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Maralys Colon Betancourt, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Spanish
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Maralys Colón  is a board-certified psychiatrist.  She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, and she completed a subspecialty in Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Tulane.  

Dr. Colón is keen in involving and guiding her patients in their treatment; she believes that patients benefit from taking an active role in their care. Dr. Colón specializes in psychopharmacology, tailoring the medication to your needs and preferences. She has experience in treating patients with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar and psychotic disorders. Her practice focuses on medication management in conjunction with techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and supportive therapy.

Her years of experience include working as an inpatient psychiatrist, intensive outpatient program and consultation and liaison. She has helped train physician assistants at Valparaiso University, helping expand the knowledge of future providers.  

Dr. Colón is looking forward to working with you to improve your mental health and quality of life.

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Stephen Byrd, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Stephen Byrd is a clinical psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board-certified in both psychiatry and addiction medicine. He has been practicing for over 31 years in a wide variety of settings including work with inpatients and outpatients in private practice, community mental health, geriatric, VA, and community hospital/medical center settings. Dr. Byrd's practice focuses on evidence-based medication management usually provided in conjunction with 30- minute supportive psychotherapy informed by cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and motivational enhancement. When more intensive therapy is needed, Dr Byrd may ask you to include a therapist as part of your care team.

He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine University Hospitals of Cleveland. Throughout his career, he has treated patients with a wide variety of conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Additionally, He has served as director of inpatient geropsychiatry at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, program manager of the substance abuse treatment program at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and medical director of outpatient behavioral health at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.

Throughout his career, Dr. Byrd has been active in training medical students and psychiatry residents, and he has held clinical teaching appointments at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, University of Washington School of Medicine, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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Esha Garg, DO
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Esha Garg is a board-eligible psychiatrist starting her post-graduate practice with Talkiatry. After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology at Johns Hopkins University, she completed her medical degree at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She is a recent graduate from the Adult Psychiatry Residency at University of Kansas Medical Center.

Dr. Garg's practice focuses on medication management but she believes in the importance of both therapy and medication management in treating mental illness. She offers medication management with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow up visits. She also utilizes referrals to therapists to enhance collaborative care and management of illness.

Dr. Garg believes in the importance of building a strong therapeutic relationship. She focuses on treating patients with depression and anxiety disorders. She believes in a holistic, patient-centered approach to care and encourages patient's to explore their physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs in addition to their mental health.

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Danielle Gelfond, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Danielle Gelfond is an Adult Psychiatrist and a graduate from Loyola University Medical Center;s residency program in Chicago, IL. Prior to attending residency, Dr. Gelfond graduated from Rush Medical College at Rush University.  Throughout residency, Dr. Gelfond spent time focusing on her clinical interests which include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and women's mental health. During her training, Dr. Gelfond spent several years working with the Perinatal population and completed a year-long program focusing on Women's Mental Health through the National Curriculum in Reproductive Psychiatry organization.

She held the role of Chief Resident of her program during the last two years of her training and received several awards commending her leadership style and rapport with patients through her program. Dr. Gelfond takes on a holistic and "patient-centered" approach in her treatment style. She incorporates both medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and discussions surrounding lifestyle and wellness into her appointments and emphasizes patient education and autonomy which she believes helps support the therapeutic relationship, improve clinical outcomes, and helps treatment align with patient's goals of care.

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Layna Glenn, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Glenn is a board-certified psychiatrist in general psychiatry. She has worked mostly as an outpatient psychiatrist for the last 3 years after completing her residency.

Dr. Glenn practices in the traditional psychiatric model with a combination of medication management and psychotherapy techniques. She also understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and tries to work with patients to improve behaviors that could be contributing to their current struggles. Dr. Glenn’s goal with every patient is to meet the patient where they are, get a good understanding of their concerns, and work together to determine the best treatment plan and obtain the best outcomes.

Dr. Glenn obtained her undergraduate degree at Hampton University and later received her medical degree from Boston University. She completed her general psychiatry residency at Loyola University.

While in medical school, Dr. Glenn's special interests include mental health, diet, and nutrition. Those interests continued while completing psychiatry residency at Loyola University. From this training, she has experience in treating a wide range of adult mental health issues with traditional treatment modalities and attempts a holistic focus on physical, financial, occupational, intellectual, environmental, social, and spiritual health.

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Rayal Gorrepati, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Rayal Gorrepati is double board certified in both adult and geriatric psychiatry. He has been practicing for over 12 years.

Dr. Gorrepati's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, he offers this in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. However, occasionally Dr. Gorrepati may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best possible outcome.

He received his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. His general psychiatry residency was completed at Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey. He then completed a Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Hawaii.

After completing training, he returned to his hometown of Chicago and began working at a Federally Qualified Health Center providing care to an underserved low-income population for nearly 12 years. While at the clinic he treated a wide range of diagnoses, the most common ones being depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc. His primary clinical focus is treating adults with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.

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David Jiang, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Jiang is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. His practice focuses on medication management and supportive therapy. His major goal is for treatment to be patient centered, with a focus on high quality, evidence-based care in the safest and most meaningful way.

Dr. Jiang completed an undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his medical degree from Oakland University William Beaumont, School of Medicine. He then completed his psychiatry residency at Loyola University Medical Center.

Dr. Jiang's areas of interest include depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

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Surinderpal Kahlon, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Hindi
Punjabi
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Kahlon is an experienced Psychiatrist who spent the last 24 years of his career working in Veteran's Affairs where he was able to treat a wide variety of patients.

Dr. Kahlon provides medication management along with supportive therapy. In some cases Dr. Kahlon may refer you to a counselor or therapist for further care and collaboration. He has experience treating a wide range of conditions, including major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD. Dr. Kahlon utilizes a well-rounded approach to treat the whole person, through medication, active listening, and recommending talk-centered counseling programs.

Dr. Kahlon trained at the VA system associated with Chicago Medical School (Finch University) located in North Chicago, Illinois. At the conclusion of his training, he was hired at the VA in Danville, Illinois until 2021. He also had a part-time private practice enhancing his experience in adult Psychiatry. Dr. Kahlon graduated from a prestigious medical school which has consistently held a high position (4th) in the top 100 medical schools in the world.

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Chelsea Karson, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Chelsea Karson is a board-eligible psychiatrist who completed her residency training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where she was Chief Resident of her program. Dr. Karson is passionate about patient care, believing in caring for the whole person. While completing her residency training, she led an interprofessional team to bring miniature-therapy horses to the inpatient psychiatry unit and thereby forge a relationship between the organization and all of Advocate Aurora Healthcare. Dr. Karson partnered with a mental health counselor to create a virtual therapy program of resources, the Bridge Project, to close the gap between inpatient and outpatient care that is now used throughout the Advocate Aurora network. At graduation Dr. Karson received the 2024 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Ruggie Humanitarian Award.
The Ruggie Award selects and honors a graduating resident or fellow who displays academic excellence, commitment to the education of others, professional bearing, and a concern for the patient within the light of Human Ecology.

Dr. Karson attended undergraduate at Elmhurst University, a biology major with minors in chemistry and medical humanities. She went to medical school at Rosalind Franklin University and was chosen to join the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her dedication to compassionate patient care.

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Valerie King-Ernst, DO
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Valerie King-Ernst is a board-certified psychiatrist trained in Adult Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree at Western University of Health Sciences and completed psychiatry residency training at Loyola University Medical Center.

Dr. King-Ernst has a wealth of experience working in private practices, hospital settings, the State of IL – Elgin Mental Health Center, and telepsychiatry services. She has had the opportunity to serve in leadership positions, serving as a medical director twice and serving as president of her own medical practice for 10 years.  

Dr. King-Ernst has a wide range of experience in anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, geriatric depression, trauma, personality disorders and ADHD. Her clinical approach is holistic, collaborative, supportive, patient-centered and prefers to focus on the overall health and well-being of the patient.

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Laura Long, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Long is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 14 years of experience treating adult and older adult patients from a wide variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Dr. Long's practice focuses primarily on medication management, in addition to supportive and cognitive and behavioral therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Sometimes Dr. Long will suggest additional therapy be included in your treatment plan in order to provide the best outcome.

Dr. Long received her medical degree from the University of Illinois and completed her residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. She has worked in emergency psychiatry, community psychiatry and private practice and operated her own independent practice in downtown Chicago. Most recently she has spent over 9 years working with veterans with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Dr. Long received her B.A. from Yale University, graduating cum laude with a double major in Biology and Literature. She enjoys working with a wide variety of patients of different ages and from different cultural backgrounds and has extensive experience treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders and PTSD along with comorbid substance use disorders. Dr. Long views patients as partners working toward a common goal of improving patients' quality of life. She also appreciates the strong connection between physical and mental health and provides encouragement and support to patients that hope to make behavioral changes that will benefit both.

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Ruben Mendez, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Spanish
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Mendez obtained his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. He subsequently completed his Psychiatry residency training at the same institution, UT Medical School in Houston. Dr. Mendez has extensive training in the field and is board certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
After professional training Dr. Mendez has had vast experience of 15 years primarily in the outpatient setting including ample experience with telemedicine services to patients. He has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating adult patients dealing with attention deficit disorders and a wide spectrum of adjustment and anxiety disorders. Dr. Mendez has a special interest in the treatment of mood disorders from Major Depression to Bipolar spectrum disorders.  

Dr. Mendez prioritizes the development of great communication, mutual understanding and trust with his patients as he finds these elements to be key to a successful treatment.  He establishes his treatment plans upon evidence-based guidelines and encourages a holistic approach for optimal well-being. Through effective medication management and supportive psychotherapy Dr. Mendez leads his patients to optimal mental health. He encourages patients to strive to develop fulfillment and optimal functionality in their life's roles.

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Sarah Mennella, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Mennella is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. Her practice focuses on medication management and supportive therapy. Treatment emphasizes patient education and autonomy. Dr. Mennella is a proponent of shared decision-making and believes this facilitates a strong therapeutic relationship, greater satisfaction with care, and improved clinical outcomes.

She completed an undergraduate degree in Information Technology from Purdue University and a master’s degree in information systems from DePaul University. She received her medical degree from the University of Toledo College of Medicine and then completed her psychiatry residency at Loyola University Medical Center.

Areas of interest include depression, bipolar, anxiety, and PTSD.

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Thomas Mullenix, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management, LGBTQ+

Dr. Mullenix is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who strives to form strong therapeutic and collaborative environments with patients and values patient empowerment. Dr. Mullenix received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School and then went on to complete his residency in psychiatry at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. His interests and expertise are in helping patients struggling with depression, anxiety including social/obsessive compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders and ADHD. He provides psychiatric medication management along with supportive, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other modalities of therapeutic treatment.

Dr. Mullenix’s practice focuses primarily on medication management, or pharmacotherapy. He routinely incorporates supportive therapy into his 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mullenix may occasionally recommend that a therapist be part of the care team to provide optimal outcomes. The philosophy of his practice is to actively involve patients in the decision-making process to improve adherence to treatment and build trusting relationships with all patients.

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Carmen Orellana Martinez, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Spanish
Specialties
Medication Management, Child/Adolescent

Dr. Carmen Orellana is a Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry who has been in practice for over 6 years, both in the U.S. and abroad. She is double board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry.

Dr. Orellana’s practice focuses on medication management. She strives to provide exceptional medical care and has extensive experience intreating persons with diverse behavioral disorders and backgrounds. Dr.Orellana involves her patients in all decisions about their health, and provides care that is respectful of patient preferences, needs and values. Typically, she would recommend evidence-based treatments to her patients and may, occasionally, believe that concurrent therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome.

Dr.Orellana received her medical degree from Universidad Evangélica de El Salvador. Dr. Orellana completed a residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Southern University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. After completing her training, Dr. Orellana remained in the school, where she worked as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, supervising and teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, and treating patients with various psychiatric conditions.

Dr. Orellanahas experience in treating treatment-resistant mood disorders with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

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Steve Paschos, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Greek
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Steve Paschos is a board-certified Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He attended Loyola University Chicago on the Lake Shore campus completing a bachelor’s degree in science and a Degree in Classical Studies. He then attended Medical School at Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed a 5-year combined Internal Medicine & Psychiatry residency in 2011. Dr. Paschos subsequently completed a 1-year fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. He has spent the last 12 years fulfilling his passion for integrating Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, working with a diverse range of patients suffering from severe mental illnesses.


Dr. Paschos’ s years of experience have included working at Cook County Health Services – Cermak Health Services at Cook County Department of Corrections with an extremely diverse patient population with varying psychiatric illnesses. He has also worked as an inpatient psychiatric hospitalist and as the director of the Intensive Care Unit at Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Illinois. Dr. Paschos also acted as a medical director of an IOP and established an outpatient psychiatric practice in conjunction with the Intensive Outpatient Program.  He has had the opportunity and privilege of treating individuals who suffer from various diagnoses, especially challenging patients who have suffered from integrated or Med-Psych concerns involving primary mood disorders, Bipolar Affective disorders, prior trauma, severe medical problems/diagnoses along with concurrent personality pathology.  


Dr. Paschos utilizes supportive psychotherapy, brief cognitive behavioral therapy and at times psychodynamic therapy to address his patients’ current complaints and to identify the locus of their symptoms. He believes in utilizing an all-encompassed approach using mindfulness and various psychotherapies along with comprehensive medication management. To quote Hippocrates “Where there is love for the art of medicine there is a love of humanity.”

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Irene Pastis, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Greek
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Irene Pastis is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in adult psychiatry.  She completed residency training at East Carolina University in both internal medicine and psychiatry.  After residency, she pursued her passion in psychiatry and stayed on as a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at East Carolina University.  In this role she specialized in treating adults with mental illness in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  She has spent a considerable amount of time teaching residents and medical students and has published several papers focusing on the neuroscience pathways of mental health conditions.  In her daily practice, Dr. Pastis focuses on evidence-based treatments utilizing the latest clinical guidelines and current approved treatments.  In addition to medication management, she also incorporates psychotherapy in the treatment of mental health conditions.  Dr. Pastis is passionate about taking a collaborative approach with her patients to help them reach their potential.

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Boski Patel, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Gujarati
Specialties
Medication Management, Geriatric

Dr. Boski Patel holds the position of psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is double board-certified in geriatric and adult psychiatry and she has been practicing for over 3 years.

Dr. Patel's practice focuses on medication management and she typically she offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. On occasion, Dr. Patel may believe that additional therapy is also needed and asks that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome.

She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and then went on to receive her medical degree from Penn State University. Following medical school, she completed general psychiatry residency training at the University of Connecticut where she was Chief resident of outpatient psychiatric services. During that time she was also chosen as a Honors scholar with the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry. After training she moved to California to do her geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Stanford. Following her fellowship, she worked at Kaiser Permanente in clinical roles of outpatient, geriatric and C/L.

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Janeen Paul, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Paul has worked in outpatient private practice psychiatry for nearly 20 years. Throughout her career, she has combined medication management with talk therapy, to provide comprehensive care tailored to each patient's needs.

Dr. Paul received her MD from The University of Iowa. She completed an intern year in Obstetrics and Gynecology at The University of Illinois, Chicago, and went on to psychiatry residency at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. Dr. Janeen Paul is board certified in Adult Psychiatry.

She specializes in Women's Issues, including pregnancy, postpartum and menopause, and has extensive experience treating depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders, including OCD and PTSD. The mind/body connection is at the forefront of her care, with attention paid to diet and exercise as well as breathing and meditation. She often collaborates with primary care physicians and therapists to provide a team approach to treatment. She treats patients over age 18.

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Sumaiyah Qureshi, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Hindi
Urdu
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Qureshi is a Board-Certified General Psychiatrist. She was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. She underwent her medical training at Mamata Medical College, India and completed residency at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. Qureshi has gained extensive training in psychiatric inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings and has worked with diverse populations. She has practiced Telepsychiatry since her graduation including working at community mental health centers serving the serious mentally ill in underserved areas. Dr. Qureshi’s practice includes management of psychiatric disorders in adults including Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, and others. She is interested in treating issues related to women’s health as well.

Dr. Qureshi has an empathetic and culturally sensitive approach that is patient centered and focused on building a strong therapeutic alliance. She believes in collaborating with other providers involved in the patient’s care. Her approach involves medication management in tandem with therapy techniques like CBT, Supportive therapy, IPT, motivation therapy.

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Shubhada Reddy, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr Reddy is double board certified in adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She has experience working in various levels of care within mental health. Dr. Reddy has most recently served as the medical director for a partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient program (PHP/IOP) for adolescents in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She completed her general psychiatry residency at the University of Illinois at Peoria and went on to pursue her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern.

She Is knowledgeable in treating patients of all ages and a wide variety of diagnoses including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, and eating disorders.

Dr. Reddy is passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ populations, providing culturally informed care, and taking a person-centered approach to providing comprehensive and individualized treatment to her patients. She is well versed in incorporating psychotherapy in conjunction with medication management. She has experience in incorporating supportive, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical behavioral therapeutic approaches in her care.

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Samuel Russell, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management, LGBTQ+, Geriatric

Dr. Samuel Russell is a psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board certified in Addiction Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. His particular clinical focus is on the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and behavior addictions as well as trauma, mood and anxiety disorder.

Dr. Russell’s practice focuses on evidence based treatments for psychiatric illness that utilizes a combination of medications and psychotherapy modalities best suited for an individual patient and their needs. He offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Weekly hour-long psychotherapy may be available if indicated. However, occasionally Dr. Russell may believe that different therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome.

He received his medical education at the University of Washington in Seattle after completing undergraduate studies in psychology and later a post-baccalaureate at Boston University. After residency at the University of Chicago where he specialized in addiction psychiatry and psychotherapy, he completed an Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle.

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Sarita Sharma, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Sarita Sharma is a board-certified adult psychiatrist dedicated to providing personalized psychiatric treatment that addresses the mind, body, and spirit for optimized health and healing.

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, she earned her medical degree from Avalon University School of Medicine in Curacao and completed her residency at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, Illinois.

Dr. Sharma has extensive experience working with underserved patients from diverse backgrounds and with varying severities of psychiatric disorders. She has a genuine interest in treating mood and anxiety disorders like depression and anxiety. She views medication as one of many tools to aid patients, emphasizing the importance of therapy and lifestyle changes aligned with each patient's goals.

Believing in a holistic approach, she incorporates mindfulness techniques, lifestyle optimization (sleep, diet, movement), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to target the root causes of unease. She enjoys helping patients navigate meaning and purpose, relationship dynamics, and self-image.

With a sincere, direct, and practical approach, Dr. Sharma values empathy and understanding as vital components of effective care. In her free time, she enjoys spontaneous adventures, connecting with fellow human beings, and just being in nature. She is committed to helping you achieve a balanced, fulfilling life.

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Pamela Shay, DO
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Shay is a board-certified psychiatrist practicing adult general psychiatry since 2014, most recently in the outpatient clinic at VA St. Louis Healthcare System.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Iowa and worked for years in the insurance industry managing medicolegal issues before deciding to pursue medicine as a second career. Embracing principles of holistic medicine, Dr. Shay completed her medical degree at Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and her residency in general psychiatry at Loyola University Medical Center in the bio-psycho-social model of care.

Her broad range of training in university, VA, and state hospital settings and significant life and work experiences prepared Dr. Shay to practice across the diagnostic spectrum. She especially enjoys helping patients with disorders of adjustment, anxiety, attention, mood, and sleep.

In her practice, Dr. Shay utilizes medication management along with collaboration, education, motivational interviewing, and other brief psychotherapy interventions during 30-minute follow-up visits to support her patients in achieving their health and wellness goals. Dr. Shay advocates for therapy if needed to enhance recovery, is serious about safe prescribing, and believes teamwork is key.

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Holly Shiao, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Holly Shiao is a psychiatrist who has worked extensively with medically complex patients, including a special focus in psycho-oncology with cancer patients. She is double board-certified in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. She has been practicing for over 7 years.

Before Talkiatry, Dr. Shiao worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She also worked as an Assistant Professor and was Director of Emergency Psychiatry at the University of Chicago. She has presented nationally at the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and written a book chapter about psycho-oncology.

Dr. Shiao attended medical school at John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School at the University Health Science Center at Houston. She then completed an Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, followed by a Consultation-Liaison fellowship at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Shiao is interested in the mind-body connection in overall emotional and mental well-being. She likes to integrate therapy modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, mindfulness and meditation with medication management to optimize a patient’s mental health.

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Karelis Sierra-Cintron, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Spanish
Specialties
Medication Management, Geriatric

Dr. Sierra-Cintron is board-certified in adult psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has been in practice for 12 years.

Dr. Sierra-Cintron focuses her practice on medication management. She also engages in supportive therapy in a comprehensive way, focusing on the patient as a whole and not just the symptoms. Dr. Sierra-Cintron has a broad understanding of vitamin support as an adjunctive treatment to traditional medication. She has broadened her understanding of second-line treatment, having been certified in Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), conducting clinics in Clozapine and Long-Acting Antipsychotics (LOA), and even conducting assessments for patients interested in weight loss surgery. Dr. Sierra-Cintron has a comprehensive approach to treatment, and might consider the addition of therapy, either by referral or collaborating with an existing therapist for a more rounded approach and improved outcome.

Dr. Sierra-Cintron received her medical degree from the Universidad Central del Caribe located in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Upon graduation, she relocated to Philadelphia, where she started her residency program at Einstein Medical Center. After completing her training, she worked for 8 years in a community mental health clinic, treating an underserved population in all modalities of psychiatric care. In her 12-year career, Dr. Sierra-Cintron has treated both adult males and females, including seniors. This has led to varied and wide-ranging diagnoses during the length of her career. After leaving the community clinic setting, she started working for an outpatient clinic in a suburb of Philadelphia.

Dr. Sierra-Cintron’s current areas of focus are adults with Mood Disorders, Anxiety Co-Occurring Substance disorders,  as well as patients with varied concomitant medical problems.

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Mustafa Taquee, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Hindi
Gujarati
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Mustafa Taquee is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, he completed his medical degree at Oakland University William Beaumont in Rochester, MI. He is a graduate of the Adult Psychiatry Residency Program at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, MI. As a testament to Dr. Taquee’s desire to help patients reach their full potential, he has also completed a psychotherapy fellowship through the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute.

Dr. Taquee believes that every patient brings their own mosaic of experiences embedded in a unique story. He understands that building a strong therapeutic relationship through empathy, compassion, trust, and respect is essential. He enjoys taking time to understand his patient's goals, offer psychoeducation, and create a collaborative plan for treatment with the patient. He believes in a holistic approach to mental health treatment, which includes medication management, supportive and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, as well as mind-body medicine techniques. He also has a special interest in psychodynamic therapy, an in-depth therapy modality, which he incorporates in all patient interactions and sessions.

Due to the diversity and richness of culture in southeast Michigan, Dr.Taquee has experience working with patients from varied backgrounds. He enjoys the challenge such a heterogeneous environment brings and is particularly fond of working with young adults experiencing life transitions. He also has experience working with patients from the lower socioeconomic backgrounds, adolescents, and geriatric populations.

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Tony Tu, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management,

Dr. Tony Tu is a board certified adult psychiatrist who emphasizes patient education and a psychodynamic approach to outpatient psychiatry. His passion for empowering patients with knowledge stems from his academic experience in psychiatry residency training. Dr. Tu's practice focuses on blending medication management together with psychotherapy. He also prioritizes collaboration with your therapist and encourages working together as a team.

Dr. Tu is a graduate of the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine where he completed an MD and PhD combined program which helped develop his “doctors as teachers” style of practice. Dr. Tu completed his psychiatry residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois. Dr. Tu served as an Associate Program Director of Loyola’s Psychiatry residency training program for two years, and now maintains an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Psychiatry role with Loyola. He continues to contribute to residency training, as well as mentorship of medical students and psychology externs. Over the years, Dr. Tu has received several awards that demonstrate his affinity for teaching, including the Educator of the Year Award in 2022 from the Loyola Psychiatry Residency Program.

Areas of specialization include psychopharmacology, patient-centered medicine, and combination treatment of psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr. Tu understands that medications are not the end-all-be-all of treatment, but just the beginning. For trauma and acute stress, he understands that the journey starts at the tip of the iceberg, with much to explore as you feel more ready.

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Ana Wagener-Sobrero, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Spanish
Specialties
Medication Management

Dr. Ana Wagener-Sobrero is a board-eligible psychiatrist trained in Adult Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree at Rush Medical College and completed psychiatry residency training at University of Chicago Medical Center in IL.

Dr. Wagener-Sobrero specializes in treating patients with anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, trauma, personality disorders and ADHD. Her clinical approach is holistic, collaborative, supportive, patient-centered and prefers to focus on the overall health and well-being of the patient. Dr. Wagener-Sobrero values psychotherapy and uses it along with medication, when necessary, in her practice.  She treats patients in English and in Spanish.

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Wendy You, MD
Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Specialties
Medication Management, LGBTQ+

Dr. Wendy You (they/them/their) is a Board-Certified adult psychiatrist. Dr. You focuses on medication management in the setting of 30-minute follow-up visits in conjunction with psychoeducation and therapeutic techniques. They received their medical degree as well as their psychiatry residency training from Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, IL. Special interests include mental illness in the setting of co-occurring medical illness, the spectrum of bipolarity, and borderline personality disorder.

Dr. You believes that a collaborative approach with the patient yields better outcomes and likes to work with patients to assess their personal preferences and goals for treatment. In an effort to promote the use of medications that are both effective and safe, Dr. You prefers to avoid the use of controlled substances whenever possible.

As a first-generation descendant of immigrants, Dr. You has insight into the potential challenges of addressing mental illness in other cultural settings. They also aim to provide care that affirms LGBTQIA+ identities and neurodivergence. Their interviewing style often incorporates humor, and they will probably ask you about your pets.

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How it works

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Online assessment
Tell us how you've been feeling. It only takes about 10 minutes.
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Meet your psychiatrist
Have your first visit in days with a psychiatrist that fits your needs.
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Treatment plan
Treatment typically includes medication and supportive therapy.
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Insurance accepted

The majority of our visits cost patients $30 or less after insurance.*

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*Includes all types of patient costs: copayment, deductible, coinsurance, and $0 payments. Excludes no-shows. Your medical visit costs can vary depending on insurance coverage. Learn more.

Care by the numbers

1,000

,000+

visits completed

300

+

expert psychiatrists

175

,000+

people matched with a psychiatrist

Mental health care that cares

Our team of psychiatrists are vetted for experience, expertise, and empathy and adhere to the highest standards of care.
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Frequently asked questions

What is a psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions through medication management and supportive therapy. Think of a psychiatrist as a doctor for your mind. If you’re struggling with your mental health and aren’t sure where to start, a psychiatrist can help.

Take our 10-minute assessment to see if Talkiatry is right for you and get matched with a psychiatrist in

Illinois

who meets your needs.

Is it better to see a psychiatrist or psychologist?

You may not need to choose between a psychologist and a psychiatrist—although there are differences in the types of treatment and expertise mental health professionals can provide, they often collaborate on your care.

That said, here’s a quick guide to help you decide if a psychologist or psychiatrist is the best starting place.

See a psychiatrist if:

  • You’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition that are making it hard to go about your day-to-day life.
  • You’re experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and/or have a family history of mental health issues.
  • You’re interested in exploring psychiatric medications, such as antidepressants, for mental health treatment.

See a psychologist if:

  • You’re looking for a psychotherapy outlet to help address behavioral or emotional challenges.
  • The concern you’re hoping to address is specific to relationship challenges, stress, grieving, or a life transition.  

Not sure if your symptoms are severe enough to warrant medication? We always recommend consulting with a psychiatrist first to discuss your options. Also, keep in mind that if you’re looking for virtual care, you need to be sure your doctor or psychologist is registered to practice in

Illinois

(or, for non-

Illinois

residents, the state where you live).

What is a psychiatrist vs therapist?

The term “therapist” can apply to a range of professionals including social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts. Working with a therapist generally involves regular talk therapy sessions where you discuss your feelings, problem-solving strategies, and coping mechanisms to help with your condition.

Psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized training in diagnosing and treating complex mental health conditions through medication management. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or similar, a psychiatrist may be a good place to start. Other signs that you should see a psychiatrist include:

  • Your primary care doctor or another doctor thinks you may benefit from the services of a psychiatrist and provides a referral
  • You are interested in taking medication to treat a mental health condition
  • Your symptoms are severe enough to regularly interfere with your everyday life

While both therapy and psychiatry are both available online, you’ll still need to be sure that the therapist or clinician is licensed to practice in

Illinois

(or, for non-

Illinois

residents, the state where you live).

What to expect from your first psychiatrist visit?

It’s ok to be a little nervous about your first visit with your psychiatrist. But remember, they’re there to help you feel better. Psychiatrists have years of experience working with new patients and will help you feel comfortable during your sessions.

Here’s what to expect in your first visit at Talkiatry:

Evaluation: During your first visit with a Talkiatry psychiatrist, you’ll get to meet each other and answer questions about your current symptoms, personal history, medical history, and mental health goals.

Diagnosis: Based on the information you’ve shared, your psychiatrist will be able to provide a diagnosis of your condition, if you have one. Getting a diagnosis can feel scary, but it can also feel validating to finally put a name to what you've been experiencing. Your psychiatrist will help you navigate any emotions that come up and work with you on a path to move forward.

Treatment plan: You’ll collaborate with your psychiatrist on the best way to manage your symptoms. If medication is appropriate, you’ll discuss your options, including the benefits and potential side effects of each medication. Your psychiatrist will provide supportive therapy throughout your session and may also recommend working with one of our therapists. Our therapists partner with our psychiatrists in a collaborative model to provide holistic care.

To get started, take our free online assessment, to see if Talkiatry is right for you and get matched with a psychiatrist.

Will I need medication?

Medication can be an effective part of your treatment plan but medication is not right for everyone. Your psychiatrist will work with you to determine if medication is right for you.  

Ready to talk with a psychiatrist? Take our 10-minute online assessment

to see if Talkiatry is right for you and get matched with a psychiatrist who serves in

Illinois

.

Also note that prescribing laws can vary from state to state. During your first visit, your doctor will be able to talk you through how it works in

Illinois

(or, for non-

Illinois

residents, the state where you live).

What is the cost of a psychiatrist visit in
Illinois

The main factor that determines the cost of your visit is your insurance coverage. The majority of our patients pay $25 or less per visit.* If you have a deductible plan and haven’t met your deductible yet, the average cost is between $325 and $414. The best way to get an estimate of your total cost is to contact your insurance company and ask about their coverage for outpatient psychiatric services.

*Includes all types of patient costs: copayment, deductible, and coinsurance. Excludes no-shows and includes $0 payments.

What treatments are available for mental disorders?

Medication and talk therapy (also called psychotherapy) are the gold standard for treating mental health conditions but treatment is highly personalized. A treatment that works for you may not work for someone else. Luckily, psychiatrists are experts in treating mental health conditions and can guide you through different treatment options and help you find one that’s right for you.

At Talkiatry, we make it easy to find a psychiatrist in

Illinois

who matches your needs. Take our 10-minute online assessment to see if Talkiatry is right for you.

What can’t Talkiatry treat?

Our goal is to help you find the best treatment option for your needs and there may be some cases where virtual care isn't the right fit. If this is the case, your psychiatrist will be able to recommend other treatment options within your first visit. Our 10-minute online assessment will also help you determine whether or not Talkiatry is the right fit for your care.

What we can’t treat: Schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders: This is a complex condition that responds best to treatments that aren’t safe to provide in an online-only setting. Since we’re a virtual practice, we aren’t able to treat patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders.

Certain personality disorders, like borderline personality disorder: Generally, borderline personality disorder doesn’t respond well to medication. As a psychiatry practice, one of our main focuses is medication management. One of the most effective treatments for borderline personality disorder is dialectical behavioral therapy, which is something our clinicians aren’t specialized in.

Patients who have been hospitalized or required to stay overnight in a clinic or in-patient setting for a mental health condition in the last 6 months: Our goal is to provide safe, effective care. For patients who have been required to stay overnight for a condition, a virtual practice can’t provide the right level of care.

Patients looking for therapy only: Our psychiatrists specialize in medication management. While we do have some therapists on staff to support patients who’d benefit from both medication and dedicated therapy, we don’t treat patients looking for talk therapy only.

We have excellent clinicians serving in

43

states, including

Illinois

. Want to find a psychiatrist in

Illinois

? We’ll match you with one through our online assessment. It just takes 10 minutes.

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