ACUPUNCTURE & CHINESE MEDICINE
Dr. Sarah Swanberg
D.A.C.M., L.Ac., Dipl.O.M.
Doctor of acupuncture and chinese medicine/ Founder + Clinic director
Sarah Swanberg is a board certified diplomate in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology through the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and is licensed to practice in CT. She holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from the acclaimed Pacific College of Health Sciences in New York City. Her degree encompasses clinical training in both Eastern and Western (conventional/ allopathic) medical theory and diagnosis, acupuncture, moxibustion, nutrition, medical massage and herbal medicine.
During her training at Pacific College, Sarah was fortunate to treat patients and learn under some of the top acupuncturists and herbalists in the field at Pacific College's own clinic as well as during specialized externships at Housing Works (an HIV clinic in the West Village), Beth Israel Continuum Cancer Center (an integrative wellness center for patients undergoing chemotherapy) and the Grand Meridian Clinic in Chinatown's Kamwo Herbal Pharmacy.
Sarah believes that the human body has an amazing innate ability to heal itself, and that Chinese medicine's greatest strength is in its ability to be the catalyst for that healing. She is a strong advocate of an integrative healthcare model where M.D.s and “alternative” healthcare providers work together to help patients regain and maintain health and wellness.
In 2018, Sarah graduated from the New Medicine for Women Institute where she studied Functional and Integrative Medicine under Aviva Romm, MD. This training adds another complimentary facet to her services.
Sarah is also the author of two best-selling wellness books: A Patient’s Guide to Acupuncture and Aromatherapy for Self-Care.
When not working, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters at their home in Shippan Point, traveling, cooking and discovering all of Fairfield county’s treasures!
DR. Nancy Byrne
D.A.C.M., L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.
Doctor of acupuncture and chinese medicine
Nancy Byrne is a Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and certified practitioner of Yamuna Body Rolling, Yamuna Breathwork, Yamuna Foot Fitness and Yamuna Face Ball. She earned her Master’s degree in Traditional Oriental Medicine (MSTOM) from Pacific College, and is nationally accredited by NCCAOM. She is presently working toward earning her Doctorate degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Nancy enjoys using Chinese Medicine hand in hand with diet, mindful movement, bodywork, breathwork and meditation to promote health, limit stress and pain, and prevent disease in her patients’ lives, as well as her own. Educating patients and sharing the wisdom and perspective of both Chinese Medicine and Yamuna’s work is her favorite part of her practice.
Dr. Marcy Julius
DACM, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Marcy Julius is board certified in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and licensed to practice in both Connecticut and New York. Graduating among the top of her class from Pacific College of Health and Science, she earned both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. After graduation, Marcy completed a year-long fellowship program at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital where she treated the inpatient population in various units throughout the facility.
While Marcy has extensive training and experience in treating acute and chronic pain conditions, digestive disorders, allergies, anxiety and depression, she brings a unique degree of empathy and understanding to women’s health and fertility. Having suffered from endometriosis for most of her adult life and subsequently undergoing fertility treatments in order to conceive her daughter, she has developed a passion for helping women along their individual journeys.
Marcy aims to provide a supportive environment for patients to share their stories, and is committed to getting to know each individual as a whole person. Using various modalities including acupuncture, electric stimulation, herbal medicine, cupping, moxibustion and lifestyle advice, she strives to deliver sincere and effective patient care.
After spending the last ten years living, studying and practicing in New York City, Marcy recently moved back to Fairfield County with her husband and daughter.
INTEGRATIVE NUTRITION
Carolyn Brown
M.S., R.D.
nutritionist/ Cofounder
Carolyn has been in private practice for a decade before launching Indigo Nutrition. She has worked one-on-one and in group settings with thousands of clients to reach their health, wellness and weight goals, specializing in helping them “live a healthy life, without losing a social life”. Carolyn gets it, the complicated food history, the weight fluctuations, and the body frustrations, the knowing what to do but not doing it, because she has been there too.
It’s about food, but it’s also not at all about food.
In her client sessions, Carolyn loves to hear your story, to put things together you might not have thought of, and to personalize your goals and your wellness plan. Think of this as going to food therapy.
As for credentials, Carolyn went to Tulane University for undergrad in psychology and to NYU for her Masters in Clinical Nutrition before becoming licensed as a Registered Dietitian. She also studied under Dr. Aviva Romm in 2018-2019 and is certified in Women’s Functional and Integrative Medicine.
Carolyn loves taking fascinating food and wellness research and making it fun and usable on social media, working with food brands, giving talks at schools and businesses, and working as a nutrition expert in the media. She aligns with holistic & integrative nutrition and believes in the power of food first (but some supplements may come in second!).
In 2020, Carolyn landed in Boulder, CO after 12 years in NYC, and is practicing what she preaches, ‘getting her nature on’ on a daily basis and cooking a ton. She’s addicted to her cast iron skillet and lives for her morning coffee ritual. Follow along on instagram: @carolynbrownie
Carolyn has been featured on: The TODAY show, Dr. Oz, FOX, Men's Health, health.com, CBS news, WebMD, TIME.com Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, Shape Magazine, Equinox Q Blog, AM New York, and the New York Daily News. Contact Carolyn about a media appearance and view a complete list of appearances here.
Sarah Becker
MS, RD
Nutritionist
Sarah’s a career changer. After spending almost a decade in the world of media & advertising followed by consulting, she found herself enriched in the world of health and wellness. Never quite fulfilled, Sarah went back to school to get her Masters in Nutrition from Hunter College in New York City before becoming licensed as a Registered Dietitian.
Cooking is Sarah’s love language. There’s nothing that makes her happier than creating a nourishing and delicious meal for herself and others. She wants others to see the benefit of food as medicine, and to create change from the inside out. Sarah firmly believes that we feel the best when we nurture and nourish our bodies with the right ingredients (pun intended)!
Sarah has a food-first nutrition philosophy that is rooted in evidence-based science, therapeutic strategies and treatments. She takes a personalized integrative and functional approach to nutrition and aims to treat the root cause of symptoms. She hopes to simplify nutrition and help you feel your best, achieve your goals and meet you wherever you may be on your unique health journey.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Dr. Kara Fanelli
PT, DPT, WCS
Doctor of Physical therapy
After a brief stint in PR and Marketing for fashion, Kara decided to set out and explore her fascination with the human body and its incredible ability to heal. Following obtaining her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Long Island University in Brooklyn, Kara began her career with a focus in orthopedics in NYC. As an outpatient orthopedic therapist she began to work closely with pre and postnatal patients. And, after giving birth to her own two children, Kara’s interest in pelvic health grew. She continued her education with the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and moved on to a private clinic that specialized in pelvic floor rehabilitation for women and men.
Kara became a board certified women’s healthcare practitioner after obtaining the prestigious Women’s Health Clinical Specialization in 2016. In 2020, after 350 hours of training, she received her Polestar Pilates teaching certification and loves to integrate Pilates into her treatment plans.
Kara embraces the mind-body connection when treating pain and is passionate about empowering her patients through their wellness journey. She loves listening and partnering with patients to understand each person’s specific goals. Everyone has a unique path to healing. Through individualized clinical assessments, she is able to tailor education and therapy so patients can return to doing the activities they love.
Dr. Jodie Lippman
PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical therapy
Jodie, a former All American collegiate athlete, first became interested in physical therapy while rehabilitating her first sports injury. After a brief period of travel and living abroad in Thailand, she returned to New York to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Long Island University in Brooklyn.
She has been a practicing physical therapist for 13 years. She began her career in orthopedic physical therapy working at NY Presbyterian/Columbia University Hospital and at an outpatient practice in Manhattan. During this time, Jodie discovered her passion for women’s health and developed and launched a pelvic floor program at a well-established private practice. Having three children of her own, her interest in and knowledge of pelvic floor therapy continued to grow and she moved to a private clinic that specialized in pelvic floor rehabilitation in downtown Manhattan.
In 2020, after 350 hours of training, Jodie received her Polestar Pilates teaching certification. She uses Pilates-based exercises and methods to further help her patients with their body awareness. She believes that Pilates is a safe and effective way to develop and retain strength throughout pregnancy and to return to exercise in a safe and positive way.
She regularly completes continuing education to expand her knowledge of manual therapy, women's health, and exercise. She is currently working towards achieving the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification through Herman and Wallace, and her Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification.
Jodie works in partnership with her patients to uncover and correct the root causes of their physical symptoms. She is passionate about using a holistic approach to educate and help her patients achieve optimal health through personalized treatments. She is easy to talk to and has a unique ability to make her patients feel comfortable.
ENERGY HEALING, PRENATAL MASSAGE & YOGA
Aly Crouse
LMT, CST, RYT-200
Licensed Massage Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Energy Healer
A lifelong student of holistic healing, Aly Crouse has studied many modalities with wise and experienced teachers which she has fused into her own unique style. She graduated from the Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy in 2011, and since then has completed thousands of hours of training in hands-on techniques to help support her clients.
An appointment with Aly addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of the self. With great compassion, she assists her clients to nourish their bodies, release tension, and cultivate a deeper mind-body connection.
Aly is passionate about the healing power of bodywork and has studied Craniosacral Therapy and SomatoEmotional Release with the Upledger Institute since 2018. She completed both a Reiki Mastership training and 200-hour Yoga Teacher training in 2014 and has been teaching meditation and intuitive movement ever since.
Born and raised in Westport, Aly has strong roots in our community. She loves spending time on local nature trails with her two dogs and living a highly creative life.
HOLISTIC SKINCARE
Kelly Liberty
OFFICE MANAGER, LICENSED AESTHETICIAN
After many years in corporate America, Kelly changed directions and discovered that she could make a living doing what she always loved – helping people and sharing her love of natural skin care, and at Indigo she wears many hats as both office manager and our indiGlow facialist. She has a Comprehensive Holistic Facial Certification, and as a certified Gua Sha Herbal Fusion Therapist, Kelly’s treatments combine 2 Eastern Facial Massage modalities, Gua Sha and Thai Herbal Poltice, creating a unique cosmetic and healing experience. Some of her favorite things are reading, cooking, the beach, and spending time with her husband and dog.
Psychotherapy
Sarah Fogel
LCSW
Psychotherapist & LICENSEd clinical social worker
Sarah Fogel holds a masters in social work and is a licensed clinical social worker in CT. After practicing for many years in hospital and community based mental health settings through NY and CT, Sarah moved to private practice to focus on her passion for women’s health.
Sarah enjoys supporting women through the unique challenge through the life cycle, from dating to marriage, trying to conceive and fertility challenges, to parenthood and all that is in between. She recognizes that we often hold back in sharing our experience due to taboo, uncertainty, or fear of being judged, though truly believes that having a safe space to be heard and normalize experience helps each person to live a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Sarah wants each client to walk into session feeling as though they are talking to their closest friend who happens to be a trained professional. She utilizes an integrative and holistic style, meaning she pulls from all therapeutic modalities to meet each person’s unique needs.
