Alana Ward, PMHNP

Dr. Orejarena is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She finished her residency from Yale University and the University of Texas Houston. She has done extensive research on psychiatry during her PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology and a Master's in Neuroscience. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. She incorporates different therapy modalities and evidence-based treatments, tailored to each person's needs. She enjoys applying her knowledge in neuroscience and pharmacology into her clinical practice and believes a combination of medication and psychotherapy yields the best treatment outcomes.

Her ultimate goal is to help patients feel their best and accomplish their own goals by developing tools to navigate internal or external obstacles that are part of life. Dr. Orejarena is originally from Colombia, where she earned her medical degree from Universidad Industrial de Santander. She pursued a Master's in Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona and a PhD in Neuropharmacology at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. Her PhD thesis was honored summa cum laude.

She completed a postdoctoral fellowship training at the Institut de Neurobiologie de la Mediterranee in Marseille, France. She is the author of multiple peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at national and international meetings. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, acute care, psychiatric hospitals as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center.‍‍

Dr. Raafay Deen is a board eligible adult psychiatrist. At the heart of Dr. Deen's clinical approach is a strong emphasis on establishing trust and building a therapeutic relationship to help patients achieve their goals. Dr. Deen's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, he offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Occasionally, Dr. Deen may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome .Dr. Deen received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete his residency in psychiatry at Westchester Medical Center. He has practiced in various settings over his career, including inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, emergency rooms, and inpatient substance abuse rehab/detox programs where he treated patients with a variety of psychiatric illnesses. The philosophy of his practice is to collaborate with patients to meet their specific needs and make an impact in various stages of their lives.‍

Dr. Thomas O’Brien holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and earned his medical degree from Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. O’Brien has experience practicing across outpatient, PHP, IOP, and inpatient settings.

He strives to create a supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and understood. His approach emphasizes a holistic, whole-person method to healing, guided by the patient’s own goals and values. Dr. O’Brien integrates psychotherapy with medication management, drawing on his background in psychodynamic psychopharmacology and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Dr. O’Brien focuses on understanding each patient as a whole to create individualized treatment plans. This begins with a comprehensive history during the initial session to identify biopsychosocial factors. Treatment is then tailored to align with the patient’s unique goals and values, promoting meaningful progress.

Dr. Iris Guerrero Urena is double board-certified in psychiatry and consultation-liaison psychiatry. She received her medical degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in the Dominican Republic and went on to complete psychiatric residency at Lincoln Hospital in New York City. Dr. Guerrero then completed a consultation liaison fellowship at Morningside and West Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, further acquiring proficiency in caring for patients with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities. After completing training, Dr. Guerrero worked in an acute inpatient unit and as a psychiatric consultant for patients admitted to medical units in Oregon. Dr. Guerrero Urena focuses on medication management while also implementing elements of supportive, dialectical behavioral, and cognitive behavioral therapy within each session to fully address individual needs. At times, Dr. Guerrero Urena may recommend a therapist for additional therapy. Dr. Guerrero Urena is experienced in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, OCD.

Dr. Clark is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She is fellowship-trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been in practice for 11 years. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Clark then completed her residency training and continued her training in child and adolescent fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Clark works with patients to create an environment where they feel comfortable and supported. She focuses on medication management along with supportive therapy. Normally visits are 30-minute follow-ups that allow time to focus on areas of support needed. If additional therapy is recommended, she will request a therapist be added to your care team to meet all your needs. Dr. Clark has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with adult, child, and adolescent populations. She has worked in private practice as well as community mental health, where she worked with reaching under-served communities. Dr Clark has a passion for treating both adult and child and adolescent patients with anxiety and depression.

Background and credentials    

Dr. Abernethy is a board-certified psychiatrist who received his medical  degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He completed  his internship at UT Southwestern in Dallas and earned a Master's of Public  Health in Epidemiology and Occupational and Environmental Health from Texas  A&M. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the University of  Oklahoma Health Science Center. Dr. Abernethy has over 12 years of experience  practicing psychiatry in various outpatient settings, including private  practice and community mental health centers in Texas and Oklahoma,  specifically reaching underserved communities. He has treated a broad  spectrum of mental health symptoms among diverse populations, addressing  issues ranging from mood and anxiety disorders to behavioral manifestations  of Autism and other developmental disorders.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Abernethy utilizes a collaborative and patient-centered approach to  psychiatry, focusing primarily on medication interventions that align with  each patient's unique treatment goals and clinical needs. He emphasizes  cooperation with patients to effectively treat and reduce mental  health-related symptoms. His practice centers around medication management,  supplemented by supportive treatments tailored to individual needs. Depending  on each patient’s circumstances, he may recommend additional support from  individual, family, or group counselors and therapists to achieve optimal outcomes.    

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What you can expect in a first visit

In an initial visit, patients can expect a thorough, collaborative  discussion focused on understanding their symptoms, goals, and clinical  needs. Dr. Abernethy will evaluate the patient's condition to determine  appropriate medication interventions and discuss personalized treatment  recommendations. Typical follow-up visits are approximately 20-30 minutes in  length. Depending on the severity and complexity of a patient's situation,  referrals to additional counseling or therapy may also be suggested.    

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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 speciualize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.