Stephanie Draus, ND

Owner

Naturopathic Doctor

Bellydance Instructor

Meditation Instructor

Stephanie is the owner and director of Stellaria Natural Health. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she graduated Magna cum Laude from Loyola University Chicago, where she received a BA in Theatre and a BS in Anthropology, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. After college, she lived and worked in Brooklyn, New York, followed by Portland, Oregon, where she received a four-year Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from National College of Naturopathic Medicine, a fully accredited Naturopathic Medical College. Here in Illinois, she practices as a health consultant. In 2009, Stephanie joined the faculty of the Naturopathic Medicine Program in the College of Professional Studies at National University of Health Sciences.

Much of her clinical academic work was done at Outside In, a renowned clinic and community center for homeless youth, located in Portland. There she honed her diagnostic skills while treating everything from highly infectious diseases to run-of-the-mill colds with both natural and conventional medicine. In addition, she spent several clinical rotations working with patients in various stages of addiction recovery, treating mental and physical conditions of acute and longstanding duration, while assisting her patients to stay clean and sober.

Stephanie has practiced yoga for over two decades and is an accomplished dancer and performer. She has not owned a car since 1996, and prefers to commute on foot, by bike, and by public transportation. Dealing with her own injuries, strains, and aches has given her great insight and interest in helping her patients overcome pain and inflammation to discover true joy in movement.

Stephanie's clinical interests include addiction recovery, women’s health, mental health, digestive disorders, mind-body medicine, and physical medicine. She thrives on helping patients create real, lasting changes in their lives and in their relationship to their bodies. She believes that the key to profound healing is empowerment, and that the patient is the best source of information about their own ailments and the road to health.

She especially enjoys working with artists. In 2009 she founded Feeding the Muse, an online newsletter and monthly group which addresses the health concerns of creative and artistic people.

While in Portland, she founded The Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence by helping women discover their own inherent strength. She is also the founder of Hafla in the Square, a belly dance celebration held regularly at Stellaria.

Stephanie is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the Flower Essence Society.

Contact Stephanie

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Debbie McDermitt, LCSW, CYT

Counselor

Yoga Instructor

Debbie is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and also a certified yoga teacher (CYT). She has been providing individuals and families with counseling services since 1994.  She has experience working with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, grief and loss issues, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, learning disabilities, Fetal Alcohol Effects/Syndrome, and attachment problems. In addition, Debbie has provided group supervision to masters-level professionals seeking their LCPC/LCSW.

Debbie graduated from the Temple of Kriya Yoga's hatha yoga instructor training program in 2003, right here in Logan Square. She has taught introductory, beginners, moms and babies, and open level classes at Santosha and Stellaria.She enjoys working with students individually and as groups, helping to strengthen student's bodies, minds, and spirits. Contact Debbie

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Scott Alamar, LMT, LAc

Acupuncturist

Massage Therapist

Scott holds a Master's of Science in Oriental Medicine from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine where he graduated with honors. He also holds a Diplomate of Acupuncture from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. 

For many years, Scott has experienced the therapeutic benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). He began formally studying TCM upon the encouragement of his practitioner.

Scott’s clinical experience ranges from general musculo-skeletal pain conditions, menstrual issues, anxiety issues, smoking cessation, digestive issues, urogenital disorders, and sleep disorders. He also utilizes a multiple modality acupuncture facial rejuvenation technique. Additionally, Scott is a Nationally Certified massage therapist and is adjunct faculty at the New School for Massage and Bodywork where he teaches Asian Bodywork modalities.

The Yellow Emperor’s Canon on Corporeal Medicine (Huangdi Nei Jing) states “The inferior physician treats, the superior physician teaches, the wise physician works with the healthy.” Prevention is the best way to stave off disease. It is this belief that guides Scott’s practice. Contact Scott

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Jennifer received her Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She is the senior editor at a Chicago-based custom publishing firm and travels the world writing about myriad topics ranging from boating and fishing to cooking and architectural design. Previously she was a television reporter and producer for a station in North Dakota, her home state. Also, having been employed with a non-profit agency that caters to youth, Jennifer has an extensive background working with teens and pre-teens. She has tutored at-risk youth and co-facilitated girls’ support groups and “Keys to Inner Visions” courses that instill the knowledge in young people that their past is not their potential. Jennifer enjoys teaching youth how to tap into their creative side with thought-provoking writing exercises that also incite self-exploration. An avid journal keeper for much of her life, Jennifer believes writing in any form and at any age is a powerful self-development tool that can prompt healing and facilitate the ongoing process of discovering and rediscovering one’s self. She is passionate about helping others grasp the writer within and achieve the satisfaction of creative thinking and production. Jennifer is a long-time Logan Square resident and enjoys running the boulevards while training for marathons.

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Sally is a long-time neighborhood resident and former public school librarian. After many years of once-a-week yoga classes, she decided to deepen her understanding through the Temple of Kriya Yoga teacher training program. She received her certifications from the Temple in 2005 and 2006. Friends convinced her to share what she had learned in gatherings at her home. Later she moved her classes to Stellaria and a local church.

She continues her studies in workshops and intensives with master teachers as often as possible.  When not teaching/studying/practicing yoga, Sally can be found reading, walking her dog, gardening, hiking or traveling far and wide with friends and family.
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Molly Moynahan

Writing Instructor

Molly has been teaching writing for over twenty years in Manhattan, London, Texas, Oklahoma, Zen Bosatsu Zendo, SMU, Rutgers, Columbia College, Loyola, DePaul and Evanston. Her latest novel, Stone Garden (HarperCollins) was chosen by The New York Times as a Notable Book of 2003 and she has won a number of awards for her short stories and screenplays. Her essays have been broadcast on Chicago Public Radio and published in THE BEST TEXAS ESSAYS.  You can read more about Molly's writing here, and about her teaching here.

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Meggan uses massage to restore balance in our bodies and lives by treating chronic strain patterns in soft tissue and supporting personal relaxation. Contact Meggan

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Vera Videnovich

Knitting Instructor

Vera is a farmer, knitter, spinner, and teacher. You can read more about her here.

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