Meet the Team
Jo-Anna Cassino
The founder + formulator of Botanic providence, Jo-Anna, has long had a passion for the power of plants; amazed by their beauty and the abilities they possess. She has formally studied Botany and Herbalism since 2005. She would tell you that through the years of farming and study, the plants themselves have been her most intimate teachers giving her insight into translating their language, mythology and lore. You can catch her creating potions, tea blends, all kinds of botanical beauty and herbal support at the shop Thursdays through Saturdays 12:30 -6PM.
Founder, Herbalist
JoAnne Morrissey
With over two decades of experience, JoAnne brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to healing. Since graduating from the Bancroft School of Massage Therapy in 2002, she has practiced in everything from clinical rehab and chiropractic offices to luxury spas and private wellness sessions.
What truly sets JoAnne apart is her 20-year background in the dental and orthodontic fields. This specialized expertise makes her a "detective" for tension, allowing her to uncover the root causes of jaw pain and facial imbalance that often go unnoticed.
JoAnne specializes in Advanced TMJ Care and Jaw Release. By blending gentle yet effective techniques like Buccal Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Tuning Forks, she helps clients find lasting relief from:
Chronic TMJ pain and jaw clicking
Tension headaches and migraines
Facial tightness and stress-related holding patterns
Fascia work, TMJ work/therapy
Nicole Gauthier
Massage therapist in Rhode Island for over 14 years, Nicole is a seasoned professional truly dedicated to the art of healing. With a career spanning over a decade, she has cultivated a deep understanding of the body’s intuitive needs, providing a compassionate space for restoration and relief.
Nicole specializes in a holistic, integrated approach that balances deep relaxation with targeted clinical results. Her expertise allows her to address chronic tension while supporting the nervous system's innate power to heal.
Nicole’s care is gentle yet highly effective, focusing on releasing the physical impacts of stress. She specializes in:
Neck and Shoulder Release: Targeted work to alleviate the "weight of the world" held in the upper body.
Traditional Swedish Relaxation: Deeply restorative strokes to soothe the mind and body.
Trigger Point Therapy: Precision techniques to unlock stubborn knots and restore mobility.
Himalayan Salt Stone Massage: Incorporating mineral-rich heat to ground the energetic system and melt away tension.
Licensed Massage Therapist
Ashleigh Marie Dundas
Holistic Health Practitioner and USUI Holi Fire III Reiki Master Practitioner. She has 17+ years of professional experience in the wellness field and is truly dedicated to her craft. Ashleigh is a multi passionate human who loves supporting people on their journeys. She is a mother, small business owner + entrepreneur, writer + poet, author, artisan, and compassionate healing practitioner. Ashleigh specializes in a holistic, integrated approach to Therapeutic Massage, Prenatal/ Postnatal Massage + Reiki.
Her care approach is gentle yet effective, deeply relaxing, and therapeutic- helping to assist the innate healing power of the body, support the nervous system, energetic systems, and strengthen the mind-body connection. Ashleigh has expertise in working with clients through many life transitions and understands not only the physical impact of increased stress on the body but the emotional aspects as well.
Ashleigh’s main healing studio is in Plymouth, MA waterfront and she rents space two Thursdays a month at Botanic Providence, to support her Rhode Island based clients as well as folks traveling through.
Licensed Massage Therapist
Michele Marcus-Dew
Michele Marcus-Dew (she/they) is an herbalist, gardener, teacher, mother, and kitchen witch of Jewish Eastern European diasporic lineage, currently planted and finding their way on Wampanoag Land, also known as New Bedford, MA. She moves and yearns in devotion to the plants and more-than-human world as a way to re-member ourselves as kin, and can often be found thumbing through one of her many emotional support bookstacks.
In a world where the wisdom of our bodies is often ignored, overrode, or pushed past, the Rest Nest bodywork sessions are an invitation to slow down in deep presence with yourself, with the land, and the seasons. This one hour treatment is guided by plant kin to ease the whole being into a restorative space of deep rest and connection.
Attuning all 5 senses, we will utilize plant-infused oil for the head, shoulders, hands, and feet, warm stones and various florals and herbs for skin brushing. A selection of dried flowers and seashells bathe the body in sound, and we offer botanical cordials to drop on the tongue to awaken taste and digestion. To finish the treatment, we use large bundles of herbs to rhythmically and firmly tap the body to awaken circulation and support the energetic channels.”