Joseph Giacona
Joseph Giacona
My inspiration for pursuing medicine originally came from two sources: my mother and being raised in a family of doctors. As a child my mother introduced me to various forms of alternative medicines ranging from herbalists, various healers and even medical psychics. These people had a profound influence on me, as I experienced directly the great power of holistic medicine. In our family we had a number of doctors, one of them, a quite well known physician from northern New Jersey was my cousin, Dr. Joseph Giacona. He cared for many generations of families in the area. In my youth I listened to many stories of him and other physician relatives helping and serving others.
As a child I was also an avid collector of precious gems and crystals (I know, sort of nerdy). I was fascinated with the healing qualities they had on my family, my dogs and my pet hamster. I would spend my time observing how the gems would effect changes in their mood, affect and demeanor. Gradually my sensitivity to these ‘magical jewels’ – whether lapis, turquoise or ruby, etc – grew as I experienced directly their affect on my own mind and emotions, their calming and stimulating properties. In fact, this interest has continued to this day. When you come in to the clinic, you will notice that I utilize crystals during every treatment.
In my early teens my interest in medicine expanded to include other mediums – I soon developed a keen interest and fascination with my own breath (conscious control of respiration) – it’s flow, force and direction. Not a day would pass where I didn’t try to improve or cultivate the subtle movements of my breath. Through this “practice”, I intuitively came to understand its power for stabilizing the mind. Overtime my endurance improved such that I would remain absorbed in concentration for longer and longer periods of time. Little did I know I was engaging in the fundamentals of meditation organically and without effort. Because of this, I soon developed the ability to move and channel energy, in myself and with others.
As a young adult I attended Boston College where I majored in Asian Philosophy and minored in art. I was also a point guard on the Boston College men’s basketball team. Yet, one of the most memorable mornings in my college life was my first day of class when I was introduced to my first Buddhist teacher, Lama John Makransky, author of Awakening Through Love: Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness, (assistant to Lama Surya Das) and Francis Y. K. Soo, qi gong healer and teacher of meditation, Daoism and Confucianism. I would spend the next four years studying and absorbing the ancient philosophies of the Far East. It was during this time that I was formally introduced to numerous healing arts including acupuncture, meditation and the healing properties of food.
Upon graduation I moved to New York City to study meditation with Sogyal Rinpoche author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying as well as to attend Columbia University, where I studied clinical psychology in their Master’s degree program. During these few years I spent my time working as a doctors assistant training alongside renowned psychiatrists on the World Trade Center Trauma Study treating survivors of 9/11 at the NY State Psychiatric Institute in conjunction with Columbia University Medical Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital. I also had the good fortune to study the Tibetan Medical Tantras with Eliot Tokar, a Tibetan medical doctor, who studied with and received private instruction from Dr. Yeshi Dhonden, one of the most respected physicians of Tibet.
Inspired by what Eastern traditions had to offer, I went on to attend Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in NYC, where I received a Master of Science in Traditional Oriental Medicine. This four-year degreed program totaled 3,500 hours and included both clinical training and in-class instruction on the “Four Pillars of Chinese Medicine”: acupuncture and moxibustion, Chinese herbal medicine, dietary therapy, tui na medical massage and medical qigong.
Since then I have studied with numerous healing masters, receiving one-on-one instruction in the masterful practices of sujok acupuncture, qi gong, modern homeopathy, clinical nutrition, neuro-muscular rehabilitation, herbal medicine, clinical kinesiology, bio-resonance testing, causative homeopathy, crystal healing, detoxification, spiritual healing and cold laser therapy seeing well over a few thousand patients, in no less that 20,000 individual treatments.
Some of my other certifications, trainings and qualifications include:
- Doctor of Acupuncture (RI)
- Licensed Acupuncturist (NJ/NY)
- Nationally Board Certified in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCCAOM)
- Clean Needle Technique Certified (CCAOM)
- I worked as an acupuncturist and meditation teacher at St. Vincents Cancer Care Center in NYC.
- I am an advanced level practitioner of Sujok Acupuncture created by Dr. Professor Park Jae Woo, receiving my training from Dr. Sankar Mohanaselvan, M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), D.Ac of the Sujok Academy of Acupuncture in Chennai, India.
- I am a student of Dr. Savely Yurkovsky, creator of FCT®, a comprehensive healing system which employs the safe, effective use of a novel homeopathic system aimed at detoxing and restoring organ and tissue function.
- I studied Nutrition Acoustic Myography (discerning nutritional imbalances through reading an endocardiograph), under Dr. Lester Bryman. With over a half a century of clinical experience, Dr. Bryman is one of the world’s top nutritional practitioners.
- Trained directly under Dr. George Gonzalez in Los Angeles, CA, creator of Gonzalez Rehabilitation Technique (GRT), new and extremely effective method for the rehabilitation of nervous system disorders.
- I am a skilled practitioner of Nutrition Response Testing and Clinical Nutrition, training with Dr. Freddie Ulan and Dr. Lori Puskar.
- In many of my treatments I employ the Kaufman Technique™, a system of myofascial manipulation developed by Dr. Stephen Kaufman, D.C. for the treatment of both internal and musculo-skeletal disorders. I trained directly under Dr. Kaufman in Denver, CO. He is truly one of the most remarkable healers on the planet.
- Received certification from The Institute for Classical Asian Studies Certified advanced Traditional Chinese Medicine Pathophysiology, modeled on the collegiate training programs in Asia. Topic included:
- The relationship between basic physiology & the development of disease.
- The gradations of severity in Traditional Chinese Medicine pathology.
- How to treat each level of pathological development & predict progress.
- Understanding the functions of living organic process in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- I also received certification from The Institute for Classical Asian Studies level 1 Medical Qi Gong Training, as well as the Advanced 36 Acupuncture Needle Techniques.
- Attended Dr. Eugene Charles Applied Kinesiology Certification Course in Manhattan, NY certified through The International College of Applied Kinesiology. Studied advanced techniques in the treatment of:
- Trigger points
- Piriformis syndrome
- Hip, knee, ankle, foot disorders
- Complex acupuncture / meridian imbalances
- Elbow, wrist, hand disorders (carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, etc.)
- Functional endocrine imbalances (ie. PMS, infertility, dysglycemia, allergies, etc.)
- Studied nutrition with Dr. Michael Dobbins, D.C, topics included:
- Natural Alternatives for the Mayo Clinic: Top 10 Health threats for men & Women
- Breakthrough nutritional insights and products of Dr. Royal Lee
- Natural versus “Synthetic” supplements
- The Theory of Protomorphology as developed by Dr. Royal Lee
- Integrating Herbal formulations with Whole Food Concentrates
- Studied macrobiotic nutrition with Michio Kushi and helped with the set up of the History of Macrobiotics Installation at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History Washington, DC, when it archived documents and artifacts related to the macrobiotic work in the Kushi Family Collection.
- Trained as a hospice volunteer at Continuum Hospice, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York NY. In a hospice setting volunteers offer support to the dying and their family members through compassionate listening, spiritual discussion, art therapy and relaxation techniques such as meditation and light touch.
- Studied ‘Worsley Style Acupuncture’ with Lonny Jarrett, author of The Clinical Practice of Chinese Medicine, learning the inner functions of acupuncture points, herbal formulas and acupuncture point combinations.
- Studied basic qi gong forms, breath control and posture with Nan Lu, O.M.D., author of a number of books on traditional Chinese medicine.
- Certified and trained in ‘Working Class Acupuncture’, receiving training in protocol and treatment techniques directly from Lisa Rohleder L.Ac. in Portland, Oregon.
- And I was also a volunteer for the The Alvin and Alfreda Williams Sr. Foundation, a foundation that raises money for Autism research and awareness.
As an experienced meditation practitioner, please do not hesitate to ask me for advice in beginning, maintaining and/or furthering your meditation practice. Meditation is a simple yet profound method to improve the quality of our lives and develop inner peace. Every year I engage in a two-week meditation retreat in the Lake District of Northern England. I have also attended meditation retreats in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, France, Germany, Greece, California, Canada and upstate New York.
I have established meditation centers in Riverdale, NY; Brooklyn and Greenpoint NY; Jersey City and Hoboken NJ, and Greenwich Village NYC. For years I was an adjunct teacher of meditation at John Jay College in NYC. I am in my ninth year of study on the Teacher Training Program at the Chakrasambara Meditation Center in NYC, where I am the long-time student of world-renowned meditation Masters Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, author of Transform Your Life, and Kadam Morten Clausen. I teach weekly meditation classes in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. If you are ever in area please drop-in. For more information please visit: www.
When I am not here at my office in Brooklyn, I work at my other office in Ramsey, NJ.
