Akili Carter, LMHC

Laura Cunningham, LCSW, has over four years of experience treating eating disorders in a hospital setting. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University and is certified in Level 1 Gottman Method. Laura integrates evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), into her clinical work.

Laura’s therapeutic style is warm, personable, and conversational—like talking to a trusted friend. She creates a safe, supportive environment where patients feel heard and understood. Laura validates emotions while encouraging meaningful growth and self-discovery.

Laura begins by thoroughly exploring each client’s background and therapy goals. From there, she collaborates with the individual to develop a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan tailored to their needs, supporting long-term change and emotional well-being.

Dr. Juliet Nichols has been a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2002 and has been practicing psychiatry for over 25 years. While an expert in psychopharmacology, Dr. Nichols has an integrative approach to treatment and she often incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques when appropriate, tailoring every treatment to each patient's individual needs. She completed her Psychiatry residency at Stony Brook-SUNY and Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Over the last two decades, Dr. Nichols served as an attending psychiatrist at JT Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, where she became proficient in delivering stellar psychiatric care in a variety of settings. She specializes in treating adult and geriatric mental illnesses, including: Depression, Anxiety Disorders (eg, OCD, Panic Disorder, GAD, PTSD), ADHD, and Cognitive Disorders in the elderly. Dr. Nichols strives to help her patients gain insights into their inner conflicts, unveil their strengths, accept their limitations, and build their coping skills. Her approach is dynamic, straightforward, and empathic so patients always feel safe, understood, and at ease. She engages the patient to be an active participant in treatment decision-making, creating a strong therapeutic alliance.‍

Joanne is a Latinx, first generation, biliterate licensed mental health counselor- LMHC-D. Joanne enjoys working with individuals from diverse populations facing grief/loss, relational difficulties as well as anxiety/depression stemming from life and identity transitions through a trauma-focused and culturally responsive lens.

Joanne's previous experience includes supporting clients across a variety of outpatient settings that includes private practice and community based mental health organizations. She has experience working with clients across the lifespan with concerns ranging from anxiety and depression to serious and persistent mental health issues via individual therapy, group counseling and family therapy. Joanne's therapeutic approach is highly empathetic, client-centered, and strengths-based, which aims to empower individuals to tap into their inherent potential. As a direct clinician, a client can expect a mix of humor and curiosity as they work collaboratively to explore their mental health needs, co-create resilience, and cultivate the best version of themselves.

Joanne combines a mix of evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Internal Family Systems. Additionally, Joanne is also certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Clients can expect an individualized therapeutic experience that aims to help them walk away from their sessions feeling supported, empowered and energized to work on their personal growth.

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is double board certified in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has worked in various settings with culturally diverse populations. Her primary focus has been caring for children in the outpatient programs. Dr. Wharton-Mohammed has spent over ten years as an administrative leader. She has chaired and co-chaired committees overseeing the practice of fellow Psychiatrists and served as the Discipline Chief. She has been teaching/ supervising Nurse Practitioner students and Physician assistant students.

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is experienced with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and therapeutic modalities. She is a dedicated clinician who looks out for her patients. She views each patient and their caregivers circumstance as unique. She takes a holistic approach with a collaborative approach to help patients understand their options. While the focus may be on psycho education and medication management with supportive and psychodynamic therapeutic interventions there may be a need for additional therapy.  She may ask that a therapist be added to your treatment team. She works towards establishing a meaningful trusting relationship and looks forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals.

Dr. Goel holds the position of Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She has completed adult psychiatry training and is board eligible. She has been actively involved in mental health care in various capacities over the past 7 years. Dr. Goel's practice focuses on psychopharmacological interventions. Typically, she combines this with a strong emphasis on Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). Dr. Goel also strongly believes that the best outcomes are achieved when you treat a person and not just illness. She received her medical degree from one of the largest publicly funded medical schools in India, L.L.R.M. Medical College, Meerut, India, before moving to the US. She gained experience in mental and behavioral health in various roles at some of the most prestigious institutions in the US, namely Northwestern University, Emory University, and North Shore-LIJ. She completed her residency at Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY. Dr. Goel has been a co-author of several research papers. Her team's research work has also been presented at national and international meetings as well. While Dr. Goel enjoys working with adults with various psychiatric disorders, her primary focus is on treating adults with various anxiety and depressive disorders. Dr. Goel also has a special interest in co-occurring sleep disorders related to these conditions.

Dr. Shaily C. Desai, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist who treats adults. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and with General Honors from University of Miami. She completed medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the prestigious Honors Program in Medicine. She 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. Desai held an academic appointment at the University of Miami while working at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital initially as a behavioral health consultant in the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) model and later as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) psychiatrist in the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) role.

Dr. Desai’s background spans clinical care, academic research, and community service, giving a comprehensive understanding of mental healthcare delivery across different settings. Dr. Desai developed expertise in quickly building rapport with patients, conducting medication management assessments, and implementing effective interventions. These experiences taught Dr. Desai how to maintain clinical excellence while showing patience and respect for each patient's unique circumstances. She understands the delicate balance of providing thorough care within the constraints of virtual sessions and she has developed strategies to ensure patients feel supported and understood, even though a screen.

By combining clinical expertise with genuine empathy and persistence, Dr. Desai helps her patients navigate their treatment journey with confidence and hope. Dr. Desai’s practice focuses on medication management and supportive psychotherapy in typically 30-minute follow up visits. At times, additional psychotherapy is needed, and a therapist may be added to provide the best outcome.