BALANCE POINT WELLNESS - Key Persons
Anissa Salerno, PMHNP, is a Child and Adult Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Anissa manages and treats a wide range of mental health concerns, including Autism, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. Her approach to care recognizes that every patient is unique and should be treated as such.
Anissa provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management with special attention to individual needs, personal history, stressful or traumatic life experiences, and concerns about medications. Anissa approaches patient care with patience, warmth, understanding, and helpful explanations that facilitate treatment and the patient's sense of comfort and trust. She approaches treatment from a nonjudgmental space allowing the professional relationship to develop. This approach is successful in meeting the needs and desired outcomes of each client. Anissa's primary focus is providing honest communication with her patients and quality resources for all those involved.
Note: Ms. Salerno works in the York-Belvedere Medical Center.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Nutrition Specialist
Celia is a Board Certified Nutrition Specialist and Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist with a deep passion for promoting health and well-being through personalized nutrition and lifestyle guidance. She holds a Master's Degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health with a Concentration in Herbal Medicine from the maryland University of Integrative Health. She has successfully guided clients of all ages and backgrounds towards increased health and vitality, with a focus on cardiometabolic health, digestive support, hormone balancing, and mental health nutrition. Celia believes in fostering a compassionate, non-judgmental, and inclusive approach to health and well-being. She draws from functional medicine, herbalism, Health at Every Size®, and Intuitive Eating, a mindful and compassionate framework that helps individuals break free from diet culture and embrace a more balanced and joyful approach to eating. She enjoys collaborating with clients to create customized plans tailored to their unique health needs.
Donna is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who treats clients of all ages. She received her graduate degree from Frostburg State University and is board certified as a PMHNP by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. After over 30 years of experience as a registered nurse, she decided to become a nurse practitioner.
Donna is also a certified nurse case manager with expertise in assisting clients in navigating the healthcare system's complexities and obtaining the care they need. Donna believes in a client-centered approach where the client is the most important part of the treatment team. She believes in the importance of therapy and medication and works closely with the client's therapist to assist the client in attaining their treatment goals. The NP program Donna attended at Frostburg was designed to provide health care services in rural and underserved areas. As a life-long resident of the Eastern Shore of Md, she understands the challenges faced by those living in rural communities and is excited to be a part of the team at the Salisbury office.
Dr. Rochan Olson-Burrell is a nationally licensed acupuncturist and herbalist. She graduated from Yo San University in 2012 with a master's in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and went on to get her doctorate in 2014 with a focus on healthy aging and longevity.
She spent time in China studying at the Shanghai University spending time in the stroke center. She had a private practice in LA for eight years where she treated a wide variety of conditions, including but not limited to pain, digestion, PMS, fertility, stress, and anxiety. She focuses on treating the whole person physically, mentally, and spiritually, using many different modalities in combination with lifestyle and nutrition coaching to empower the patient to help heal themselves, working to treat the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Note: Ms. Olson-Burrell works in the Hunt Valley office.
Job Titles:
- Certified Nutrition Specialist
Dr. Shari Youngblood is a board-certified nutrition specialist (CNS) and licensed dietitian nutritionist (LDN) with extensive experience in clinical nutrition and functional medicine. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition (DCN) from Maryland University of Integrative Health and specializes in using personalized therapeutic nutrition to support mental health and overall wellness. At Balance Point Wellness, Dr. Shari leads the clinic's nutrition program, providing evidence-based nutrition counseling and developing individualized nutrition plans to help clients achieve optimal health. She is passionate about integrating nutrition and psychology, with a special interest in ketogenic metabolic therapy to support mental health. Her practice focuses on helping individuals manage conditions such as metabolic dysfunction and chronic illness through food as medicine.
Jennifer is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who received her Master of Science in Nursing from Walden University and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Towson University. Jennifer has specialized training and experience in treating clients across the lifespan with various mental health conditions. She has psychiatric experience, including working in local hospitals, in the emergency room, and in outpatient clinics. Jennifer has been a nurse for over fourteen years with a background in critical care.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, Medical Degree from University of Maryland School of Medicine
Kwesi is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a degree from Walden University. Kwesi has 15 years of nursing experience with a focus on critical care and behavioral health. He has extensive experience treating patients with psychiatric disorders from various age groups and cultural demographics. Specializing in a range of mental health conditions, Kwesi has honed his skills in diagnosing and treating mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, and schizophrenia. He approaches each patient with an individualized treatment plan, recognizing the uniqueness of their experiences and tailoring interventions to suit their specific needs. His holistic approach takes into account biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors that contribute to mental health issues. Beyond his clinical experience, Kwesi is well known for his empathetic and non-judgmental demeanor. He strongly believes in inclusivity for people from all walks of life. He creates a safe and supportive environment where patients can openly express their thoughts and emotions. His collaborative approach focuses on building a strong therapeutic alliance that involves working closely with patients to set achievable goals, empowering them to actively participate in their healing journey.
Job Titles:
- Certified Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Olalekan Ajayi is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who graduated from Walden University. He is a highly skilled professional with thirteen years' overall nursing experience, five years in psychiatry before he went back to school and became licensed as a PMHNP. Olalekan's experience encompasses a commitment to delivering exceptional, qualitative, and compassionate patient care to diverse and multicultural client mixtures.
He has a holistic understanding of psychiatric and medical techniques, processes, and the unique protocols of the Psychiatric-Mental healthcare delivery in outpatient settings, community, correctional health care systems, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. The years of experience bring to fore proficiency in obtaining a history, carrying out a physical assessment, diagnosing, implementing treatment, and evaluating care outcomes while maintaining safety and promoting client dignity, respect, and in accordance with each facility's policies and procedure.
Note: Mr. Ajayi works in the Hunt Valley Office, as well as provides Telehealth Services.
Thomas is a Licensed Acupuncturist with a Masters in Acupuncture from Maryland University of Integrative Health. He practices Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). His treatments focus on mental health and pain. He's experienced in treating patients for menstrual pain, pain (acute and chronic), anxiety, and depression. Some of the other modalities that he uses are cupping, gua sha, tui na, and dietary suggestions.
Job Titles:
- Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Wandayi is a board certified Psychiatric Mental health Nurse practitioner who graduated from Liberty University school of Nursing. She is a dedicated and highly motivated nurse practitioner with over thirteen years of experience in nursing, 6 years in Neurology/ Psychiatry as CRNP and went back to school and became licensed as a PMNP. Wandayi brings in great work ethics, including safety, professionalism, clinical skills, critical thinking, interpersonal relationships, adaptability, accountability, with excellent communication skills, and a track record of working efficiently under stressful/emergent situations.
Wendy is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Walden University. Wendy has training and experience treating clients with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan and practice settings, including emergency departments and outpatient clinics. Wendy has been a nurse for 14 years, with most of her experience in the emergency department taking care of severe mental health disorders.
Yvette Myers is an acupuncturist licensed by the state of Maryland. Over seventeen years ago, she received her Master of Acupuncture degree from TAI SOPHIA/ Maryland University of Integrative Health in Laurel, MD. She specialized in the study of the Five Element teachings of J.R. Worsley and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since graduation, Yvette has provided detoxification acupuncture to clients in two Intensive Outpatient (IOP) Substance Abuse programs in Baltimore City.
In her private practice, she treats various general medical conditions, including chronic pain, headaches, allergies, anxiety, depression, sports injuries., etc. Working in concert with Dr.'s, therapists, and other practitioners to combine Eastern and Western medicine for the best possible outcomes. Yvette helps her patients discover their healing abilities by supporting them along their healing path.
Note: Ms. Myers works in the York-Belvedere Medical Center office.