Let's Learn & Play Together

My training centers me at the intersection of the cardinal directions – a Master’s degree in the science of Western herbalism; graduate studies on the ancient diagnostic practices of Eastern traditions; and more than a decade of apprenticing the knowledge of plant and nature spirit medicine under the teachings of indigenous North and South American medicine healers.

From this grounded center point, my practice teaches the art of living well by cultivating skills to observe our bodies, our thoughts and our reactions. I use many tools in my medicine cabinet to support your journey to wellness – herbs, foods, words, movement, Reiki, sound and other vibrational and lifestyle medicines – to gently awaken our innate capacity to heal at the physical, emotional and spiritual levels.

Through our work together, you are empowered with self-care strategies that meet you where you are and lift you to where you want to go. Your apotheosis – the elevation to your highest potential – is calling. Are you ready to answer?

As a senior staff member in Congress for more than a decade, during a stint as a local City Councilmember, and as a successful Maryland state legislator for eight years, I had an incredible opportunity to lead and shape the conversation and contours of policies and laws impacting our health, environment, civil rights, and economic justice.

My spouse and I own and operate a 34-acre organic medicinal herb farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where we harness the power of nature to heal us. In addition to managing our operations at Apotheosis Farm, I am a trained educational facilitator in Therapeutic Horticulture and design programs sponsored by the WeAreOne Alliance to assist Veterans and First Responders coping with the impact of service-connected post traumatic stress. Dirt therapy is good medicine for the mind, body, and soul.

I am called to serve. My vision and my voice are infused with clarity, integrity, and strength of purpose. I help others connect to theirs. I am honored to share my talents as a motivational speaker, coach, licensed HeartMath® certified mentor, and spiritual advisor for those seeking to remember, ignite, and nurture their inner wisdom and their soul's force for goodness in the world.

I call myself a serial careerist. My enjoyment of exploration and learning has organically led me on a path of multiple careers. Prior to becoming an acupuncturist, I taught English as a second language in Asia, worked as a job coach, rehabilitation counselor, and in fine arts conservation and international sales. I have owned and operated a clinical acupuncture practice since 2010 and continue to follow my curiosity by studying and incorporating new healing modalities into my practice. My clinical focus uses an alchemical approach to balance a client's energy system by connecting mind, body, and spirit and offering support with navigating whatever is going on in their life.

I earned a Masters of Science of Oriental Medicine (MSOM) from Southwest Acupuncture College located in Boulder, Colorado. My training includes therapies such as acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, Chinese bodywork, qi gong, acupressure, cupping, and auriculotherapy. I became interested in the use of frequency and sound in 2013 and became a certified Acutonics® practitioner as well as a Senior Faculty member of Acutonics® Institute of Integrative Medicine. I have training in closure facilitation and I am a certified Deep Transformational Coach.

Learn more about Valentina's work by watching this video: Extraordinary Journey | Expressing Spirit Through Art & Medicine

I am a Yoga and Meditation Teacher, Wellness Practitioner, and Business Coach, dedicated to helping you reconnect with your body and reclaim your true power. With certifications in RYT-200 (currently pursuing RYT-500), Tantric Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, and Usui Reiki Level II, I bring a well-rounded approach to your wellness journey.

For the past two decades, I’ve worked in high-pressure leadership roles in corporate America. To succeed in what was often intensely stress-filled environments, I disconnected from my body and ignored its signals of alarm to get my work done well—sacrificing my well-being in the name of success. Though I achieved professional acclaim, I found myself burned out, infertile, battling anxiety, and suffering from persistent headaches. A wake-up call came at 3 AM one morning when I ended up in the ER, fearing I was having a stroke because the left side of my body was losing sensation; that’s when I knew I needed to make a massive change.

Yoga became a vital part of my healing journey, and now I’m passionate about sharing this practice to help others. My mission is to support you in listening to your body, hearing the whispers of your soul, and stepping into your true potential.

Together, we’ll navigate the path to wellness, balance, and self-discovery.