Anxiety Psychiatrists in Massachusetts

Dr. Daniel Azzopardi was born and raised in Malta where he attended medical school and worked in internal medicine for several years before moving to New York in 2017. He then completed a psychiatry residency at SUNY Downstate and stayed on for his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship, which he completed in June 2024. Dr. Azzopardi is a dedicated adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist who treats individuals of all ages and uses his strong foundation in internal medicine to handle complex cases requiring intricate medication management. This combination of skills allows for comprehensive care that addresses both mental and physical health challenges. Dr. Azzopardi's holistic approach ensures that each patient receives tailored treatment, fostering improved outcomes and overall well-being.

Dr. Lorangelly Rivera is board-certified in Adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 5 years. Dr. Rivera focuses on medication management and brief psychotherapy utilizing techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy in 30-minute appointments. When appropriate, Dr. Rivera may recommend additional psychotherapy with a psychologist as part of the treatment plan. She is fluent in both Spanish and English and is passionate about working with the Latinx population. She completed her bachelor's degree in Cellular Molecular Biology from Metropolitan University, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and her postgraduate work at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Rivera received her medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Ponce, Puerto Rico. She completed her residency training in psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center. After completing her training, she began working for Lifespan Physician Group where she became program director for Lifespan Latinx Mental Health Services and served as Staff Psychiatrist at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital. She holds a faculty position in The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior as a Clinical Instructor. ‍

Dr. Zac Myslinski is a staff psychiatrist who provides thoughtful, evidence-based care for adults facing a wide range of difficulties. He is committed to creating a welcoming, collaborative space where patients from all backgrounds, including but not limited to the LGBTQ+ community, feel heard and supported.

He earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from Dartmouth College and his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medicine, where he received the Richard Kohl Prize for Excellence in Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatry residency at Harvard-Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he served as chief resident of the Consult-Liaison/Emergency Department Psychiatry service. He has also conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease and health system economics.

New patients can expect a personalized approach that includes discussion of both medication and therapy. Dr. Myslinski values understanding your treatment preferences and aims to serve as a consultant and collaborator in identifying the best path forward. He believes that developing a shared understanding of your background and current difficulties is essential to effective treatment.

Dr. Myslinski is well-trained in using a wide range of medications and interventions alongside talk therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). His approach emphasizes flexibility, autonomy, and curiosity, with a focus on symptom relief and deeper self-understanding.

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Dr. Kevin DiCesare is a board-certified psychiatrist, treating adults. He received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and then went on to train at Maine Medical Center for his psychiatric residency. He has 22 years of expertise in diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, Bipolar spectrum disorders, adjustment problems, ADHD and other disorders. He is well versed in psychopharmacological interventions, but is a proponent of patients also being active in psychotherapy whenever appropriate. He prides himself in collaboratively arriving at treatment decisions with his patients, and taking the time to listen to their concerns and answer their questions.

Dr. DiCesare has worked in various settings, including community mental health centers and large hospital systems, with experience in inpatient, outpatient, and consultative roles. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he most recently served as an attending psychiatrist on the staff of Southern New Hampshire Health System, where he provided consultative care to referrals made from primary care providers and various specialists.

Ekta Rathee, DNP, PMHNP-C, is an experienced psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner with an extensive clinical background in a variety of patient care settings. Rathee's diverse clinical background has strengthened her belief in a holistic approach for optimal patient outcomes. Though her primary focus remains medication management of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, she equally supports and incorporates the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, and supportive therapy in her daily patient care practice. Rathee truly believes in an individualized and holistic patient care approach, which requires a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a commitment to stay abreast of the latest in the field. Her favorite learning modality is to learn from unique patient care scenarios, which often requires a deep dive into the existing body of evidence-based knowledge. Her most important advice for her patients is to never lose hope.

Lisha Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with over 23 years of extensive experience working in the mental health field. Lisha has worked with clients facing a variety of life's challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as perinatal and postpartum mental health. She attended undergraduate school in Albany, GA, and graduate school in Valdosta, GA. Lisha is deeply committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Lisha's approach to therapy involves engaging each client with warmth and enthusiasm. She encourages them to be active participants on their journey of emotional growth, healing, and empowerment. Lisha uses therapeutic expertise and various inner-healing approaches to teach clients restorative self-care practices, exercises that cultivate emotional awareness, strategies to manage unhealthy thoughts, and methods to change undesirable behaviors. Working with Lisha, clients can expect to take away from each session a plan of action with detailed steps, easy to apply skills and practical strategies to help them manage stress, heal from hurtful experiences, improve their communication skills and strengthen boundaries in their relationships. They will gain a better understanding about how and why they feel uncomfortable emotions and why they experience strong reactions in response to those associated thoughts.

Glenn is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience in health care, dedicated to addressing the mental health needs of his community. With a background in both inpatient and outpatient settings, he is committed to helping individuals become the best versions of themselves—no matter where they are in their journey at the time of their first appointment.

Outside of work, Glenn enjoys spending time with his family, biking, and being outdoors.

He takes a patient-centered approach and emphasizes that he, too, is human. Everyone faces challenges at different times and in different ways. Glenn adopts a holistic perspective, recognizing that effective treatment involves understanding how life challenges impact a person as a whole. He is dedicated to providing compassionate, empathetic, and practical care to all his patients.

Glenn engages with patients in a way that makes it easy and natural for them to share their stories. From there, he promotes a shared decision-making approach to develop the most effective treatment plan. His areas of expertise include psychopharmacology, as well as Cognitive Behavioral, Supportive, and Psychodynamic therapies.

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Background and credentials

Dr. Kristina Schnitzer is a board-certified psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Program. She further specialized by completing a one-year clinical and research fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry through Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. In addition to her medical training, she holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has over three years of experience practicing psychiatry across inpatient, emergency, and outpatient settings.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Schnitzer focuses on medication management as the foundation of her treatment approach, typically combining it with supportive or emotionally focused therapy during 30-minute follow-up visits. She takes a collaborative and individualized approach to patient care and, when needed, may recommend additional therapy by integrating a therapist into the care team to ensure the best possible outcomes. She has experience treating a broad range of psychiatric disorders in various clinical settings.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect a thorough and structured evaluation in their first visit, where Dr. Schnitzer carefully assesses their symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. She emphasizes open communication and collaboration, ensuring that patients are fully involved in shaping their treatment plans. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she monitors progress, adjusts treatment as needed, and may recommend additional therapeutic support for comprehensive care.

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Why Talkiatry?

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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Patricia Grendell is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who provides mental health care using a personalized, holistic approach. Patricia specializes in psychiatric evaluation and medication management along with psychotherapy and integrative interventions. Prior to receiving education and training in Nursing at New York University and Case Western Reserve University, Patricia earned a Master of Social Work from Boston College with a focus on health and mental health.  

Patricia specializes in working with adults experiencing a wide range of acute and chronic stressors and mental health symptoms. Patricia tailors' treatment to the goals, needs, and comfort level of each individual at her or his own pace. Patricia builds connections with patients so that they feel heard and understood, and partners with each individual to determine the most appropriate treatment strategies that maximize comfort, safety, and positive results.  

Over the past ten years as a Nurse Practitioner in outpatient and inpatient environments, Patricia has helped patients improve and overcome conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, and insomnia. Using a combination of medication management, individual therapy, and psychoeducation, Patricia develops individualized treatment plans centered around patients’ priorities and safety to achieve improvements in health and quality of life.

Wayne R. McIntosh, PMHNP-BC, is a dedicated mental health professional with over a decade of experience in psychiatric care. He earned his advanced nursing degree with distinction from Arizona State University and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and an Associate of Science in Nursing from Harry S. Truman College. He has been a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) since 2015.

Wayne specializes in family-centered care, working with individuals aged 18 to 65. Whether supporting patients through anxiety, depression, ADHD, or life transitions, he develops personalized diagnostic and treatment plans that may include therapy, coping strategies, and, when appropriate, medication. His approach emphasizes clear communication and collaboration, empowering patients to understand their challenges, apply practical tools, and achieve lasting change.

Throughout his career, Wayne has served as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Director of Medical Services, leading multidisciplinary teams and promoting accessible, high-quality care. As a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, he has mentored future nurse leaders, focusing on clinical excellence and patient advocacy. His military background and volunteer work further reflect his commitment to serving diverse populations with compassion and respect.

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Shannon McElhone is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and Massachusetts. She has over ten years' experience working in the mental health field. Shannon has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults seeking assistance in managing their experiences with depression/mood challenges, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, attention focus, and relationship issues. Shannon utilizes humanistic, person-centered, collaborative, strength based, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, solution focused and emotionally focused approaches to therapy while maintaining an open, flexible, creative atmosphere to remain aware of the unique and individual needs of each client. Shannon seeks to create a non-judgmental and safe environment where a caring relationship can be built with her clients to utilize and add to their strengths. Through her practice, a collaboration can bring her clients towards achieving their goals and living the life they desire. Shannon completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from St. Joseph's College and received her Master of Science in School Counseling and Extended Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. Shannon's years of experience include working as a Rehabilitation specialist/therapist at a Pros program, a psychotherapist at an outpatient clinic, a Child and Youth Behavioral Military Family Life counselor working with children and families on a Military base in New York. More recently, Shannon has held a role as a psychotherapist on an online platform that provides virtual therapy and continues to engage in this role at Talkiatry. Shannon's specialties include: Depression, Anxiety, OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, Trauma, Grief & Loss, Stress management, Life transitions, Self-esteem issues and Relationship issues.

Dr. Kamil Dar graduated from Boston Medical Center Brighton, Massachusetts, from the Department of Psychiatry. He received his training in Interventional Psychiatry including ECT and TMS at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard University Teaching Hospital. He has multiple publications in research. Dr. Dar is culturally diverse and speaks English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Chinese Mandarin. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports with his family, including soccer and cricket.

While assessing his patients with the biopsychosocial model, he treats with evidence based treatment.

He utilizes therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy in conjunction with medication for optimal results.

Dr. John Weller, MD, is a psychiatrist with a strong foundation in science and clinical care. He earned his undergraduate degree in molecular genetics from the University of Vermont and conducted neuroscience research in both academic and industry settings. A graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine, he completed his psychiatry residency at Mather Hospital, Northwell Health, where he was honored as Resident of the Year in 2025 and inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Dr. Weller is committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care that considers the full spectrum of biological, psychological, and social factors. He builds therapeutic relationships on empathy, respect, and trust. By tailoring treatment plans to each patient’s personal and cultural context, he helps individuals take control of their mental health and work toward long-term recovery and resilience.

In the first session, Dr. Weller takes time to listen carefully and gather a thorough understanding of each patient's concerns, history, and current functioning. He uses empathy and active listening to foster open communication and develop personalized treatment plans that may include therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes, with the goal of restoring wellness and stability.

Thomas Reis is a clinical social worker, independently licensed in Massachusetts. He has 13 years of experience working as a psychotherapist providing psychotherapy to adults both in an outpatient setting and through telehealth. Thomas has experience working with anxiety and mood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and stress. He specializes in helping people navigate challenging life transitions, existential crisis, addictions, including chemical, behavioral, and process addictions. Thomas helps others empower themselves to improve their self-esteem and the quality of their relationships by teaching healthy boundaries, assertive communication, and active listening skills. By utilizing teach strategies and interventions from Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Solution Focused Brief Therapy Thomas takes a client centered approach while working with his clients. He enjoys his work and is passionate about helping people who want help. He attempts to empower clients to work toward achieving their own individual goals at their own pace while being empathetic and open-minded. Thomas works with his clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment.

Dr. Saria El Haddad is double boarded in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. She previously held a leadership role of medical director for the dual diagnosis partial hospitalization program at the Brigham and Women's Faulkner hospital where she helped create and establish this program, and also worked as an outpatient addiction psychiatrist. She has been involved in teaching and has maintained an academic affiliation with the Harvard Medical School. In addition, she has appeared in numerous professional publications and authored several research papers.  

Dr. El Haddad received her medical degree from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon and completed her psychiatry residency program at the University of Virginia. She completed a fellowship in addiction psychiatry through Boston University after which she started working at the Brigham and Women's hospital. Dr. El Haddad's approach to treatment focuses on adopting a holistic approach through behavioral change, medication management, and brief psychotherapy.

Michael Huang is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who takes a holistic, collaborative, and non-judgmental approach to mental health care. He graduated from Boston College with his MSN after many years of working in inpatient psychiatry at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA, and has over a decade of experience in mental health care. He has worked in various outpatient settings, first in Boston and more recently in Las Vegas, gaining extensive experience with individuals from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

Michael strongly believes that each person’s struggle is unique, and the solutions and treatments should be individualized based on the person’s goals. Having experienced childhood trauma himself, he is particularly passionate about and experienced in treating C-PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. His focus is on helping others find peace, whether momentary or lasting, in their chaotic and often overwhelming lives.

The first appointment with Michael includes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and a discussion about your goals for treatment. While pharmacological treatment may be part of the plan, Michael prefers to focus on the therapeutic aspect of care, as he believes therapy is an essential component of healing. With Michael, you can expect to collaboratively create a treatment plan that you feel comfortable with, rather than simply being told what to do.

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