Meet the Team

We are an integrative wellness center offering acupuncture, orthopedic acupuncture, orthopedic and therapeutic massage, cranial sacral therapy, rehabilitative movement, and customized nutritional and herbal prescriptions.

Dr. Jamie Bender

Founder, Orthopedic Acupuncture, Traditional Acupuncture, Herbal and Nutritional Counseling

After many years of searching for her life purpose, Dr. Jamie found a fascination with the miracle that is the human body.

Her passion for healing led her down a 20+ year path of studying neuromuscular therapy, yoga therapy, nutritional therapy, herbal therapy, corrective exercise, acupuncture and Chinese medicine. This pathway in life keeps her endlessly fascinated as there is always more to learn about the body and each person presents their own unique puzzles to solve.

Jamie graduated from the Crestone Healing Arts Center with 650 hours of massage therapy training in 2000. In 2002, she completed her yoga teacher training at The Mount Madonna Institute and her certificate in herbal studies from The Northwest School of Botanical Studies.

A traumatic knee injury shifted her attention to orthopedics and injury rehab and furthered her fascination with helping the body heal. She then began studying Neuromuscular Reprogramming (NMR), Neurokinetic Therapy (NKT), and exercise rehab. After 10 years with an injury rehab practice, she went back to school to continue her studies and to complete her licensure in Acupuncture and her Doctorate in Orthopedic Acupuncture and Classical Chinese Medicine. She continues to be endlessly fascinated with the human body and is constantly looking for more avenues in which to learn.
When not at work, Jamie can be found hiking the hills and mountains of California, gardening either at her sprawling home garden or in the thriving clinic orchard, attending a workshop or seminar, and spending time with her husband and beloved cat.

Eva Larson

Orthopedic Acupuncture, Traditional Acupuncture, Nutritional Counseling and Metabolic Coaching

Eva Larson, L.Ac. is a California board-certified acupuncturist with over 15 years of clinical experience, specializing in orthopedic acupuncture and functional health. As a dedicated practitioner and health coach, she helps people move better, feel stronger, and take charge of their well-being.

Eva combines acupuncture, dry needling, herbal medicine, and nutrition to support recovery from injuries, relieve pain, and improve overall wellness—from functional health to glowing skin. She also offers acupuncture facials and microneedling to naturally boost collagen, reduce signs of aging, and enhance skin vitality.

With advanced training in pain management and nutritional therapies, Eva takes a holistic, results-driven approach to health. She loves working with motivated individuals who are ready to make real, lasting changes. Her passion for integrative medicine is personal—after overcoming eczema through alternative therapies, she became even more committed to helping others discover the power of holistic healing.

When she’s not in the clinic you can find her reading/studying, cruising around Alameda, forever attempting a green thumb and, more often than not, in the kitchen.

Erik De Leon

Orthopedic Bodyworker

Erik has been practicing clinical massage therapy since 2011, after completing his training at the World School of Massage. With a background as a yoga instructor, boxing coach, and a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley, he brings a unique blend of body awareness, precision, and thoughtful communication to his work.

He specializes in orthopedic massage, focusing on pain relief and functional improvement through deep tissue techniques. Erik’s approach is simple, precise, and grounded in a strong understanding of anatomy and symptomatology—helping clients recover from injury, manage chronic conditions, and move with more ease.

Under the Orthopedic Massage umbrella, Erik specializes in both Clinical and Sports Massage, each tailored to support your body’s unique needs.

Clinical Massage focuses on relieving pain and restoring function. Sessions target specific areas based on the root cause of discomfort or an underlying condition, making it an excellent complement to ongoing care for chronic symptoms.

Sports Massage is designed to enhance performance and aid recovery. Whether preparing for an event or addressing the physical demands of high-intensity activity, this focused work helps keep your body performing at its best.

Outside the clinic, Erik enjoys solo backpacking in California, baking bread, making pasta from scratch, and watching old film noir.

Katie Persons

Orthopedic Bodyworker

Oakland native Kaitlin is a Certified Massage Therapist and Licensed Esthetician with a deep passion for whole-body wellness and functional recovery. With a background in both therapeutic touch and integrative skincare, she brings a unique and skilled perspective to her work—one that’s grounded, intuitive, and centered on results.

After earning her esthetician license in 2017, Kaitlin spent several years at Aveda San Francisco Center, where she served as Lead Advisor and developed a holistic, education-based philosophy of care. Rather than focusing on products, she learned to connect with each person’s individual needs—an approach that now defines her massage work.

Inspired by her mother, who practiced massage before her, Kaitlin trained at the National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, specializing in orthopedic and sports massage. Her work blends precise, anatomy-informed techniques with an intuitive understanding of how the body moves and heals.

At Stepping into Wellness, Kaitlin focuses on pain relief, injury recovery, and movement restoration, helping clients move better, recover faster, and build long-term resilience. She’s passionate about empowering people to understand their bodies and take an active role in their own healing.

Outside of work, Kaitlin is also a hip-hop musician and an active member of a thriving community of talented artists. As a mother, she and her partner prioritize sharing creativity and culture with their children, often spending weekends at live music events and other artistic gatherings throughout the Bay Area.

Anna Dhont

Office Manager, Appointment Wizard, Insurance Whisperer, Organizational Ninja

Anna is the friendly face you see at the desk when you walk into Stepping into Wellness. With over 3 years of experience in patient-facing roles, she’s here to ensure everything in your patient experience runs smoothly and that you feel cared for every step of the way. She loves getting to know patients and creating a welcoming space where people feel comfortable and supported.

Anna grew up in Castro Valley and studied Environmental Studies at UC Santa Cruz. She’s passionate about conservation and loves being outside, whether it’s hiking in the redwoods, camping under the stars, or spending a day at the beach. In her free time, you’ll find her reading, exercising, exploring the Bay Area, or spending time with friends. Anna is excited to be part of the Stepping into Wellness team and to connect with the amazing community they’ve fostered. Come say hi!

Kate Balison

Office Manager, Appointment Wizard, Insurance Whisperer, Organizational Ninja

Kate is who you talk to when you call Stepping into Wellness and who greets you at the front door. She loves people and is excited to chat with you about everything from booking your next appointment to what show or book you’re currently loving.

She is from the small town of Brisbane, CA but has called Oakland home for most of her adult life. She studied Communications at San Francisco State University and has had a wide variety of jobs throughout her career. After years of navigating different industries she realized the one thing that all her jobs had in common was helping people. This discovery lead her to her newest passion which she is currently studying for – Hypnotherapy!

Kate prioritizes spending the time with family (this includes her three kitties) and spending time in nature above all. If she’s not doing either of those things you can find her doing something with her hands whether it be painting, writing, gardening or any sort of crafting.