Depression Psychiatrists in Tennessee

Scott Tuckman is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who arrives with a robust set of backgrounds across several fields of interest, with immersion among numerous cultures and diverse ways of life. He has worked in multiple capacities in a variety of settings around the U.S., ranging from correctional to educational to inner-city community-based to corporate. With an eye on what influences the ever-present connections between body and mind and emotional states, Scott works well with those struggling with mood disorders, depression, a range of anxiety disorders, relationship problems, esteem issues, adjustment concerns, emotional dysregulation, and more. While Scott is psychodynamically oriented, he blends attachment theory application, mindfulness, selections from CBT and DBT modalities, or other treatment mechanisms tailored to meet each client's needs and complement any assigned psychopharmacological undertaking. Considering it an honor to join someone on their journey, he takes a direct yet compassionate approach so as to establish a comfortable co-owned therapeutic relationship. Ultimately, he strives to help clients gain a more comprehensive understanding of how they can move themselves forward and collaboratively develop the readiness to step towards it. When goals have been met and it's time to finally part ways, Scott hopes each client's tool belt is fortified with newly acquired techniques to overcome the inevitable obstacles on the road ahead.

Dr. Caleb Cheatham is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate studies at Stetson University in DeLand, FL, before earning his medical degree and completing his psychiatry residency at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN. He brings a strong foundation in psychopharmacology and a deep commitment to person-centered care.

Dr. Cheatham takes an open, nonjudgmental approach and strives to create a safe space for patients to share vulnerably. He believes in leading with compassion and listening as a core tool for understanding. His treatment philosophy is integrative—combining thoughtful medication management with supportive, individualized therapy—and he encourages patients to consider the role of lifestyle factors like sleep, nutrition, and exercise.

Dr. Cheatham begins with a conversational consultation focused on understanding each patient’s story and needs. Together, they co-create a personalized treatment plan grounded in the patient’s values. He emphasizes clear communication and routinely revisits treatment goals to ensure alignment, progress, and ongoing support.

LaJoya McDonald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience across outpatient, telehealth, and managed care settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and life transitions.

LaJoya is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel heard and empowered. Her treatment style is integrative and person-centered, utilizing evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, supportive therapy, goal-oriented therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques.

LaJoya helps clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and patterns while developing practical tools for coping, healing, and growth. She believes in tailoring each treatment plan to the unique goals, strengths, and values of the individual, and takes pride in walking alongside her clients through life’s challenges with compassion and respect.

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Dr. Scot McKay is board certified in Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. He graduated medical school from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He completed his residency and child/adolescent fellowship trainings at the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Center in Denver, CO. Previously, he has worked on the inpatient and partial hospitalization child/adolescent psychiatric units at Children's Hospital Colorado as well as in the school-based health clinics through Denver Health in partnership with Denver Public Schools. He has also worked in community mental health at the Mental Health Cooperative clinics throughout the Middle Tennessee region. He most recently joined a private practice before joining Talkiatry. He has been named to the Nashville Lifestyles Magazine's Top Doctors list in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. McKay enjoys working with patients going through life transitions such as high school to college and college to adult life. He believes it is important to understand the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) when treating them. He treats people struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and ADHD, as well as trouble with relationships and family conflict. Dr. McKay provides both medication management and therapy. He believes that medication is just one of the items in a psychiatrist's toolbox and that therapy is equally important as medication.

Dr. Michael Lukowski is an adult psychiatrist who holds board certification with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has been practicing medicine for over 12 years. Dr. Lukowski focuses on medication management combined with supportive therapy during initial and follow-up visits. He practices whole-person medicine, caring for the wellness of your mind, body, and spirit and helping you enjoy your relationships with those around you.

Dr. Lukowski received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno, NV, before moving to southern California to complete his residency at Loma Linda University. After completing training, Dr. Lukowski began working with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Riverside, CA, where he treated a variety of psychiatric disorders in an outpatient setting.

In March of 2020, as the pandemic changed life and medicine forever, Dr. Lukowski adopted a strictly telepsychiatry role at his clinic. He has also held a staff psychiatrist position as an adult inpatient psychiatrist in Tennessee. Dr. Lukowski treats a wide variety of psychiatric disorders within the adult demographic.

Dr. Rodriguez is a board-certified adult psychiatrist, who is also fluent in Spanish. He completed residency at North Florida Regional in Gainesville via the University of Central Florida, where he also served as chief resident for education. He received his medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tennessee. He also holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of South Florida, in Tampa.

Dr. Rodriguez has worked with a wide array of patients across various medical settings and has experience treating patients with psychiatric illness who may also be suffering from medical comorbidities, such as obesity, hypertension, pain, and diabetes. He has been deeply involved with teaching and emphasizes psychoeducation while working in collaboration with his patients to help tailor their personalized treatment plan. His primary focus has been on treating adults with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, OCD and PTSD.

Dr. Rodriguez has an approachable, patient-centered style, combined with a passion for optimizing sleep as it pertains to management of a psychiatric illness and overall well-being. He offers supportive therapy as part of his medication management visits, and at times may also offer cognitive behavioral therapy to address underlying stressors which may be contributing to one’s presenting ailments. He may also recommend including a therapist in your care team to optimize outcomes.

Dr. Alicia Garcete is a board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist in practice for over 12 years. Her practice focuses on medication management, recognizing  family involvement is extremely important and is an integral part of treatment. Dr Garcete has treated a wide variety of patients. Her primary focus is treating depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, PTSD and OCD. Additionally, she can provide supportive therapy and elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy but on occasions more therapy support may be needed, and the recommendation to bring a psychotherapist on the care team may occur to provide an optimal outcome. Dr. Garcete is bilingual and provides care in both Spanish and English.

Prior to Talkiatry, Dr Garcete treated children, adolescents, and adults was at the intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization levels of care with focus on behavioral approaches in the Depression recovery and Anxiety/OCD programs.

Dr. Garcete earned her Medical Degree from the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Facultad de Ciencias Medicas in Paraguay. She completed her general psychiatrist residency at Maimonides Medical Center in New York. She was also a Fellow in Psychoanalysis at the Psychoanalytic Institute, Affiliate to New York University School of Medicine, and completed her child and adolescent psychiatrist fellowship at Elmhurst Hospital Center, affiliate to Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Garcete also held a clinical assistant professor appointment from the department of psychiatry at SUNY Downstate Medical Center.

Dr. Lindsay Works is board-certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from Rocky Vista University in Colorado and completed her internship and psychiatry residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She has extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, particularly in military and veteran populations.

Dr. Works specializes in psychiatric care and addiction medicine, offering treatment for a range of mental health and substance use disorders. She takes a comprehensive and structured approach, integrating medication management with individualized treatment planning. Her background in military psychiatry allows her to provide specialized care for veterans and active-duty service members, particularly those experiencing PTSD, substance use issues, and other psychiatric conditions.

During the first visit, patients can expect a detailed and structured psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Works carefully assesses mental health concerns, treatment history, and personal goals. She prioritizes collaboration and patient engagement, ensuring that each treatment plan is tailored to the individual’s needs. She works with patients to develop an approach that may include medication management, therapy referrals, and support for addiction-related challenges, depending on each patient's unique situation.

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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Dr. Phelps is a board-eligible adult psychiatrist. She was elected chief resident by her residency program at the University of Central Florida. She obtained her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University. She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from Louisiana State University. Dr. Phelps believes in patient-centered care and a holistic approach to medicine. Her practice focuses on medication management, in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. If additional therapy is needed, she utilizes referrals to psychotherapists to enhance management of mental illness and provide the best treatment outcomes. Dr. Phelps has worked in a variety of medical settings with different patient populations, including outpatient, consult liaison, and inpatient psychiatry. Her primary focus is treating adults with depression, anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, and bipolar disorder. Dr. Phelps aims to build a strong therapeutic relationship and improve the quality of life of her patients.

Dr. Chhavi Chaudhary is a dual board-certified psychiatrist with subspecialty certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She completed her fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also served as Chief Fellow, and her general psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. Over the past year, she has provided telehealth psychiatric consultations across emergency rooms and inpatient settings, gaining extensive experience across state hospitals, outpatient clinics, college mental health, preschool, mood disorder, and community health clinics.

Patients working with Dr. Chaudhary can expect a thoughtful and collaborative approach. She emphasizes understanding each individual in the context of their psychosocial development, life experiences, and cultural and societal stressors. She believes mental health cannot be separated from the challenges faced at school, work, within families, and in society at large.

Dr. Chaudhary’s style is warm, curious, and collaborative. She listens carefully, ensuring patients and families feel understood, and works together to create practical, personalized treatment plans. She integrates psychopharmacology with therapy, coping strategies, and resilience-building, aiming for patients to feel supported, empowered, and actively engaged in care that evolves with their needs.

Dr. Arballo is board-certified psychiatrist who completed medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He received residency training at University of Texas Health - San Antonio where in addition to clinical training was appointed resident chair of the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee.

Since graduation he has been a staff psychiatrist and the military unit director at Cumberland Hall Hospital providing comprehensive care to child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.

Dr. Arballo provides evidence-based medication management and psychotherapy to address mental health conditions. He is a strong advocate for patient autonomy, quality improvement and psychoeducation.

Dr. Katelyn Thompson is board certified in Adult Psychiatry.  

Patients looking for a psychiatric provider will find that Dr. Thompson has a gentle and approachable style.  She believes that each patient was created on purpose and for a purpose.  

The brain is deeply wired for resilience and Dr. Thompson is blessed to witness that while supporting that in her patients.  She focuses on medication management with supportive psychotherapy as she treats a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses.

Alicia Lakin has been counseling for over 20 years. She possesses an LPC-MHSP license. Alicia earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Tennessee. She then went on to earn her Master's Degree, with a focus on Guidance and Counseling, at Lincoln Memorial University. Alicia has been trained in Trauma Focused � Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Motivational Interviewing. Alicia's professional career has provided her with the opportunity to work with individuals in a variety of settings. She has provided treatment in residential care programs for children and adolescents, in the family home, community-based mental health center, and substance abuse treatment outpatient services. In these settings, Alicia has been afforded the opportunity to treat all ages, dealing with a wide range of issues including trauma, substance abuse and recovery, and mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapeutically, Alicia describes her approach as "person-centered”, strength-based, and collaborative. She believes in providing a safe space for individuals to be able to express themselves openly, as well as explore any changes they desire to make in their lives. She believes in building a trusting relationship so that she and the individual can work together to help create change. Her style is reality-based, and she views herself as having many roles as a therapist, including that of a support, teacher, advocate, facilitator, and listener in the treatment relationship.

Dr. Anthony Finch is a graduate of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center General Psychiatry residency and the Duke University Geriatric Psychiatry fellowship programs; he is board certified in Psychiatry by the ABPN. Dr. Finch was born and raised in New York and now lives in North Carolina. Dr. Finch specializes both in psychiatric medication management and various forms of psychotherapy. He believes that effective psychiatric treatment requires attention to multiple domains, including the establishment of a strong doctor/patient relationship, the development of a sound understanding of who the patient is as an individual, and a comprehensive assessment of spiritual and biological factors contributing to mental health. As such, Dr. Finch's practice includes both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic interventions that aim to treat the whole person on an individualized basis. He sees patients of all ages, specializing in older adults, and treats all psychiatric conditions. Dr. Finch received the 2023 Distinguished House Staff Award from the New York Weill Cornell Medical Center Alumni Council; this is awarded to one graduating house staff member from each department annually for excellence during training. He has conducted research on depression and PTSD, published a number of papers in peer-reviewed journals, presented posters at conferences, and written a chapter for a book on medical education. He practices in both English and German.

Dr. John Lundeen earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and completed his psychiatry residency at TriStar Centennial Medical Center. He has worked with adults of all ages in both outpatient and inpatient settings, bringing a wide range of experience to his practice.

Dr. Lundeen approaches every patient with respect, empathy, and a genuine desire to understand their unique experience. He recognizes that seeking treatment can be intimidating and strives to create a welcoming, non-judgmental environment where patients feel safe and heard.

Dr. Lundeen believes in a collaborative treatment process, prioritizing each patient’s goals, values, and input. He emphasizes mental health education as a core component of care, empowering patients to better understand their treatment options and take an active role in their well-being.

Dr. Mark Varela is a board-certified psychiatrist joining Talkiatry directly out of residency. He focuses primarily on medication management, often accompanied by brief cognitive, motivational, or supportive therapy. He may request that you also meet with a therapist regularly for your benefit. Dr. Varela received his medical degree and general psychiatric residency training both from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in West Texas. He treats young adults and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.