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  1. ​Campus Director of the Office of Placement & Training  

 

Shannon Wasley, PsyD​​​​

Dr. Wasley is the Campus Director of the Office of Placement & Training.  She graduated from the Clinical Forensic PsyD program at The Chicago School in 2015 and began teaching as an adjunct in that program in 2016.  She transitioned to the Associate Director of Training for the Applied Clinical program in 2017 and has also worked with the Clinical Forensic PsyD students in practicum placement.  Prior to entering the field of psychology, Dr. Wasley worked in various areas of emergency management including medical and disaster response and has ​provided trainings in earthquake, fire, and lockdown procedures for K-12 students.  Her dissertation focused on bullying and cyberbullying and she has provided workshops for parents, students, law enforcement, and campus security teams on this material.  She has also given presentations at conferences and via webinars on topics related to active shooters and stalking.  In her spare time, Dr. Wasley works with a Los Angeles-based animal rescue group as an adoption coordinator and matches shelter dogs with potential adopters.      

 

Directors of Clinical Training (DCTs) & Associate directors of clinical training (ADOTs):

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Loretta Billoups, PsyD 

Dr. Loretta Billoups is both a clinician and relationship coach. She obtained a master's degree in forensic psychology from Argosy University and received her doctorate in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. As part of her course work, she completed and published her dissertation, entitled: The Psychological Effects of System Induced Trauma in the Child Welfare System.

Prior to becoming a clinician, Dr. Billoups was employed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as a Custody Assistant and later as a Deputy Sheriff for almost twelve years. While working on the department she had the opportunity to work at multiple facilities including Men Central Jail, Twin Towers, Central Arraignment Court, Torrance Court, and Central Regional Detention Center. Working in law enforcement allowed her to engage with members of society that needed additional support as they navigated the criminal justice system and faced systemic challenges. It is her life experience, education, and career choices that has led her to become both a clinician and a relationship coach.

Dr. Billoups has been trained in many modalities and due to this she has treated depression, anxiety, mood disorders, many variations of trauma, and a host of other mental illnesses. As a relationship coach, she holds her clients accountable to assist them with achieving their goals. Dr. Billoups currently works as the Director of Clinical Training at The Chicago School and simultaneously at Introspection of Beverly Hills as a Clinician.

Favorite Quote: “Work for a cause not for an applause, live life to express and not to impress" Author Unknown


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Andy Carton, PsyD

Dr. Carton is a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical Doctor of Psychology program at The Chicago School in Los Angeles. Dr. Carton is passionate about ensuring that students receive exceptional training to provide comprehensive, innovative, and socially-conscious treatment to a wide variety of patients, especially from underserved populations.

Dr. Carton earned his doctorate in psychology from George Washington University's Professional Psychology Program in Washington, D.C. He also earned a graduate certificate in Political Psychology from the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University and a bachelor's degree in Sociology-Anthropology from Towson University. Dr. Carton completed his pre-doctoral internship at Eating Recovery Center, a residential and partial hospitalization eating disorder recovery clinic in Chicago, IL, where he studied social and political influences on eating disorder symptomology as well as advanced treatment methods within Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapies. He also completed practicums at the Harborlight Center, a residential substance abuse treatment program, and the University of District of Columbia College counseling center, where he was honored to work with an extremely diverse range of patients.

Dr. Carton's clinical and research interests include exploring the disciplines that intersect with psychology, including economics, political science, and sociology, among others. Throughout graduate school, Dr. Carton coached Olympic Weightlifting and CrossFit in Washington, D.C.​


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Debra Cacianti, PhD 

Dr. Debra Cacianti is currently serving as the Associate Director of Training at the APA accredited clinical program at the Chicago School in Anaheim. Prior to this assignment, she has been a departmental faculty member and an adjunct professor for five years. She earned her PhD in 1994 at the APA accredited program at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego. Her dissertation focusing on adolescent substance abuse was defended with honors. She has been licensed in the State of California since 1996. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine in 1989.

Dr. Cacianti has 25 years of experience working in the correctional system in California. From 1997 to 2013, she worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice as both a therapist for incarcerated youth and as a supervisor for correctional programs and institutions. Through this experience she developed expertise in working with high-risk adolescents and families, substance abuse and suicide prevention. In 2013, she transitioned to adult corrections through her employment at the California Institution for Men in Chino California. At this large men’s prison, she supervised a 34-bed inpatient hospital and administrative segregation. Through her 10 years of experience in this setting, she developed expertise working directly with severely mentally ill and violent inmates. She has provided essential training to the department of corrections throughout the years, particularly in suicide prevention and substance abuse. As her passion for teaching grew, she began adjunct teaching at Argosy in 2018 and transitioned to full faculty upon her retirement from corrections in 2022.

In addition to experience in corrections, Dr. Cacianti has worked in private practice and with children and families in a community care setting. She has obtained certification in assessment of psychopathy through extensive training with the Hare PCL-R.


Katrin Gatas, PsyD 

Dr. Katrin Gatas graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of California, Irvine with a bachelor's degree in psychology. She earned her doctorate in psychology from The Chicago School, Anaheim. Dr. Gatas trained in college counseling centers, conducting accommodations testing, working in a transitional age youth center, and participating in an intensive outpatient chronic pain program. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at IMCES. Dr. Gatas then went on to work with a trauma recovery center specializing in working with clients who were victims of crime. Some areas of interest for Dr. Gatas include trauma, domestic violence, children affected by CPS and DCFS, victims of crime, chronic pain, Narrative Exposure Therapy, CBT, TF-CBT, and clinical training. Dr. Gatas is currently the Associate Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical PsyD program at The Chicago School in Los Angeles. She values working with students and is dedicated to providing them with exceptional training.​

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Whitney Gordy, MA, MFT

Whitney Gordy (she/her) is a Los Angeles based LMFT and trained clinical art therapist. Whitney received her B.A. in studio arts and M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Clinical Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University. She has provided direct services in community based mental health settings and is an active clinical supervisor for non-profit organizations. Whitney has experience working with multidisciplinary teams including full-service partnership, intensive services, outpatient, and underserved populations.


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Kristen Garubba, EdD, LMFT

Dr. Kristen Garubba brings with her long-standing experience in: teaching, providing therapy in a residential and private practice settings, and training other therapists in EMDR interventions. She has served as an adjunct at The Chicago School teaching various courses at both the masters and doctoral level. She has formerly served as Clinical Director of a residential substance abuse program providing oversight and supervision of the therapists in the program. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in South Orange County. Her dissertation focused on college students in Greek and Non-Greek organizations comparing their overall wellness and potential substance abuse issues. She obtained her Doctorate in Educational and Counseling Psychology as well as her master's in clinical psychology from Argosy University. Kristen is dedicated to developing skills of future mental health providers throughout their educational journeys. She joins the Chicago School as the Director of Clinical Training for the Anaheim and San Diego campuses. 

Dr. Garubba is EMDR certified, and EMDR trainer for advanced EMDR focusing on addition, and an EMDRIA approved consultant supporting other EMDR therapists in their certification journey.​


 

 Ian Rosen, PhD 

Dr. Rosen is a core faculty member with the Industrial-Organizational/Business Psychology Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles Campus). He teaches courses in all specialties within the Department and his research interests include multiple aspects of Leadership, Organizational Culture, Change Management, Performance Management and Employee Engagement. Additionally, Dr. Rosen brings his wealth of experience working within and consulting with Fortune 500 Organizations as well as Government entities to the classroom and his supervision of doctoral research. 


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Erika Widera, PsyD

Erika Widera, Psy.D. is the Associate Director of Clinical Training and an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Widera completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology, Criminology and Law Studies, and German at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She participated in the Social Psychology Master's program at San Diego State for one year before transferring to the Doctoral Clinical Psychology program at Argosy University, Orange County. Dr. Widera completed an APA accredited internship with the San Bernardino County, Department of Behavioral Health; graduated from Argosy University, Orange County with her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Forensic Psychology; and completed her post-doctoral training at The Control Center Intensive Outpatient Program for the treatment of dual diagnosis in Beverly Hills, California. Following her post-doctoral training, she worked again for the San Bernardino County, Department of Behavioral Health at West Valley Detention Center and has, for the past 6 years, been involved in a private group practice conducting neuropsychological assessment with children, adolescents, and adults. During her education, training, and employment, Dr. Widera has specialized in working with chronic and severe mental illness, substance use disorders, behavioral disorders, and forensic populations. Additionally, she has made neuropsychological, cognitive, and personality assessment a focus of her practice in psychology. Currently, Dr. Widera is a California licensed psychologist and is part of a group practice specializing in neuropsychological assessment. Dr. Widera teaches courses in the areas of cognitive, personality, and integrative assessment and in diagnostic seminar. She also oversees the Training Department through coordinating practicum and internship placements. ​


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