Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMT,C
Founder & President
Ayelet Connell-Giammatteo, PhD, PT, IMT,C is the President and Founder of Manual Therapy Seminars. She is also the Owner of Ayelet Connell Wellness LLC. Ayelet is a Physical Therapist and Certified Integrative Manual Therapist. She has been practicing in the field of IMT for over 15 years. Ayelet received her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from The University of Hartford in Connecticut. She received her Doctoral Degree from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio, focusing in neuropediatrics, with a concentration in autism. Some of Ayelet’s Doctoral research involved a unique charter elementary school, Soaring Heights, in inner city Jersey City, New Jersey. During this research, she investigated the efficacy of Integrative Manual Therapy on young children that presented with challenges in learning, socialization, and behavior. In addition to her IMT expertise, Ayelet is a graduate of the Institute of Functional Medicine’s program “Applying Functional Medicine into Clinical Practice” focusing on nutritional wellness. She has written many articles on the subjects of IMT, healthy living, natural parenting, and nutritional wellness. Ayelet was Dean of the Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy (CSIMT) for multiple years. She has taught courses in Integrative Manual Therapy nationally and internationally for over 15 years. Ayelet is also a local of this community and has been living in the Greater Hartford area for many years, where she integrates a healthy lifestyle at home with her wonderful family.
Kris Albrecht, MS, PT, IMT,C
Adviser & Teaching Faculty
Kris Albrecht, MS, PT, IMT,C is a Primary Advisor and Chief Teaching Faculty at Manual Therapy Seminars and is the owner of Kris Albrecht, LLC, in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Kris has been practicing and teaching Manual Therapy for over 30 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry, a Master of Science in Physical Therapy, and was a teaching fellow in Gross Anatomy at Boston University. At Rockville General Hospital, Kris designed and implemented the Physical Therapy portion of Heart Minders, a cardiac habilitation program as well as a podiatric orthotic program. She joined the Center for Integrative Manual Therapy / Regional Physical Therapy in 1988, and for nearly three decades has instructed a wide range of Manual Therapy courses nationally and internationally with Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation and The Connecticut School of Integrative Manual Therapy in Bloomfield, CT. She was a test administrator for the Integrative Manual Therapy Certification exam. With a special interest in cranial therapy, neurological issues, and cardiac habilitation, Kris is a gifted lecturer and teaching mentor. She lives with her family in Southington, CT.
Mark A. Dufresne, PT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
Mark A. Dufresne PT, IMT,C first graduating class at University of New England in 1984 with Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. He has been an instructor for Manual Therapy Seminars since 2019 . Mark has started Insight-Therapy and Wellness April 1, 2022. Mark has specialized in manual therapy over the last 36 years in varying approaches. He studied numerous osteopathic approaches, dry needling , manipulation and instrumental assistive fascial mobilization. Mark lives in Brookfield CT, with girlfriend Liz Herman ND.
Carol Gordon, PT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
Carol Gordon, PT, IMT,C, was a founding partner of Regional Physical Therapy, a practice that thrived for three decades with five offices across Connecticut and Massachusetts. She works as a sole practitioner in Glastonbury, CT. Carol holds a degree in Physical Therapy from St. Louis University and is a Certified Integrative Manual Therapy practitioner. In addition to her previous practice, she has been employed as a physical therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Hartford, CT and Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, CT. Carol has been honored to participate as a guest lecturer at institutions throughout the US, Australia, Canada and Hong Kong teaching Integrative Manual Therapy to post graduate physical therapy students. She enjoys speaking at professional physical therapy conferences and at colleges and universities that specialize in physical therapy.
George Giannoni, PT, GDMT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
George Giannoni, PT, GDMT, IMT,C is Teaching Faculty for Manual Therapy Seminars. He works full-time at Mt. Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford CT and part-time at Dynamic PT in Avon CT. His education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gettysburg College, a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Columbia University, and a Graduate Diploma in Manipulative Therapy from Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia. George earned a Certification in Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT), and has been involved with IMT since it’s inception in 1983. He also completed the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification course. George is a Certified Instructor and Practitioner for Sole Supports® Orthotic Technology. One of his special interests includes the use of Manual Therapies and orthotics in the treatment of spinal, pelvic and lower extremity soft tissue, muscular and biomechanical dysfunctions. George served the Connecticut Physical Therapy Association (CPTA) as a member of the Quality Management and Practice Committee, and as Co-Coordinator of the Private Practice Support Group. In service to his community, George has been a 6 year member of the Board of Directors on the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. He was also honored to serve the Territory of American Samoa as their Chief Physical Therapist for two years, and accompanied the Samoan team to their first Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. George has contributed as Coach and Team Physical Therapist for numerous hockey, soccer and baseball teams at various youth levels. He has also completed 4 marathons. George brings over 31 years of experience as a practicing therapist.
Adrienne Kramer, PT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
Adrienne Kramer PT, IMT.C graduated from Ithaca College in 1987. Discovering Integrative Manual Therapy in 1996 was a turning point in her career as her passion for the workings of the human body and the desire to help people reach their highest potential came together. Adrienne opened her first private practice in 1999 to specialize in IMT and became a certified IMT practitioner. In 2001 Adrienne began teaching IMT courses for Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation and Northeast Seminars. Today Adrienne continues to work in her private practice in the mountains of North Carolina. Her most recent pursuit is certification as a menopause practitioner in order to better serve peri and post menopausal women with education and guidance. When she is not working or teaching she spends her time running trails, swimming or creating crazy challenges with her partner. Her super power is swimming open water butterfly for miles which doubles as meditation.
Anthony Peburn, PT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
Anthony Peburn, PT, IMT,C graduated from the University of Hartford in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. He has been an instructor for Manual Therapy Seminars since 2019. During his time at Carlson Therapy Network, Anthony studied many forms of manual therapy with a focus on biomechanics and soft tissue mobilization. He is now a Senior Therapist at Insight Rehab in Bethel, CT. Anthony lives in New Milford, CT, with his wife and three teenage boys.
Carol Smith, MS, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
The body is an amazing living organism and I am in awe of what it can do and how it heals. When I finished graduate school with a Master’s in Exercise Physiology I began working in the hospital system. I started in cardiac rehabilitation and worked my way to being the Director of Rehabilitative Services. After working in a hospital environment for 12 years, my eyes were opened wide to a different approach to healing. With my very first experience with an Integrative Manual Therapist more than 24 years ago, I knew I wanted to practice this incredible modality. I had the honor of studying and working with the founder of IMT, Sharon Weiselfish-Giamatteo for many years. I was a part of the faculty teaching IMT classes for Dialogues in Contemporary Rehabilitation and Northeast Seminars. My personal journeys in life have enhanced my work as a practitioner and as an instructor. I have a private practice in Asheville, NC along with my partner who is an acupuncturist. These two modalities work well together magnifying the healing process. The mountains of North Carolina are a wonderful place to live. I enjoy being in nature whether walking, hiking, biking or just being in the presence of these beautiful mountains.
Lissa Wheeler, LMT, IMT,C
Teaching Faculty
Lissa Wheeler, LMT, IMT,C is a certified practitioner of Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT) and Self Regulation Therapy (SRT), with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Leslie University and a PhD in IMT from Westbrook University. Early in her career, Lissa became certified in Muscular Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Shiatsu and completed a four-year training in Bioenergetic Analysis, which is a body-centered psychotherapy. She spent many years at the Upledger Institute International studying Visceral Manipulation, Lymphatic Drainage, Mechanical Link, and Somato-Emotional Release. Over the years, she has been a teaching assistant at numerous seminars on Craniosacral Therapy and Visceral Manipulation. Also during this time, she completed her three-year master’s degree program in Clinical Psychology at Leslie University. It was through her Upledger studies that Lissa became friends with Dr. Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo, the founder of Integrative Manual Therapy. Sharon had a physical therapy clinic in Connecticut, and Lissa began a long apprenticeship with her, which eventually led to working in Sharon’s clinic. Working closely with Sharon, Lissa gained experience treating the more severe cases, such as patients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Around this time, Sharon began developing her innovative groundbreaking Integrative Manual Therapy. Lissa worked closely with Sharon through the development of IMT. She co-developed a number of courses with Sharon, all in the area of integrating emotional healing with bodywork. She became an instructor of IMT and has taught IMT courses and facilitated IMT clinics throughout the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, Holland, and Israel. Lissa has published a book about healing from trauma called Becoming Resilient: Heal the Physical Impact of Emotional Trauma: A Guide for Bodyworkers.
