Meet the team of licensed Acupuncturists, health practitioners and teachers we are so happy to have here at Open Space Community Acupuncture in Somerville, MA
Practitioners at Open Space Community Acupuncture
Acupuncturists
Our acupuncturists’ backgrounds include Disaster relief experience (Katrina, Haiti) Addiction recovery work, Oncology Acupuncture and specialized work with veterans, fertility patients and elite athletes. All of our practitioners share a commitment to accessibility and each has distinct strengths.
All of our acupuncturists are state licensed and nationally certified (NCAOM). You are welcome to stay with one acupuncturist, or see a combination.
Daphne Jochnick
Owner, M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Daphne (She/Her) opened OSCA May 1st, 2011. Her practice emphasizes whole health including mental and spiritual health. Daphne earned her master’s degree from the Traditional Acupuncture Institute, Columbia MD (1997) and apprenticed for years with J.R. Worsley in Classical 5 Element Acupuncture, known for gentle needle technique & whole body results. She trained with NADA & helped initiate the N St. Village acupuncture addiction program in Washington, DC. Additionally, Daphne led groups of acupuncturists to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2008, and to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake with Acupuncturists Without Borders.
Daphne uses primarily Dr Tan meridian therapy and Master Tung techniques which she loves for their quick acting relief of pain.
“I love to see people quickly get the edge off of pain to the point where they can move more freely, medicate less and begin a trajectory in the right direction.”
She is trained in Paulus IVF protocols and NADA detox for trauma and addiction.
Daphne speaks Spanish
Andrew Cheever
M.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.(NCCAOM)
In addition to being an acupuncturist, Andrew (He/Him) is a master practitioner and teacher of the Korean martial art, Soo Bahk Do.
Andrew earned his Masters from Tri-State Acupuncture College (NY, NY) in 2011. He practiced acupuncture at the New York Presbyterian Hospital’s pediatric oncology ward and as a detox acupuncturist for Fenway Community Health in Boston. He has experience working with individuals with physical, cognitive and social disabilities.
Andrew’s specialties include pain management and injury recovery, motor and trigger point release, Insomnia, pediatrics and addictions.
“I see my style of acupuncture as being a kind of bodywork and my familiarity with the body comes in a large part from years of practicing Soo Bahk Do and other martial arts”.
Malik Mahmud
Dr.Ac., L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. (NCCAOM)
Malik practices gentle Japanese Meridian therapy as well as techniques of Master Tung and Dr Tan, especially effective for pain relief. In addition to acupuncture, Malik will be offering Chinese herbal medicine consults. Malik speaks Mandarin.
“I am passionate about Chinese Medicine and value the ability to provide healing to all people regardless of race, creed, economic status, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”
More about Malik in the article: Qigong cultivates strong mind-body connection for avid runner and multilinguist Malik Mahmud, DAcCHM (’22) – National University of Natural Medicine
Complementary Health Practitioners & Visiting Teachers
Our community is rich with incredible teachers and healers. We are happy to hold space for complementary practitioners to share affordable offerings here at OSCA
LaWanda Turner
Sound Healer
LaWanda Monique Turner is a dedicated sound healing practitioner and the founder of Pharaoh Essentials Wellness. LaWanda bridges the gap between ancient sound therapy and modern clinical wellness. With extensive experience facilitating community healing clinics including her work with the We Got Us nonprofit and the Center for Comprehensive Healing at Massachusetts General Hospital she specializes in nervous system regulation and emotional clarity.
LaWanda’s practice is rooted in a trauma-aware, intentional approach. Whether working with hospital staff, patients, or community groups, she creates soundscapes designed to promote stability, reduce stress, and restore balance.
“Our approach honors ancestral wisdom reminding us all to pause, breathe, and realign
Or Levinson
Herbalist
Or Levinson (they/them) is a cultural worker, movement artist and facilitator, based in Minneapolis for the past 13 years. They completed their herbal studies with Registered Herbalist Lise Wolff in 2019. Their healing and facilitation practice is rooted in a polticized/antiracist somatic approach, as guided by mentors Susan Raffo and Thea Lee. Or’s artistic work centers Yiddish folk culture, and explores themes of diaspora and the search for home, belonging, and solidarity on Native land. For seven years, Or worked with Don’t You Feel It Too?, a public movement project transforming peoples’ relationships to body, land, and history through immersive art experiences.
Mo Katz-Christy
Herbalist