Dedric Carroll is the founder of Empirical Knead and the creator of its science-informed functional bodywork model. With over 17 years of clinical experience, 13 years of clinical research collaboration with Emory University, and 15 years in massage education, Dedric specializes in medical massage, neuromuscular therapy and structural integration—bridging evidence-based research with precise clinical application.
He personally trains and mentors every Empirical Knead therapist using a clinical research–informed training model, emphasizing assessment, consistency, and outcome-driven care. Variables are monitored and controlled whenever possible to ensure a high, reproducible standard of treatment rooted in functional anatomy, biomechanics, and measurable results. Every therapist at Empirical Knead is trained to a clinical-research level standard under his direct oversight.
Licensed Massage Therapist 2011 | Degree in Occupational Therapy - New York College of Health Professions
Alisa provides clinically informed, integrative bodywork focused on improving function, reducing pain, and supporting long-term quality of life.
She approaches each session with a therapeutic lens, assessing patterns of restriction and stress to deliver targeted, individualized care.
Her training includes massage therapy and formal study of Traditional Chinese Medicine channels and acupoints, blending Eastern principles with modern manual therapy techniques. She has been trained in the Empirical Knead Functional Model, applying fascia-informed and movement-based strategies to support structural balance and nervous system regulation.
Shawny’s work as a practitioner is shaped by a lifelong dedication to movement, healing, and embodied awareness. With over two decades as an international performance artist and educator, he brings a refined understanding of how the body organizes itself through alignment, rhythm, and coordinated movement.
Rooted in Laban/Bartenieff principles of movement organization and informed by somatic traditions such as Body-Mind Centering, Shawny integrates movement awareness with hands-on therapeutic work to support functional alignment, mobility, and ease. His approach honors the body’s innate intelligence while addressing compensatory patterns that develop through injury, posture, and repetitive strain.
Shawny is a graduate of the International School of Skin, Hair Care & Massage Therapy and practices within the Empirical Knead Functional Model. He is currently expanding his expertise in neuromuscular therapy and structural integration under direct mentorship, participating in ongoing clinical and case-based training alongside the Empirical Knead team.
