We are thrilled to have Dr. Marissa Kassimir join our Ruscombe family, bringing her expertise in naturopathic medicine and healing. This month we were able to learn more about her, her practice, and the importance listening to your body and giving it the time and space it needs to heal and flourish.
What led you to naturopathic medicine?
From a young age, I enjoyed caring for the people around me. My parents are both in healthcare and I always suspected I would join them on that path, but no profession ever felt exactly right for me. I stumbled upon naturopathic medicine slightly by happenstance and am so grateful to have been guided here. After college, I was living and working on a small farm in Israel. My relationship with medicinal herbs started to flourish as I worked with them and studied them under a naturopathic doctor (the first I ever met!). I fell in love with the idea that everything is connected – the land, the plants, the animals, and the people. We all serve to nourish and heal each other when handled with care and respect. I thought to myself “this just makes so much sense” and never looked back! I moved to Phoenix, Arizona to start my path to become a naturopathic doctor and am overwhelmed with gratitude for how much I have not only learned, but for how much I have grown in the process.
How do you nourish yourself during times of burnout?
Honestly, a lot of it is just giving myself time. Time is invaluable – there is quite literally no way to rush to recovery or healing. Within that time, I lean heavily on the foundations of health – proper sleep, nourishing foods and water, gentle movement and body work, talk therapy with my trusted counselor, support from community, and things that bring me joy. The joy piece is one of the most crucial for me and one that I think a lot of people are missing. Just small glimpses of joy that don’t take a lot of effort. I spend time with people who I know will help re-fill my cup, I hang out with my nieces and nephews because their silliness is contagious, I intentionally watch lighthearted shows that are guaranteed to make me laugh, and I put my face to the sun, ears to the birds and the trees, and feet on the earth.
How does you body guide you to heal and rest?
I’m glad this question came next because my first instinct for the question above was that I try to prevent burnout as much as possible. I have spent years attuning to the subtle cues my body provides when I’m building up too much stress. I call this my “stress signature” – the whispers from my mind and body that tell me I should slow down and reset. For me, it actually starts as an ache in my right hip. My anxious or intrusive thoughts might increase and my job is simply to notice them and say “hey, maybe this is trying to tell me something.” When I notice the cues, I go back to the foundations and see what has fallen through the cracks.
What attracted you to the Ruscombe community?
-I felt drawn to Ruscombe because of the strong community feel and the heartfelt mission to provide holistic healing opportunities for our beloved community. The beautiful history of Ruscombe is inspiring for me as I embark on this journey as a doctor and a healer. During sessions with my patients, I can already feel the energetic imprint that this place provides for healing.
What can initial session with you look like?
I have a few different types of services that I offer. For someone who is looking for full spectrum naturopathic care (i.e., homeopathic, herbal, and supplemental support, laboratory investigations, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, craniosacral/energy healing etc), we spend two hours together for an initial session. We discuss your symptoms, medical history, relevant life story, and goals in great depth. I try to create the space for you to feel safe and un-rushed – to know that someone is really listening. At the end of the first visit, you will leave with a plan for moving forward. Most patients leave the first visit feeling like a weight has already been lifted off their shoulders and hopeful for the future.
For someone who is looking for body work and energy healing, without the additional medical component, our first session is an hour long. We briefly discuss your symptoms, history, and goals, and then you spend rest of the visit on the table receiving treatment. Most patients leave feeling lighter and centered even after the first session.
What is something unexpected in your daily routine that provides you with nourishment?
Music is a great friend to me throughout my days. It accompanies me through the seasons, holds my hand through my successes and failures, connects me with the people in my life, and simply provides me company on “regular” days as I cook, clean, and work. Music is an amazing way for me to connect to spirit and nourish the soul.
Anything else you’d love to share with the Ruscombe community?
I am beyond excited to be a part of Ruscombe and to serve my community in full alignment and authenticity through my growing business. I believe in this work with all my heart, have seen it help so many people already, and am hopeful for the future to be able to reach the people who connect with this type of work and who need it the most.
You can learn more about Dr. Kassimir through her website at meirahealing.com