
Abdulhafiz Ahmed, MD
I approach each patient with empathy, attentiveness, and respect, fostering an environment of safety and trust. I recognize the importance of cultural diversity and am dedicated to understanding each person's unique background, values, and life circumstances. My patient-centered philosophy ensures that individuals feel heard, validated, and actively involved in their care. I combine evidence-based psychopharmacology with supportive psychotherapy to provide comprehensive and individualized treatment, collaborating closely with patients to develop a plan that targets their specific symptoms and goals, focusing on improving functioning, resilience, and overall well-being.
I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 25 years of clinical experience across community hospitals, university teaching hospitals, the Veterans Administration (VA) medical system, and private practice. I have served as the inpatient medical director at MedStar Harbor Hospital in Baltimore and outpatient medical director at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake. I have extensive expertise diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorders, phobias, thought disorders, trauma, and PTSD. I completed my BS at the University of Maryland at College Park, my MD at Georgetown School of Medicine, and my residency and fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical System at Baltimore (UMMS).

Adela Stroescu, MD
I foster a respectful, non-judgmental space where communication is clear and care is recovery oriented. I prioritize building a therapeutic relationship grounded in empathy and trust to support each patient's unique path to wellness. I specialize in mood disorders, psychosis, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD.
I am a board-certified psychiatrist with seven years of clinical experience treating adults in both outpatient and inpatient settings. I earned my medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and completed my psychiatry residency at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt. I speak English and conversational Romanian.
I begin with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to create a personalized treatment plan aligned with the patient's goals. I use evidence-based medication management and offer supportive psychotherapy and psychoeducation to empower patients throughout their treatment journey.

Aileen Kim, MD
I approach medication management with an emphasis on shared decision-making within safe, effective options, thorough counseling about what to expect in treatment, and giving attention to the concurrent use of non-medication modalities of treatment alongside optimizing medication. I am accustomed to working with people who have more than one diagnosis. I am skilled and experienced in de-prescribing (methodically streamlining the number of medications being taken) when needed. Patients can see me for medication management, therapy, or both.
I am board certified in Adult Psychiatry. I graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 2004. I was selected for the Health Professions Scholarship Program and completed my residency in 2008 at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Virginia, where I was chief resident. Following residency, I deployed to Kuwait as a medical officer. I have taught and supervised residents at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. I left active duty in the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander. After becoming a civilian, I went into solo practice, then joined Potomac Behavioral Solutions in 2014, where I served as medical director. I am a past president of the Virginia Psychoanalytic Society. I also lecture advanced mental health professionals for Lingyu International Psychology Centre based in Toronto.
For established patients of Dr.

Akbar Salman, MD
Dr. Akbar Salman earned his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine and has completed his psychiatry residency at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. He has experience working with a diverse range of patients, including young adults, veterans, and immigrant populations, which has shaped his patient-centered approach to care.
Dr. Salman values clear, direct, and honest communication while maintaining a relaxed and supportive atmosphere during appointments. Whether providing medication management or therapy, he strives to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to discuss their concerns openly.
Dr. Salman takes a detailed and in-depth approach to each session, working to understand and empathize with the underlying factors affecting a patient's mental health and well-being. He collaborates closely with patients to develop individualized treatment plans and identify practical follow-up steps that support meaningful improvements in daily life.

Alexandra Blaes, MD
My practice focuses on medication management. I work to foster a safe and collaborative space in which patients can address psychiatric illness and other barriers holding them back from the lives they want to lead. Typically, I offer appointments for medication management coupled with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute sessions. When I feel that additional therapy is needed, I will suggest inviting a therapist to join the team for additional support and guidance. I welcome collaborations with other clinicians, be they therapists or other physicians caring for my patients. I strive to build strong therapeutic relationships that help patients grow and meet their goals, whatever their situation, challenge, or life stage. I welcome patients from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and am LGBTQ+ friendly.
I am a board-certified psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, I practiced consult-liaison psychiatry, seeing medically ill patients with psychiatric problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where I also treated veterans in nursing homes. I graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and photography and worked in nonprofit marketing in New York before deciding to pursue a life in medicine. Following a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program at Columbia University, I completed medical school at The University of Maryland, followed by a psychiatry residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins, I mastered clinical assessment and treatment of general psychiatric problems. I also received specialized training in eating disorders, addiction, reproductive psychiatry, chronic pain, and geriatric psychiatry, an interest I pursued further with a fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In fellowship and in my subsequent experience at the VA, I developed expertise in caring for the difficulties that can accompany aging, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as the stress of medical illness. In addition to my background in geriatrics, I have experience working with peripartum women and enjoy working with patients navigating major life changes.
.webp)
Amit Suneja, MD
I practice psychiatry through a collaborative, integrative, disability and healing justice-informed lens. I reject oversimplified binaries, recognizing that healing requires embracing complexity. My approach integrates psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practices with complementary, alternative, and natural therapies, as well as harm reduction. My approach is neurodivergence-, queer-, and gender-affirming as well as trauma-informed. Rejecting the binary of "mentally ill" vs. "mentally healthy," I recognize the mind, body, and soul's inherent complexity. My clinical interests include anxiety, OCD, women's reproductive mental health, climate stress, intergenerational trauma, immigrant and refugee mental health, and substance use concerns.
I provide a healing space that prioritizes each service user's goals and lived experiences, and I tailor care to each service user. The first session explores goals, treatment options, and optimal meeting frequency. In many cases, visits are more frequent at the beginning of treatment and spaced out over time. I prefer visits at least every 4–6 weeks and integrate psychotherapy into all treatment plans, with many service users benefiting from ongoing deeper therapeutic work.
My training includes Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and a global mental health fellowship at UCSF.
Based in Tucson, I enjoy desert life, reading, baking, making art, and spending time with my two dogs.

Asmita Neupane, PMHNP
I have professional interests in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and eating disorders. I provide psychiatric assessments and medication management along with brief supportive psychotherapy. I focus on holistic approaches to treatment and believe in keeping my patients healthy rather than only addressing illness.
I am a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). I received my bachelor's in nursing degree from Metropolitan State University and my master's in nursing degree from Texas Woman's University, which specializes in Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, and completed my post-master's degree as a PMHNP from Wilkes University. I have 20 plus years of experience as a Registered Nurse and almost 10 years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner. I am licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
I am fluent in Nepali, Hindi, and English.

Carla Brown, MD
I am passionate about caring for adults, children, and families. I believe compassionate, evidence-based, multidisciplinary care is essential to healing. Having served diverse communities from rural areas to major cities, I partner with patients in a warm, down-to-earth manner to reduce stigma and support their best interests. I view medication as one of many tools and encourage a comprehensive approach to wellness. I specialize in ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, and high-functioning autism.
I begin with a thorough evaluation of each patient's history, concerns, and goals. I collaborate closely to create individualized, measurable treatment plans tailored to each person's strengths and needs, adjusting care thoughtfully to support meaningful, ongoing progress.
I am double board certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I earned my medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed my psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Fellowships at the NYU School of Medicine, where I also trained in child and adolescent psychodynamic psychotherapy. I have practiced in Level V schools, residential treatment centers, crisis clinics, partial hospital and IOP settings, and telebehavioral health since 2012, and have held medical director and academic roles.

Christopher Bernetski, MD
Christopher Bernetski, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience in inpatient, integrated primary care, and mental health settings. He earned his medical degree from the UNC School of Medicine at Chapel Hill and completed residency training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. Dr. Bernetski served for 9 years with the US Navy and US Marine Corps in both primary care and psychiatry roles. He has experience treating mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, substance use, and trauma-related conditions using supportive therapy, CBT, prolonged exposure therapy, and cognitive processing therapy.
Dr. Bernetski works to create a collaborative, supportive environment without a hierarchical patient-provider dynamic. He aims to be clear and direct in his assessments and recommendations while helping patients feel comfortable discussing their concerns. His approach focuses on shared decision-making so patients can actively participate in building a treatment plan that fits their goals and values.
Dr. Bernetski begins by reviewing a patient’s concerns along with their medical and mental health history. He works with patients to clarify treatment goals and prioritize concerns when multiple issues are present. He then provides a concise assessment and discusses both psychotherapy and medication options, including benefits and drawbacks, so patients can make informed decisions about their care.

Cory Alfers, DO
I take a comprehensive approach to patient care, integrating biological, psychological, and environmental factors into treatment planning. I focus on developing a meaningful therapeutic relationship and providing medication interventions for specific treatment goals. I provide interpersonal psychotherapy in conjunction with medication management services. I have a special interest in the treatment of multiple mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD. I treat adults ages 18 to 65 years old.
I am a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult psychiatry and have been practicing for over 11 years. I completed my undergraduate education at Virginia Tech, graduating Cum Laude with degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Following graduation, I attended a research internship at the National Institutes of Health, where I received a Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award. I completed my medical degree from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA, and my General Psychiatry Residency at Georgetown University, where I served as Chief Resident. After residency, I entered private practice in McLean, VA.

Daniel Ebert, MD
I strive to create a respectful environment where patients feel heard as they build a strong therapeutic alliance. I value long-term collaboration to achieve meaningful treatment goals and improve quality of life. With clinical experience guiding my approach, I offer reasonable therapeutic optimism while addressing challenging symptoms and issues. I begin with a comprehensive clinical assessment to understand each patient's symptoms, life story, behavior, and personality, and I develop a collaborative treatment plan, revisiting it over time. Follow-up appointments integrate medication management, if prescribed, and psychotherapy tailored to the individual, using a combination of standard therapeutic approaches aligned with the shared plan.
I earned my medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed my psychiatry residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. I have served on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for over 15 years. I am board certified in psychiatry by the American College of Psychiatry and Neurology. I have extensive experience treating mood, anxiety, psychotic, and substance use disorders across inpatient and outpatient settings, including student mental health, community psychiatry, and academic outpatient practices.

Daniel Kim, MD
I value a strong doctor-patient relationship grounded in compassion, open communication, and mutual respect. I approach care collaboratively, seeking to understand each individual as a whole person and fostering a safe, thoughtful space for treatment. I conduct comprehensive diagnostic evaluations followed by 30-minute visits for medication management and supportive psychotherapy when indicated. I develop individualized plans informed by prior treatment history, considering both medication and non-medication options within a standard-of-care framework. With patient consent, I collaborate closely with therapists.
I am a board-certified adult psychiatrist with more than 20 years of experience in outpatient private practice, partial hospital programs at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, and acute inpatient settings including New York-Presbyterian and Westchester Behavioral Health. I earned my undergraduate degree from Cornell University and my medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. I completed my psychiatry residency at Brown University and a fellowship at Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute.
Talkiatry psychiatrists licensed in Maryland see people across Baltimore by video. You meet from home, on your own schedule, with no commute and no local waitlist. Because care is virtual, you are not limited to the few psychiatrists who happen to have a Baltimore office.
Online psychiatry for Baltimore residents
Getting started is simple. You answer a few questions online, then get matched with a psychiatrist licensed in Maryland. From there you schedule a video visit, often within days.
Your first visit runs about 60 minutes, so there is time to talk through what is going on. Follow-up visits are usually around 30 minutes. A psychiatrist must be licensed in the state where you are during your visit, so you will be matched with a doctor licensed in Maryland.
What a psychiatrist in Baltimore can help with
Psychiatrists are medical doctors. They can diagnose conditions, prescribe and manage medication, and coordinate therapy when it helps.
Talkiatry psychiatrists work with patients on many common conditions, including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Care also covers bipolar disorder, OCD, and PTSD. Talkiatry supports children and teens ages 5 to 18 as well.
Does insurance cover a psychiatrist in Baltimore, MD?
Talkiatry is in-network with major insurers, and your coverage is checked during the free assessment. Costs vary by plan, so confirm the details with your insurance company. You will not need to look up your plan information before you start.
Mental health care in Baltimore
Access to psychiatry is limited across Maryland. Maryland has 48 federally designated mental health professional shortage areas, and only about 22.1% of the state's need for mental health practitioners is met. An estimated 81 more psychiatrists would be needed to lift those shortage designations, according to KFF. Video care helps close that gap by connecting Baltimore residents with Maryland-licensed psychiatrists without a local wait.
Psychiatry across Maryland
Talkiatry psychiatrists are licensed across Maryland, not just in Baltimore. To see the full list of psychiatrists licensed statewide, visit our Maryland psychiatrist page.
Start with a free assessment
Ready to get started? Answer a few questions online, get matched with a psychiatrist licensed in Maryland, and schedule your first video visit. Take our free online assessment.
Can I go straight to a psychiatrist in Baltimore?

In most cases, yes. You usually do not need a referral to start with a Talkiatry psychiatrist. You begin with a short online assessment, then get matched with a doctor licensed in Maryland. Some insurance plans do ask for a referral, so it is worth checking yours.
What is the 3 month rule in mental health?

There is no single, formal "3 month rule" in mental health, and people use the phrase in different ways. Some use it to describe how long a medication can take to show its full effect. Others use it to describe how long symptoms are tracked before a plan is adjusted. If you have heard it in a specific context, your psychiatrist can explain what applies to you.
Is it better to see a psychiatrist or a psychologist?

It depends on what you need. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can diagnose conditions and prescribe medication. Psychologists focus on therapy and testing, and in most states they do not prescribe. Many people work with both, and a psychiatrist can help you decide.
Why is it so difficult to see a psychiatrist?

Demand is high and there are not enough psychiatrists, especially in shortage areas. That leads to long waits in many places. Because Talkiatry care is virtual, Baltimore residents can often be seen within days rather than months.
Can I get a prescription from an online psychiatrist in Baltimore?

Sometimes. Medication is prescribed only when it is clinically appropriate and legally permissible. A prescription is never guaranteed, and some medications may not be available for online prescribing. Your psychiatrist will talk through the options with you.