I've been working with adults and children who are learning English for more than 20 years, and I've heard many learners say that they want to improve their speaking skills, but they feel nervous speaking and they can't find the right person that they feel comfortable practicing with. As a special education teacher in public schools, I acquired remarkable skills in helping people who struggle to feel comfortable with practicing what is difficult for them, and I bring this to my conversational English sessions with adult learners. 

If meaningful conversations in a relaxed atmosphere live online with a highly trained and skilled English teacher sounds like a match for you, check out what one of my current students, Katya, has to say about learning with me: 

"When I speak a second language, there's always this awkward feeling that I've said something wrong, been too direct, or on the other hand can't string together a single word because it's been a tough day. In any of these states, I feel very comfortable with Deanna; she always delicately adjusts to my mood, is ready to support me and engage with any topic, calmly and without any sense of awkwardness. After our lessons, I always feel uplifted and motivated to keep working. I'm so glad that I accidentally came across her profile once, and now I can not only practice my English but also connect with an incredibly open, interesting, and kind person." 

---Katya, 33 years old, Russia 

Do you feel like you are often super stressed out, living on autopilot, and in need of calm and peace in your everyday life?

I've been there and it sucks!

After living more than three decades in fight or flight, my nervous system eventually burned out and left me deeply exhausted with an unhealthy bag of resentment sitting on top of me like an uncomfortable elephant. I finally got tired of life feeling like a heavy burden with a body that I was fighting, and I discovered this simple truth: my wellbeing was my responsibility. No one was coming to save me and there's no magic pill to make myself well all of the time. My journey to thriving included becoming a US licensed massage therapist, a Reiki practitioner, a student and practitioner of Buddhism, and a return to the path of yoga. 

I'm not here to heal you.

I am here to partner with you to tap into your body's innate capacity for healing and to share practices for lasting wellbeing. 

If you are in Portland, Jamaica, I invite you to partner with me for a mobile, in-person session between Port Antonio and Long Bay for therapeutic massage, energy healing bodywork, gentle yoga, and mindfulness meditation. Ask me about my 1:1 custom private retreats!

Virtual services are offered around the world via Zoom for yoga, Reiki, and mindfulness meditation. Sliding scale offered for accessibility. 

Wellbeing is a practice, not a destination. 

Explore my artwork

I love to doodle, draw, paint, take photos, and explore my inner and outer world through creative expression. I have written and illustrated a children's book inspired by the birth of my grandson in 2024 and it will be available here for purchase in September 2026, so keep a look out for that! I invite you to explore my current art offerings that are available in my pop-up shop by clicking the link below. All of my artwork is made by hand and heart with human intelligence and creativity. I do not use AI in any form, including any type of editing for photos that I have taken in my art shop. Buying my artwork is one way you can declare that human made creativity is still valuable in this ever-changing world of technology and robots.