Jonathan Woods, LCSW received his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and his MSW from Hunter College. He is trained in the treatment of adults, couples, children and adolescents. Areas of special interest include depression, adolescent turmoil and marital disenchantment. Mr. Woods has been in clinical practice since 1979.
Donald Fong, MD received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University, graduating on the Dean's Distinguished List. He received his MD from Texas Tech School of Medicine and Interned at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital. He was a Resident in Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center. He completed a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital where he was Chief Resident.
Joel Szkrybalo, PhD received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his doctorate in clinical psychology from New York University. He has extensive experience providing psychotherapy to children, teens, adults, and families. His areas of interest include depression, anxiety, autistic spectrum disorders in children and teens, adoption and attachment issues, coping with loss, and social skills training. Dr. Szkrybalo has taught a variety of undergraduate psychology courses at Princeton University. He was awarded a Congressional Fellowship by the American Psychological Association and served as a mental health policy advisor in the United States Senate. Prior to joining CMHS, Dr. Szkrybalo worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, overseeing the development of a national program to provide improved care for US soldiers with traumatic brain injuries.
Peter Thomas, PhD received his undergraduate degree from Boston University and his doctorate from DePaul University. Dr. Thomas served two years as a Clinical Fellow in Psychology at Harvard Medical School where he received clinical training at
Beth Israel Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Thomas specializes in helping adolescents, young adults and their families navigate the transition to adulthood, especially when executive functioning, mood disorders or substance use problems get in the way. Aside from working with CMHS, Dr. Thomas is Vice President of Outpatient Services for Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health. He has been in clinical practice since 1986.
Scott G. Gill, LCSW received his undergraduate education at Rider University and his MSW from Rutgers University. Mr. Gill is trained in the treatment of adults, couples, children and adolescents. He has experience in both academic and clinical settings. For 15 years Mr. Gill was the Director of Student Services at Rutgers Preparatory School where he oversaw the counseling and health departments. Mr. Gill is an accomplished athlete, having played sports on high school teams and college teams, and takes special interest in the unique pressures confronted by student-athletes.
Suneeta Sayyaparaju, MD is Board Certified in both Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. She was Chief Resident at Mount Sinai Hospital/Icahn School of Medicine where she completed a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Previously, she completed her residency at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital Adult Psychiatry program, and she received her medical degree from Sri Ramachandra Medical College. Having been raised primarily in North Carolina, having graduated from high school in New Jersey and having lived overseas, Dr. Sayyaparaju brings a broad perspective and a wide range of experiences to her work. Areas of special interest include parent-child relational issues and psychiatric conditions in school settings.
Sarah Trillin, LCSW received her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her MSW from UCLA. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. In addition to working in mental health agencies, Ms. Trillin has worked in schools, hospitals and other healthcare settings and has extensive experience working with chronic pain and addiction issues. Ms. Trillin has completed a postgraduate training program in Bowen Family Systems Theory and is interested in helping individuals look at symptoms in the context of their family systems. Areas of special interest include parenting issues and family therapy. Ms Trillin has written numerous articles for parenting magazines.
Deborah Dumont, DSW, LCSW graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in psychology. She received her MSS from Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research after which she completed postgraduate training in Bowen Family Systems Theory at the Princeton Family Center for Education. Most recently she received her doctorate in social work from Rutgers University where her focus was on treating families and young adults. Dr. Dumont’s research can be found in scholarly peer reviewed literature. She has presented at professional conferences and is a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University where she teaches couples, family and group therapy practice. Dr. Dumont received substantial training treating eating disorders and other food and body related issues at Princeton University and The University Medical Center at Princeton.
Selden Dunbar Illick, LCSW received her BS from the College of New Jersey and her MSS from Bryn Mawr College of Social Work and Social Research. She has trained extensively in Bowen Family Systems Theory and is the founder and Director of the Princeton Family Center for Education, Inc., which is based on Murray Bowen's natural systems theory. Ms. Illick considers individual human behavior within the context of family, work and social relationship systems. In the therapeutic process her goal is to promote awareness of the instinctual and automatic emotional forces that challenge one's ability to think and act responsibly. Ms. Illick has been in clinical practice since 1981.
Keith Ann Raser, MD received her undergraduate degree from Kenyon College graduating summa cum laude. She attended Northwestern Medical School in Chicago and did her residency at Tufts University/New England Medical Center Hospitals in Boston where she was Chief Resident for Inpatient Psychiatry at New England Medical Center. Following residency she joined the Westwood Pembroke Health System where she became the Clinical Director of the outpatient psychopharmacology group practice and later the Medical Director of Geriatric Services at Pembroke Hospital. She moved with her family to NJ in 1998 and has been in private practice since. Dr. Raser is board certified in adult psychiatry. She enjoys working with individuals from late adolescence through later life. She is particularly understanding of individuals affected by family members' developmental challenges.
Michael P. Boyle, PhD obtained his graduate degree from New York University and his undergraduate degree from St. Peter's College. While at NYU, Dr. Boyle did an internship with the Devereux Foundation. Of note, Dr. Boyle is trained in the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. At CMHS Dr. Boyle is unique in that he provides psychological and psychodiagnostic testing including psycho-educational evaluations for the identification of developmental and learning disabilities, along with personality assessments for treatment, vocational and forensic purposes. Dr. Boyle has extensive experience working with children and adolescents in general, and more specifically children with learning and/or developmental disabilities. He played a principal role in the development and implementation of a program utilizing applied behavioral analysis principles on behalf of autistic students in a public school setting. Also of note, Dr. Boyle plays the five string banjo.
Lee S. Gardner, LCSW received her BA from Connecticut College and her MSW from Rutgers University. She works with individuals, couples and families on issues relating to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, bereavement and relationship challenges. She assists clients looking at patterns of functioning from a broader family systems perspective. Ms. Gardner has trained extensively in Bowen Family Systems Theory and is on the faculty of the Princeton Family Center for Education, Inc. which offers programs in Bowen theory to professionals, laypeople and the community. In addition, she is a faculty member of the Princeton Center for Teacher Education and has presented Bowen theory to teachers and parents in schools throughout New Jersey.
Leichena Bodie-Young, LCSW received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her MSW from New York University. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, young adults and families. Her focus is on building connections that support the growth and development of sustainable, healthy functioning. She has been extensively trained in multiple treatment modalities and is certified in EMDR. For six years, before joining CMHS, Mrs. Bodie-Young was the Director of Adolescent Day Services for the Greater Trenton Behavioral Health Center. Concurrent with her work at CMHS, Mrs. Bodie-Young is an Upper and Middle School counselor at Rutgers Preparatory School. She has been in clinical practice since 2002.
Erin Falk, PhD received her doctorate from Temple University. In addition, she earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Rider University, along with a separate Master’s degree in Educational Administration. Dr. Falk has an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Penn State. Aside from her clinical work, Dr. Falk has been employed as a school principal, vice principal, supervisor of special services, school psychologist and classroom teacher. In short, Dr. Falk has substantial experience working with children in a variety of roles and settings. And, at the same time, Dr. Falk is trained and experienced in working with adults struggling with depression, workplace problems, anxiety, life transitions, illness, grief and other forms of loss. Also Dr. Falk works with adults undergoing bariatric surgery, those caring for the aged and chronically ill, and adults with disabilities. Dr. Falk also provides psycho-educational and attention deficit evaluations for adults and children.
Ilene West, PsyD graduated with honors and distinction from Cornell University. She obtained her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology/Yeshiva University. Dr. West completed her internship at Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Ward’s Island and post-doctoral fellowship at the Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT. Following her post-doctoral training, she was a staff psychologist and supervisor at Bellevue Hospital, providing both psychotherapy on the inpatient service and clinical training and supervision to psychology graduate students and psychiatry residents. Dr. West has also provided consultation and treatment at an acute rehabilitation center and skilled nursing facility. Prior to joining CMHS, Dr. West was an Adjunct Professor at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology and a clinical instructor and supervisor at NYU School of Medicine. Dr. West’s areas of interest include working with older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions. She is especially interested in working with individuals who have inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal illnesses. Also, she is interested in assisting with managing the emotional challenges surrounding infertility. Dr. West specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based treatments and stress-management. In addition to clinical work, Dr. West enjoys cooking and creating her own recipes.
Jill Richards, PsyD received her undergraduate degree from The University of Michigan and her doctoral degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Northwestern University. Before joining CMHS fulltime, for twelve years Dr. Richards was the Director of Rutgers University mental health, psychiatric and substance abuse services. Accordingly, she has worked extensively with college students. In addition, Dr. Richards has substantial experience working with adults, couples and families. While Dr. Richards was heavily influenced by psychodynamic perspectives on human development early in her career, in more recent years she has cultivated rich and useful skills in evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) along with evidence-based treatments for OCD and anxiety. Incorporated into Dr. Richards's approach is respect for cultural and individual difference and a deep appreciation of how power, access and opportunity impact health and well-being. Dr Richards has been in clinical practice since 1998.
Bryan Balaban, LCSW received his undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and his MSW from Rutgers University. Mr. Balaban is trained in working with adolescents, adults and families. He takes a special interest in treating depression, substance abuse and anxiety. He is also interested in the role and impact of music on the regulation of mood.
Sara Popkin, MD received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University, graduating magna cum laude. Following college, she taught eighth grade English in Harlem as part of Teach For America and earned a Master’s in Teaching from Pace University. She received her medical degree from Tulane University and was honored with the Gold Humanism in Medicine Award. She completed both her general psychiatry residency and a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the NYU School of Medicine. She is Board Certified in both Child/Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry.
Zorianny Baez, DSW, LCSW received her undergraduate degree from Lehman College, summa cum laude, and her MSW from New York University. Dr. Baez received her Doctorate degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. Her doctoral research focused on mental health disparities within marginalized communities and adolescent mental health. Dr. Baez is experienced treating children, adolescents, and adults in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She is comfortable and talented providing clinical services in both English and Spanish.
Sarah Geser, LCSW received her MSW from Rutgers University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Hartford. She has been providing clinical services since 1994. Before joining CMHS full-time, Ms. Geser was the Director of East Mountain Youth Lodge Adolescent Residential Treatment Services. Accordingly, she has extensive experience working with adolescents and their families. Also, in private practice, she has worked with adults suffering with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. In addition, Ms. Geser has spent many years training and supervising other clinicians. Her clinical approach draws heavily from family systems theory, mindfulness training, and experiential techniques. her MSW from Rutgers University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Hartford. She has been providing clinical services since 1994. Currently Ms. Geser is the Director of East Mountain Youth Lodge Adolescent Residential Treatment Services; she has extensive experience working with adolescents and their families. Also, in private practice, she has worked with adults suffering with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. In addition, Ms. Geser has spent many years training and supervising other clinicians. Her clinical approach draws heavily from family systems theory, mindfulness training, and experiential techniques. Currently, Ms. Geser is pursuing certification in veterinary social work which focuses on animal assisted treatment, the contribution of animals to improved mental health and grief following the loss of a companion animal.
Karie McGuire, DSW, LCSW, CHES received her undergraduate degree, her master’s degree and her doctorate from Rutgers University. For much of her career she has worked with individuals suffering from trauma: abuse, loss or interpersonal violence. She has presented at national conferences and published on the subject of complex trauma and human trafficking. In addition, Dr. McGuire has substantial experience working with adolescents regarding self-esteem, sexual health, eating disorders and healthy relationships. Also, she is a full time assistant clinical professor at Widener University.
Lauren Snedeker, DSW, LSW, LMSW received her undergraduate degree in public health from Rutgers University. For several years she worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center as an administrator dealing with older individuals. That experience inspired Lauren to acquire an MSW from New York University, focusing primarily on clinical concerns for older adults, their loved ones, their not-so-loved ones, chosen family and others in their lives. Then, to deepen her knowledge base and to develop her skills more fully, Lauren pursued her Doctorate in Social Work, again at Rutgers University. Currently, Dr. Lauren Snedeker is a full-time faculty member at Rutgers where, in addition to teaching, she coordinates the MSW Certificate in Aging and Health.
Christine Beach, LCSW received her BS from Towson University and her MSW from New York University. She is trained in the treatment of children, adolescents, adults and families. Through the years she has specialized in the treatment of eating disorders. In addition, she has worked with children, adolescents and their families regarding depression, anxiety, relational, sexual health and gender issues. Other areas of interest include fertility issues and grief related to fetal loss. When Christine is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her two small children and doing Pilates, whenever she gets the opportunity.
Laura R. Kelly, PsyD earned her bachelor of science in psychology from the College of Charleston in Charleston, SC. She completed her graduate work at St. John’s University, Queens campus, where she earned her Masters of Science and Doctor of Psychology degrees in school psychology. Dr. Kelly has substantial experience with psychological and/or educational evaluations used to identify developmental and learning delays in individuals ages 3 and up. Related to that she has a passion for teaming with families to put evaluation results to good use through the use of concrete strategies. In addition, Dr. Kelly has extensive knowledge of New Jersey special education law and related parental rights. Beyond that, Dr. Kelly works with a broad range of children and families to support social and emotional functioning and growth, both at home and elsewhere. Much of her individual psychotherapy is CBT based.
Cara Laitusis, PhD is a Fellow in the American Psychological Association and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. She earned her doctorate in school psychology from Fordham University and has 25 years of research experience in educational and psychological testing both with children and adults managing a wide range of disabilities. Her work has been published by the American Psychological Association, the American Educational Research Association, the Council for Exceptional Children, Learning Disabilities of America and the National Council on Measurement in Education. Dr. Laitusis is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Boyle to complete her post-doctoral clinical supervision and holds a temporary permit from the New Jersey State Board of Psychological Examiners.
Kevin Kavookjian, MD is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and licensed in New Jersey, New York and Maine. He graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed his adult psychiatric training at Stony Brook University Hospital where he also served as the Chief Resident. Dr. Kavookjian practiced in Maine from 2008 until 2022. During that time he was the Medical Director of Health Affiliates of Maine, a statewide mental health agency. He served as the Medical Director at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Lewiston and as instructor of medical students both from Tufts University School of Medicine and the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Preceding that, Dr. Kavookjian was the Chief of Psychiatry at Southern Maine Medical Center in Biddeford. In 2022, Dr. Kavookjian’s family returned to New Jersey (both for easier access to superior schools and for greater proximity to extended family). From 2022 through early 2024 Dr.Kavookjian provided outpatient treatment and supervised APN’s for LifeStance through NJ Behavioral Health in Princeton Junction. Currently, he serves as a consult liaison and emergency room psychiatrist at Ocean University Medical Center, Riverview Medical Center, and Southern Ocean Community Hospital. Also, he instructs psychiatry residents at Ocean University Medical Center. Dr. Kavookjian believes an effective diagnosis and treatment plan require collaborative relationships with patients and family members. His areas of expertise are wide-ranging; they include depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar I and II, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, ADHD, binge eating disorder, borderline personality disorder and premenstrual dysphoria.