Akif Khawaja, MD

Dr. Faizan Syed is a board-certified attending psychiatrist who graduated from St. George's University School of Medicine in 2012. He completed his residency in adult psychiatry at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, an affiliate of Columbia University, in June 2016 .Dr. Syed was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and has lived transnationally in the United States, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East throughout his life. He is currently based in Queens, NY, and alongside his professional development in his career as a psychiatrist, he has also worked to develop himself personally through writing. As a poet, essayist, and author, he has been published numerous times, and he maintains connections with his community through his participation in a group known as the Queens Poetic Alchemy Collective. He has spoken out publicly against the cultural stigma against mental health that has become a barrier to seeking and finding help. He has also been featured on Humans of New York. Dr. Syed believes strongly in the power and importance of psychotherapy as part of the therapeutic process. As such, he integrates individualized psychotherapy for each patient he sees and tailors various techniques to suit each patient's needs. He believes in an integrative, holistic approach that borrows from and blends various schools of psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience, including mindfulness, existentialism, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical therapy, psychodynamics, genetics, and psychopharmacology. In addition, he is a great believer in the therapeutic power of the arts, whether it is visual arts, music, bibliotherapy, or expressive writing. Dr. Syed focuses on exploring the role of meaning in every patient's life so they can define and fulfill their potential in many areas of life. He has experience working with patients of all ages who have struggled with trauma, relationship or attachment issues, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, psychosis, and personality disorders.

Dr. Mathews is an adult psychiatrist who works with young adults and adults struggling with anxiety and depressive disorders. She uses a compassionate, non-judgmental, and reflective approach to listening and working with clients. Dr. Mathews' practice focuses on medication management, offered in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mathews completed medical school at Stony Brook University School of Medicine where she also earned her masters in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. She completed her adult psychiatry residency training program at Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The philosophy of Dr. Mathews' practice is to help promote each individual's natural capacity for healing. She ultimately strives to help clients create rich and meaningful lives while also offering mindfulness skills to empower clients to effectively cope with the pain and suffering that life can bring.

Dr. Anh Tran completed undergraduate studies, medical school, and psychiatry residency training at Saint Louis University. Following training, Dr. Tran joined the Department of Veterans Affairs, where they provided care in an outpatient setting with both telehealth and in-person services. With this experience, Dr. Tran brings a strong clinical background and a dedication to supporting patients through accessible and personalized psychiatric care.

New patients can expect Dr. Tran to respect their time and autonomy while working together to establish shared treatment goals. Dr. Tran values open candor and punctuality, aiming to create a therapeutic relationship grounded in mutual trust, transparency, and collaboration.

During the first visit, Dr. Tran takes a comprehensive history and background to determine if the therapeutic relationship is the right fit for both patient and provider. Ongoing care typically involves monthly appointments for medication management until stability is achieved, after which visits may shift to quarterly follow-ups. This structured yet flexible approach supports continuity and long-term well-being.

Dr. Giselle Brito is board-certified in adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 4 years. She received her medical degree from San Juan Bautista, School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and continued her medical education at Jackson Memorial Hospital & University of Miami Hospital for her 4-year psychiatry residency training program. After completing her training, Dr. Brito worked at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital and then the Orlando Veterans Affairs Hospital in the primary care mental health integrated model. Dr. Brito also holds certification in Perinatal Mental Health. Dr. Brito's practice focuses on medication management and supportive psychotherapy in typically 30-min follow up visits. At times, additional psychotherapy is needed and a therapist may be added to provide the best outcome.‍

Dr. Abby Reineck currently serves as an outpatient child and adolescent psychiatrist. She has been practicing for 13 years. Dr. Reineck's practice primarily offers medication-management services in conjunction with either supportive or eclectic therapy. Follow-up appointments average 30 minutes, but may be more or less. Occasionally, Dr. Reineck believes the addition of a therapist is needed and will request you bring a therapist into your care team. This will be asked of individuals if she believes it will lead to an improved clinical outcome. Reineck received her medical degree from Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University, located in Dayton, OH. She completed her psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, in Hanover, NH. After completing her training, Dr. Reineck moved to Brattleboro, VT, where she became an attending psychiatrist at The Brattleboro Retreat, working on both the child and adolescent inpatient units. The Brattleboro Retreat's location was such that it served a large number of patients from nearby states, which included New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. However, it also served as the only psychiatric inpatient facility for children and adolescents in the entire state of Vermont. Dr. Reineck also worked as the lead psychiatrist on the inpatient, adult, dual-diagnosis unit. This unit provided care for individuals struggling with addiction and mental-health related issues, some of whom required medically supervised detoxification. After roughly five years, Dr. Reineck moved from Vermont to Erie, PA. She began working at a residential treatment facility for child and adolescent patients who required care in a highly supervised and highly structured setting. Dr. Reineck also began serving as a child and adolescent psychiatrist for patients enrolled in a school-based partial-hospitalization program. Dr. Reineck gradually transitioned from these roles into strictly outpatient work. She worked as an outpatient psychiatrist in Butler, PA, where she treated child, adolescent, and adult patients. Dr. Reineck eventually narrowed her scope of practice to providing psychiatric treatment for only outpatient children and adolescents. She did so out of facilities located in Erie and Meadville, PA. Drr. Reineck completed her undergraduate studies at Ohio University. While Dr. Reineck has experience treating a wide variety of patients, her primary focus has been treating children and adolescents with a vast array of presenting concerns.

Background and credentials

Dr. Ian Goldberg is a board-certified adult and child/adolescent psychiatrist and a licensed physician in New York state. He has been practicing since 1988 and has extensive experience working with patients in private practice, hospital settings, and community-based mental health programs. His professional career has included work both in and outside of the United States.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Goldberg takes an eclectic approach to psychiatric care, integrating various treatment modalities, including psychodynamic perspectives and medication management. His focus is on improving his patients' overall quality of life by tailoring treatment strategies to their unique needs.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the initial visit, patients can expect a comprehensive and individualized evaluation. Dr. Goldberg values collaboration and strives to create a treatment plan that is both effective and adaptable. His experience allows him to approach each case with insight and flexibility, ensuring that patients receive care that is aligned with their personal goals and circumstances.

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Why Talkiatry?

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

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