Adeeb Yacoub, MD

Kristina Bona is a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience working in the mental health field. Kristina received her bachelor's from The University of Texas at Austin and proceeded to obtain her Master's degree in Counseling from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Since graduating with her Master's, she has worked in the mental health field, providing mental health relief to a wide demographic of clients. Over the past 10 years, Kristina has worked for various agencies, ranging from the local mental health authority to private practice. Kristina has experience working with people experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Mood disorders, and other mental health diagnoses interfering with daily living. As a clinician, she meets the client where they are in their life and tailors her treatment style to help them learn/apply strategies in developing skills for emotional regulation, developing healthy boundaries, effective communication skills, and more. Kristina uses an eclectic blend of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness to increase the clients' resiliency and autonomy and empower them to live full lives.

Dr. Megan Tusken is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical doctorate at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Tusken completed residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Tusken provides evidence-based, patient-centered care and considers a trusting doctor-patient relationship integral to helping her patients achieve their treatment goals. During training, Dr. Tusken gained extensive experience in inpatient, consult, emergency room, and outpatient practice settings with culturally and socioeconomically diverse patient populations. She also elected to acquire additional experience with specific patient populations, including patients with treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorders, and sleep disorders, as well as LGBTQ+ individuals and older adults. Tusken's treatment approach is collaborative and holistic. She provides medication management for a variety of mental health conditions, with particular interest in mood and anxiety disorders. In addition to psychopharmacologic interventions, she firmly believes in the mind-body connection, and she incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques into her visits to provide the best, individualized care for each patient.

Maria-Anne Duncan, LCSW-R holds the position of psychotherapist at Talkiatry. She has over twenty years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups addressing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Before joining Talkiarty, Ms. Duncan worked as a Director of Clinical Services for a not-for-profit in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. Prior to that, Ms. Duncan worked for a local hospital in the psychiatric department providing treatment to the Inpatient and Outpatient units. She has held several positions as a clinician and program director. Additionally, Ms. Duncan has taught parenting classes, Mental Health First Aid and provides training on Trauma-Informed Care. Ms. Duncan started her career as a clinician in a Crime Victims' Assistance Program funded by New York State. Through this experience she began to explore the effects of trauma on individuals, their families, and the community. Ms. Duncan has been trained in both EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and SE (Somatic Experiencing). She utilizes these body-focused therapies to help her clients be released from years of painful energies locked in their systems. Ms. Duncan received her Bachelor's Degree from Marist College and her Master's from Fordham University. She has been trained to supervise Social Work Students in their field placements. Ms. Duncan appeared in the Vassar College student-developed training video, "He said, She said" which is used to train peer sexual assault counselors. In April of 2022, she became a trainer for LivingWorks "SafeTALK" program. Additionally, Ms. Duncan has a trained therapy dog, Monkey, who goes with her to local hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort and affection.

Dr. Shari Sengupta attended the University of OK as a National Merit Scholar and went on to graduate with her MD from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She specialized in Adult Psychiatry at the University of NC Hospitals where she was a chief resident. She received psychotherapy training in insight-oriented and cognitive-behavioral approaches and trained at the Psychoanalytic Institute of the Carolinas. She has 18 years of experience providing medication management and psychotherapy in both private practice and community mental health settings and over 10 years of experience in telepsychiatry providing care to underserved communities. Dr. Sengupta has experience treating a variety of mental health concerns but has a particular interest in depression, anxiety, and mental health in the perinatal period. Her practice focuses on medication management from a holistic perspective. She believes that mental health is the cornerstone of overall well-being and that treatment is a collaborative journey toward improved health and function in life, work, and relationships. She offers culturally sensitive treatment to people from all backgrounds and sexual orientations. As a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry, her treatment approach focuses on medication management informed by a background in psychotherapy.‍

Jami Jacobson, MA, LMHC is a psychotherapist at Talkiatry. She achieved her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of New Orleans in 2014, and her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness from New York University in 2017. Jami has experience as both a mental health professional and as a social worker in a variety of settings in New York City. She has worked with individuals, families and the LGBTQIA+ community in hospitals, educational training centers, community outreach and housing programs, and family services. Her specializations include treating Phobias, Trauma, and Anxiety Disorders: specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety and Social Anxiety. She utilizes techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She has also completed Phase One training in Brainspotting, which specializes in addressing traumas in the subconscious and unconscious mind. Jami believes therapy should be a wholistic approach that incorporates both the body and the mind. She has a warm demeanor and seeks to create a safe, comfortable, and judgement-free zone, personalized for each client's unique needs. She seeks to educate her clients on the ties between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as how our environment and our past can have an influence on our day-to-day lives. ‍

Richard "Rick" States is a Licensed Professional Counselor, with broad and varied professional work experience in behavioral health (inpatient and outpatient, individuals and families, children and adults, direct service and program administration). Rick earned his B.A. in Psychology at Gannon University and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. He's earned a Post-Master's Certificate in General Psychology from Northcentral University and has completed many doctorate credits in Psychology. Since 199, Rick has taught university courses in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Services, most recently at Gannon University and Penn State University. Rick's greatest area of clinical interest and skill centers around self-regulation or "how we manage" our thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviors, etc. Rick is writing a book on self-regulation and uses the concepts in day-to-life and behavioral health practice. Rick enjoys addressing challenges related to anxiety, stress, depression, substance use, and trauma. Rick employs eclectic but methodical tools, including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanism, and somatic psychology, to assist with these challenges. Rick is EMDR trained and DBT Certified. On a more personal level, Rick is a long-term martial arts instructor, T'ai Chi instructor, and meditator. Relatedly, he also offers a variety of Mindfulness-based tools to clients.