Valerie Johnson, NCTMB, a massage therapist and a medical technologist at The Natural Care Center at Woodwinds, employs a philosophy of hands-on patient education. For more than 20 years, she has displayed her commitment to Western medicine, with a seven-year focus on natural health care practices. Her formal education includes a bachelor of science degree in medical technology from the University of Minnesota. Johnson is a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and is also certified as an neuromuscular therapist and infant massage instructor.

As a lab supervisor in internal medicine and oncology at the Metropolitan Medical Associates in St. Paul, she realized the effect that cancer has on patients and their families; this experience cemented her desire to help people on a different level through a natural approach such as massage. Johnson wants to inform people on ways to incorporate healthy living into their daily lives. "Through the use of patient education I hope to inform others on the interconnectivity of the body and the way that massage works to help alleviate certain conditions." Since 1994, Johnson has played an active role in helping others help themselves through massage classes and community events at various locations. Johnson is currently teaching classes on couples massage and infant massage at The Natural Care Center. She strives for an increased awareness among her patients on the benefits of massage and how it can be integrated with other modalities for the best possible care.