Center for Personal & Professional Development

Center for Personal and Professional Development

Salus University is committed to the personal, as well as the professional growth of students. With this goal in mind, Salus University has established the Center for Personal and Professional Development, (CPPD).

The following confidential services are offered:

 

988 is the New Suicide and Crisis Hotline

Psychoeducational/ADHD Evaluation Information and Referrals

How to connect with CPPD

If you are interested in meeting with a counselor, please email cppd@salus.edu. Emails will only be answered during business hours (see schedule below). If you email outside of office hours, please expect a response within 24 hours. Students in crisis should dial 911/988 immediately or go to a local crisis center/emergency room.

You are also more than welcome to request a counselor here or continue using our individual emails to get in touch with us directly:

  Monday      Tuesday     Wednesday Thursday   Friday        
Cristina Laracuente, PsyD
claracuente@salus.edu
    8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
in person
1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
*virtual
 
Jana Walker, MSW
jwalker@salus.edu
  2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
*virtual
    9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
in person
Molly Marcus, PsyD
mmarcus@salus.edu
    9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
in person
   
Tami April-Davis, PsyD
tdavis@salus.edu
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
in person
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
in person
  10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
in person
 
Janeyshka Ortiz, MFT
(practicum student)
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
in person
    10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
in person
 
Andrew Jaskot, MA
(practicum student)
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
in person
    10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
in person
 
 
 
*given the bounds of our licenses, we can only conduct telehealth appointments with students who are physically located in Pennsylvania during the time of their appointments.
Learn more about Janeyshka Ortiz-Flores, MFT
Janeyshka Ortiz-FloresJaneyshka Ortiz-Flores earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish at La Salle University (2018). She then attained her Masters in Couple and Family Therapy at Thomas Jefferson University (2020). Janeyshka is currently in Chestnut Hill College’s Doctor Program in Clinical Psychology. She completed her practicum experiences at Council for Relationships and Growth Opportunity Center. She provided outpatient therapy to individuals, couples, and families, and conducted psychological assessments. Janeyshka’s clinical experiences in her practicums included treating mood disorders, trauma, and interpersonal conflicts. She also completed a practicum experience at Concilio providing group therapy for families in the Latinx community. Currently, Janeyshka is treating individuals, couples, and families at Center for Families and Relationships. She is passionate about providing the best care for underserved communities and people of color.

Janeyshka utilizes an integrative approach that ties in family systems, psychodynamic theory,
and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition to integrating multiculturalism and
intersectionality to address each client’s unique needs/experiences, her interests primarily lie on multicultural care and the importance of understanding how a client’s cultural identity can
impact their mental health.

Janeyshka is very excited to be a part of the Salus community!
Learn more about Andrew Jaskot, MA
Andrew JaskotAndrew is a fifth year PsyD student in the clinical doctoral program at Chestnut Hill College. He completed his BS in Psychology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his MA in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Indianapolis. Andrew works from an
assimilative integrative approach that synthesizes various treatment models, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and mindfulness approaches. As a therapist, Andrew values building a supportive space that allows for the exploration of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as building insight and skills.
Learn more about Cristina Laracuente-Trzaska, PsyD
Cristina LaracuenteDr. Cristina Laracuente-Trzaska is joining CPPD as a postdoctoral psychology resident. She achieved her bachelor’s degree from Temple University (2004). Later, she attained her Masters in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College (2013) followed by her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology also from Chestnut Hill College (2021). Dr. Laracuente completed her pre-doctoral internship at Northeast Treatment Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has also completed practicum experiences at Arcadia University, Westminster Choir College and Beechwood NeuroRehab. Her previous college practicums have provided training in addressing adjustment disorder through a timed therapy approach.

Dr. Laracuente's therapeutic orientation has its foundation on the humanistic approach. Her doctoral academic experience emphasized a holistic approach that drew from psychodynamic psychology, family systems, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Her diverse clinical experience has helped to understand the cross-cultural impact present within the therapeutic alliance. Dr. Laracuente's previous treatment experiences include grief counseling, mindfulness for the treatment of anxiety and depressive symptoms, trauma work, and psychotic disorders. Prior to pursuing a career as a psychologist, Dr. Laracuente worked in social work, truancy, family court and foster care systems for 15 years in the Philadelphia county area. 
Learn more about Jana Walker, MSW
JanaJana earned her BS in Sociology along with a minor in Women’s Studies at California State University, Hayward (1999.) She then earned her MSW at the University of Pennsylvania (2002), with a concentration in clinical practice. She has served a year in Americorps NCCC in Berkeley, California as a health educator and counselor. In addition, she worked in the non-profit, inpatient medical hospital, and clinical sectors since that time. While having served varied populations throughout her career thus far, Jana is passionate about working with people of color, women in life transitions, and the LGBTQAI+ community.
 
In addition to traditional academic and career training/experiences, Jana is also a yoga instructor (200 RYT), Reiki Master, and Ayurveda Practitioner. Utilizing a holistic approach to therapy, she integrates traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ( CBT) with meditation, mindfulness practices, yoga, and Reiki when welcomed. She believes, “This life is a journey, and we are all here learning to trust and explore what it means to have our unique human experience. I am here to assist you on your journey.”
 
Alongside her position at Salus, Jana has a private practice, is an adjunct professor at Temple University, and teaches fitness classes at Life Time Athletic.
 
Jana is so very excited to be a part of the Salus community!
Learn more about Molly Marcus, PsyD 
MollyDr. Molly Marcus earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Albright College (2011). She is currently a licensed psychologist who earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College in 2017 with a concentration in Couples and Family Therapy. Dr. Marcus completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Chestnut Hill College Psychological Services Clinic and Growth Opportunity Center, and her postdoctoral residency at Growth Opportunity Center where she treated individuals, couples, and families, and conducted psychoeducational testing.

Other clinical work experiences include conducting outpatient therapy with adults experiencing trauma and mood dysregulation, providing individual, group, and family therapy at Devereux Foundation, and conducting ADHD evaluations at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Management of ADHD. Additionally, Dr. Marcus has served as a substitute counselor at Salus University’s Center for Personal and Professional Growth in the past.  

Alongside her position at Salus, Dr. Marcus currently provides outpatient therapy for adolescents and adults at Growth Opportunity Center. She also conducts psychoeducational and psychological evaluations to identify learning concerns such as ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, learning disabilities, and more.  

Dr. Marcus utilizes an integrative approach by pulling from the fields of family therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive-behavior therapy to develop individualized treatment plans for each client based on their needs. Additionally, Dr. Marcus works from a multicultural perspective with understanding of how culture, ethnicity, race, and other diversity characteristics may impact aspects of one’s life. Dr. Marcus believes in a collaborative approach to developing treatment plans.

Dr. Marcus is thrilled to be with the Salus community! 
Learn more about Tami April-Davis, PsyD
TamiDr. Tami April-Davis joined CPPD in 2015. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Widener University (2002) and her master's (2010) and doctoral (2014) degrees in Clinical Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. Dr. April-Davis is a licensed clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania. Her interests lie primarily in the areas of psychological assessment, self-care, stress and well-being, mood disorders, and issues related to family systems. Dr. April-Davis's dissertation explored work-life balance for doctoral students in intimate partnerships, which was driven by the desire to understand how graduate students manage relationships during the exceptionally stressful time of graduate school. With regard to theoretical orientation, Dr. April-Davis takes a humanistic and personal approach by first considering DEI factors before conceptualizing through an object-relations/family systems lens.