bodies. I listen to my clients’ goals - how they want to feel after the therapy, and together we develop a treatment plan to get them there. I look for and recommend simple ways a client can regain and maintain wellness.”
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Carol Crystal is a Licensed Massage Therapist with 21 years of experience practicing bodywork and integrative wellness. She has received training at Health Choices Holistic Massage School in Hillsborough, LMT Success Group in Florida, Freedom From Pain Institute in Oklahoma, and the Institute For Integrative Nutrition in New York City.
Carol’s signature body work is subtle yet deep. We guarantee she’ll have you feeling totally reworked!
Carol’s areas of advanced study include medical massage, structural integration, neuromuscular therapy, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, manual lymph drainage, reflexology and foot massage, Buteyko breathing and capacitar moving meditation.
Carol shares, “The philosophy that brings us to personal balance is different for everyone. There is no one right way for everyone all the time. My treatment plans are flexible and intentional.”
Carol’s Soul Sprout hours are Wednesdays from 2:00pm-7:00pm and Fridays from 12:00pm-7:00pm.
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What is integrative medicine?
Integrative Medicine (IM) is a healing-oriented approach to medicine that considers the whole person, including all aspects of their lifestyle. This approach emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between the practitioner and patient, relies on evidence to determine treatment plans, and incorporates all reasonable therapies into the patient's wellness plan.
At Soul Sprout, we believe that Western and alternative medicine practices should not only coexist in a patient’s treatment plan, but that they should seek to support each other, to produce more successful outcomes for all patients. We like to say that Western medicine is best for acute emergencies, while Chinese medicine is for ongoing wellness. Chinese medicine is our specialty here at Soul Sprout - our practitioners are not MD’s - but we 100% believe in aligning our care routine with your Western health plans and practitioners.