Dana Levy // Executive Director
Dana Levy (she/her) joined Survivor Wellness as Program Director in 2021 after a long career in the fields of dance, movement, martial arts and yoga, both in the U.S. and Japan.
In late 2022, Dana stepped in as Executive Director, taking the place of Dr. John Librett, cancer survivor and chief science officer of Survivor Healthcare, who piloted the organization from 2017-2022, and who now serves as the Board Chair.
Dana is a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), a certified Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA), has a master's degree in modern dance, and a nidan (2nd degree black belt) in the Japanese martial art of aikido. She has 30+ years in the fields of choreography, performance, martial arts, and movement education.
While living in Tokyo, Dana directed FURLA yoga, a boutique yoga studio in Tokyo, Japan, from 2005-2017. She has taught yoga in Salt Lake City since 2013, trained yoga teachers since 2017, and worked with Huntsman Cancer Institute since 2019.
In addition to her directorship responsibilities, Dana also works with the clients of Survivor Wellness, facilitating the Wednesday Evening Support Group, and occasionally offering movement classes, private movement/yoga therapy sessions, and retreats.
Contact Dana with questions, or to book a session: dana@survivorwellness.org
Megan Connelly // Development Director
Megan joined Survivor Wellness after more than a decade in higher education, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. An attorney by background, she is passionate about helping nonprofits thrive and supporting community-driven solutions to pressing issues.
Megan's father was a cancer survivor and she is thrilled to be a part of the Survivor Wellness team.
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
Stephanie Stevers // Mental Health Counselor
Stephanie offers Individual Counseling at no cost to Survivor Wellness clients. To schedule a session, please contact our offices.
Stephanie (she/her) joins Survivor Wellness as a social work intern from May, 2023 through December 2023 to serve the Survivor Wellness community. She will offer individual counseling, facilitate the Grief & Healing Group, and assist in client intake. Stephanie was a licensed counselor in her home state of Ohio and received her bachelor's in psychology from The Ohio State University. Stephanie started pursuing her MSW in 2022 at the Arizona State University School of Social Work, which she will complete in December 2024.
Stephanie is an avid skier, rock climber and loves spending her time outdoors. The many outdoor activities available in Utah is what encouraged her to move here.
Mairin Smith // Mental Health Counselor
Mairin offers Individual Counseling at no cost to Survivor Wellness clients. To schedule a session, please contact our offices.
Mairin Smith joins Survivor Wellness as an MSW (Masters of Social Work) student at the University of Utah. She received her BSW from CSU Monterey Bay in California in 2018. She has worked with a variety of populations from aging adults to infants and children in the foster care system. Mairin plans to pursue a career in oncological social work upon completing her MSW.
Mairin is very excited to be with Survivor Wellness and looks forward to supporting our community.
Elise Scribner, LCSW // Group Facilitator
Elise facilitates the Courageous Conversations Group and runs her private practice at Survivor Wellness.
Elise Scribner (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for building community and exploring an array of modalities around healing cancer. As a brain cancer survivor and thriver, Elise loves to discuss concepts such as radical acceptance, self-empowerment and self-advocating, helpful humor, and the importance of connectedness. Elise had a background in wilderness therapy and through this role she discovered the profound positive impact that arises from combining adventure, time in nature, positive peer group culture, mentoring, and therapeutic support on patient’s mental health and overall wellbeing. Elise also has an academic background in social justice and has taught Anti-Oppression workshops at a variety of different programs.
Elise loves to lead and is excited to be involved at Survivor Wellness. She also offers individual therapy on a sliding scale for Survivor Wellness patients via her private practice, ThriveOn.
YOGA & MOVEMENT THERAPY
Kristen Davis, RYT-500 // Yoga Therapy & Patient Advocacy
Dana Levy, C-IAYT, CLMA // Yoga Therapy & Somatic Movement Education
Executive Director Dana Levy also offers private yoga/movement sessions for Survivor Wellness clients. For more information or to book a session, contact her: dana@survivorwellness.org
Dana (she/her) joins Survivor Wellness as a certified yoga therapist (C-IAYT), certified Laban Bartenieff Movement Analyst (CLMA) and somatic movement educator. Dana helps you find movement solutions to achieve better quality of life through intentional movement. She teaches with elegance, intelligence, humanity, humor, clarity and honesty, and encourages her clients to work with attention, intention, interest and enjoyment. A class or session with Dana may include standing, sitting, walking, rolling, reclining, or appropriate hands-on body education, and may also include use of props or other therapy tools. The difficulty level and type of movement depends on the client’s needs and abilities; sessions are engaging, educational, creative, collaborative, and moving. Learn more about Dana here.
REIKI
Meg Hansen // Reiki Master, Level III
Meg offers monthly 75-minute Reiki sessions at no cost to members of the cancer survivor community. Contact our office to book.
A certified Reiki Master, Meg (she/her) also brings sound work, breathwork and reflexology to her clients. In the mortgage industry for 10 years, Meg moved into the Holistic Wellness field after having a profound change in her personal life. Several years ago, Meg went into liver failure. As she investigated the reason for her sudden decline in health, she was introduced to Adrienne Shulze, who offered Reiki to Survivor Wellness clients from 2018-2023. After dedicating her efforts to both healing with and learning from Adrienne, Meg is happy to say she has completely normal liver functions. Through this experience, Meg has become a devoted advocate of the beneficial effects of Reiki.
Meg grew up in Salt Lake City before moving to Portland, Oregon, to raise her two children. After 12 years in Oregon, she decided to move closer to her family and has been back home ever since. She loves Utah and its year-round outdoor activities.
Meg is truly honored to be able to donate time to the cancer survivor community at Survivor Wellness, and is excited to meet and work with you!
In addition to her volunteer days at Survivor Wellness, Meg also offers private, reduced-rate reiki sessions for Survivor Wellness clients at 57 House through her startup business, Balanced Soul Healing. Contact her to book.
Mandy Newman // Reiki Master
Monalisa King // Reiki Practitioner
Monalisa King offers Reiki sessions at no cost for clients of Survivor Wellness, as well as , caretakers, and family members. Contact us to book a session.
Monalisa is a 2nd Degree Usui Holy Fire Reiki practitioner, she is currently working to become a Reiki Master. She is passionate about holistic healing. Her technique allows clients to experience a calming, peaceful state, bringing energetic healing to mind, body and spirit, collectively.
Monalisa and her daughter received services from the Survivor Wellness / Cancer Wellness House from 2015-2017, while her husband was battling bile duct cancer and she was his primary caretaker. During that time, she had a desire to give back to Survivor Wellness in some way. Now that she is a Reiki Practitioner, she is excited about the opportunity to help clients, their caretakers and families. Her husband died in 2016, at that time, Survival Wellness provided so many resources to her and her daughter, she is honored to be able to give back to a place that brought so much healing.
LIFE COACHING FOR CANCER AND BEYOND
Lisa Reid // Wayfinder Life Coach, Certified Qigong instructor
Lisa offers Life Coaching for Cancer and Beyond at no cost to clients of Survivor Wellness. Contact our office to book.
Lisa is a Holden certified qigong instructor and is currently
completing certification requirements for Wayfinder Life Coaching. Lisa likes to incorporate a bottom-up, top-down approach to help clients discover ways to make the best decisions to move their life forward. Blending a polyvagal perspective and movement, Lisa can help you understand, through a bottom-up approach, how to relax your nervous system. These powerful tools can make changes in your physiology that can lead to better access of your higher level thought processes. Using a variety of structured “thought work” tools, Lisa partners with clients as they discover ways to make authentic decisions for themselves. Coupled with the embodiment work of qigong where appropriate, she can show you that you can have more control over your physiological responses to stress than you might currently realize. Clients can regain a sense of control, tame the “monkey-mind” and move forward in a direction they choose.
Lisa also enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, foraging, dancing, reading and connecting with family and friends.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Tami Harris, LMT, CLC // Licensed Massage Therapist
Tami offers monthly 75-minute Massage Therapy Sessions at no cost to members of the cancer survivor community. Contact our office to book.
Tami (she/her) is a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Utah and is certified in advanced sports and medical massage. She has also studied with and received her life coaching certification through the Life Purpose Institute in San Diego, CA.
Tami believes in the approach and theory that the mind, body, spirit, and emotions are all related and inter-connected to and with each other. When the mental and emotional mind are suffering from previous life experience or personal trauma, physical pain and dis-ease can manifest within the body. She believes that healing can take place by developing awareness of the mind-body connection and using modalities of massage, light touch therapy (including Cranial Sacral Therapy, acupressure, and Reiki) and life coaching (which allows external processing through conversation). Whether used alone or combined, they can release tension, discomfort, and even pain within body. Tami’s goal is to assist the client to become more body-centered and body-balanced, which she believes can facilitate healing and greater physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
In addition to her volunteer days at Survivor Wellness, Tami also offers private, reduced-rate massage therapy sessions for Survivor Wellness clients at 57 House through her startup business, Tami Harris Inspired Massage and Bodywork. Contact her directly to book a reduced-rate private session.
CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY
Holly Taylor, BSN, RN, HNB-BC // Craniosacral Therapist
Holly offers monthly 60-minute Craniosacral Therapy sessions at no cost to members of the cancer survivor community. Contact our office to book.
As a Board Certified Holistic Nurse and Craniosacral Therapy practitioner, Holly combines her background in nursing with integrative tools to assist clients. Her Craniosacral Therapy sessions may also include Acupressure and Reiki. This approach includes the totality of a person's mind, body, emotion and spirit. In a world of extremes we are all striving for more balance and a greater sense of peace. Specifically, in our health care system, there is a gap between 'modern medicine' and 'holistic care'; while many people believe that you must choose one or another, holistic nursing care demonstrates that there is room for both and that they complement each other. Through embracing both, we can achieve balance in our approach to wellness. Holly enjoys hiking with her husband and dogs, and planning their next hiking adventure!
In addition to her volunteer days at Survivor Wellness, Holly also offers private, reduced-rate craniosacral therapy sessions for Survivor Wellness clients at 57 House. Contact us to find out how to book with her.
ONCOLOGY ESTHETICS
Colette Ruff //Licensed Oncology Esthetician
Colette offers monthly 75-minute Deep Healing Skincare Treatment (Oncology Esthetics) sessions at no cost to members of the cancer survivor community. Contact our office to book.
Colette also teaches "Flow & Release" class each Tuesday evening from 5:30-6:45. Contact us to RSVP by 24 hours in advance!
Colette (she/her) is a licensed esthetician specializing in oncology facials and oncology-specific skincare treatment. Nourishing the skin - the first layer of the body - during and after treatment for cancer can provide relief from side effects of treatment, and requires individualized care from a trained practitioner. Colette also focuses on nourishing the digestive system through attention to nutrition. She is trained in reflexology, Reiki and sound therapy, and recognizes that human touch is essential for healing.
An oncology facial (Deep Healing Skincare Treatment) with Colette includes deep skin hydration with hands-on treatment for the face, head, neck, hands, and arms, and may also include reflexology, Reiki, and sound therapy. She uses organic products that keep the skin hydrated, counteracting the drying effects of cancer treatment and environmental stress. Learn more about oncology esthetics here.
Colette is passionate about breast health, educating individuals on how to take care of theirs, as well as creating and selling handmade breast and body oils. She is also a Pranashakti dance instructor, using its dance-like movement to improve energy flow through the body.
Colette grew up in Utah, and spent 25 years in Austin, TX raising her sons and sharpening her skills. She recently moved back to Salt Lake City, and is happy to be back in the mountains. She enjoys live music, dance, hiking, yoga, meditation and is an avid writer and gardener.
In addition to her volunteer days at Survivor Wellness, Colette also offers private, reduced-rate sessions for Survivor Wellness clients at 57 House through her startup business, CNB Skincare. Contact her directly to book your reduced-rate session.
SOUND THERAPY / SOUND BATHS
Shanti offers Individual Sound Therapy and Intro to Sound Baths (Group) one day per month at no cost to Survivor Wellness members. Contact us to book!
Shanti is also an accomplished percussionist and sound healer. She has offered sound baths since 2021 using percussion and sound to promote healing and relaxation.
A certified 200-hour yoga teacher, Shanti seeks to bring balance and harmony to those with whom she works. She is also a holistic pet care practitioner who is deeply passionate about elevating the bond between companion animals and humans. Shanti is committed to serving the community through her sound bath offerings.
In addition to volunteering for the cancer survivor community at Survivor Wellness, she also offers weekly sound baths in the Survivor Wellness studio on Thursday evenings, available at a reduced-cost for Survivor Wellness clients. These sound baths include up to seven musicians to create a whole-body experience of sound healing. Contact her for more information.
A cancer survivor herself since 2004, Shanti is happy to serve the community at Survivor Wellness and beyond.
MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION CLASSES to resume in 2024!
QIGONG (Energy Movement)
Carlos Justiniano // Qigong Instructor
SPECIAL EVENT STAFF/FACULTY
Shelley Mehr // Certified Wim Hof Method Instructor
Shelley offers workshops in the Wim Hof Method for Survivor Wellness.
As a somatic healer, Shelley (she/her) guides you on a journey to an exquisite internal space where you balance out your central nervous system with fierce expansion and compassion in a way that is instant and complete.
Shelley’s focus is to inspire and co-create with people who are ready for happiness, health and strength. When Shelley is supporting someone through their inner world of evolution and growth she is passionate about the true essence of each unique individual she comes into contact with. Shelley believes in consciously breathing, facing fear and using stress to balance out the internal systems in a way that trusts the body’s wisdom through feeling fully, letting go of what doesn’t serve and moving into an empowered state with whatever you are facing in life. Shelley has been a bodyworker for 11 years. Through her passion of studying the body, she received her certification as a Wim Hof Method instructor in 2018. She has led many people through conscious breathwork and ice baths to gain a better awareness of the mind-body connection. Learn more about Shelley here!
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Jamie Covington // Art Wellness Instructor
Jamie offers Art Wellness sessions at Survivor Wellness events.
Jamie (she/her) has a BS in psychology and is a landscape artist (oil/ plein aire) by hobby. She has worked in art wellness since 2017, starting at Siteman Cancer at Washington University Hospital in St. Louis, MO. After moving to SLC she helped build the Art To Go program at Huntsman Cancer Institute, so patients could participate in art wellness while receiving treatment. She is currently volunteering her time to run the program one day a week for patients and caregivers. Jamie believes healing comes in art, the creation of it, the process of it, and the spark that awaits while gathering the courage to give it a try.
Jamie is honored to donate her time to Survivor Wellness and hopes that you will find joy and healing from art and its processes.
In her free time Jamie is a dedicated skier, rock climber and community service advocate/participant. She loves being outdoors and spending time with her family and dog.
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Karen Bayard // Whole Body Laughter
Karen offers Whole Body Laughter sessions for events at Survivor Wellness.
Karen Bayard (she/her) wrote the curriculum and taught the first ever semester-long, for-credit, college-level Laughter Yoga course in the United States at Salt Lake Community College. Karen has created playshops and fun-infused training programs internationally for Trinity College, Huntsman Cancer Institute, ProBar, University of Utah, Western Governors University & Valley Mental Health. Karen also writes, produces & performs as a stand-up and improv comedian. As a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, Holistic Health Coach, and former Board Member of the Association of Applied & Therapeutic Humor, Karen is passionate about the use of humor & play as tools for vibrant, inspired, and purposeful living.
Currently living outside of SLC, Karen also returns periodically to offer River Writing Workshops and comedy performances in town, often at Survivor Wellness! Learn more about her work here!
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Catharine DeLong // Music Thanatologist
Catharine is a professional harpist offering sound baths for events at Survivor Wellness. Learn more about her work here!
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Katie Jo Welch // Drum Goddess
Katie Jo offers drum experiences as part of events at Survivor Wellness. Learn more about her work here!
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Acupuncture and Tai Chi Practitioners to be announced soon.