Alessandra Buonopane, MD

Dr. Pallavi Tatapudy, MD, earned her medical degree from the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed Stony Brook’s combined residency in Adult Psychiatry and fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, along with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Fellowship. Board certified in adult psychiatry and board eligible in child and adolescent psychiatry, she has worked across inpatient, emergency, outpatient, and school settings. Her training includes expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, and Motivational Interviewing, and she incorporates principles from Supportive Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy.

Dr. Tatapudy’s warm, approachable style values each patient’s lived experience. She practices attunement to align with her patients and prioritizes cura personalis—care for the whole person. She is skilled in medication management for a wide age range and integrates therapeutic skill-building. Outside of work, she enjoys nature, visiting national parks, water activities, Indian Bhangra dance, music, and reflecting on meaningful quotes.

Dr. Tatapudy sets a collaborative agenda, listens attentively, and thoroughly reviews patient history. She includes perspectives from support systems when appropriate, offers psychoeducation with creative examples, and encourages open questions and feedback. She shares credible resources, supports learning together, and helps patients define realistic goals and measurable benchmarks for progress.

Dr. Ismail is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from Cairo University, where she also completed her neurology residency at Cairo University Hospitals. Following this, she pursued psychiatric training at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Hospitals, where she was appointed Chief Resident and recognized as Resident of the Year.

Dr. Ismail further specialized with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her career includes multiple leadership roles, notably serving as Chief of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs (PHP) at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where she provided direct care to young patients. She has also held Medical Director positions across various clinical settings, including child and adolescent inpatient units, outpatient programs, and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.

An active educator, Dr. Ismail has been a teaching faculty member, delivering lectures and providing supervision and evaluations for medical residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. Her academic contributions extend to research, where she has served as a principal investigator on multiple studies.

Throughout her career in leadership and teaching, Dr. Ismail maintained an integrative private practice in New Jersey, serving residents of the NJ and NY metropolitan areas before relocating to North Carolina.

Dr. Ismail is passionate about integrative medicine, which combines evidence-based alternative therapies with conventional treatments to optimize outcomes. Her approach focuses on promoting overall wellness, keeping both the body and mind in harmony.

During the diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Ismail will review your medical history and past treatments to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your overall wellness. In addition to medication management, she incorporates supportive, cognitive, or psychodynamic psychotherapy during follow-up visits, as time allows. When appropriate, she may also recommend referrals to specialized psychotherapists to address your individual needs as part of a holistic treatment approach.

Mary Ewers is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 12 years of experience supporting adults navigating stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic illness. She has worked with individuals from many backgrounds, including Veterans and caregivers. Her approach is grounded in empathy, respect, and genuine connection, and she tailors her work to each person’s unique needs and goals.

Mary believes therapy should feel safe, collaborative, and empowering. She welcomes patients exactly as they are and creates space where they can feel heard, understood, and supported. Clients often describe her as warm, honest, compassionate, and easy to talk to. She brings creativity and a down-to-earth presence to each session, helping patients feel comfortable as they work through life’s challenges.

Mary begins by learning what matters most to each patient and exploring what may be getting in the way of their well-being. She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and mindfulness practices to build practical tools for change. Her goal is to help patients reconnect with balance, purpose, and joy while guiding them toward meaningful, lasting growth.

Lauren is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Kent State University in 2020. She has experience treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, PTSD, and substance use disorders.

Lauren’s approach combines medication management with psychotherapy to create a well-rounded, individualized treatment plan. She takes time to listen to her patients’ concerns, fostering a safe and open environment for dialogue. Her therapeutic methods include supportive therapy, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Recognizing that medication alone may not fully address the root causes of distress, she incorporates talk therapy, lifestyle changes, stress management, self-care strategies, supplements, and social health into her care plans.

With a laid-back, non-judgmental, and empathetic style, Lauren collaborates closely with patients to ensure their treatment aligns with their unique needs and goals. Every decision is grounded in evidence-based practices and patient-centered care.

Lauren begins with a comprehensive initial assessment, gathering detailed information about each patient’s mental and physical health history, lifestyle, symptoms, concerns, and goals. This assessment informs a potential diagnosis and serves as the foundation for a personalized treatment plan. Regular follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor progress, make adjustments as needed, and provide ongoing support.

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Dr. Benjamin Adler is a physician who specializes in adult psychiatry. He utilizes medication management in conjunction with therapy. His practice includes the treatment of multiple mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD. Dr. Adler emphasizes a holistic approach to treatment that is non-judgemental and compassionate. He works closely with patients to establish plans that fit their individualized needs. Dr. Adler is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience. He attended medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating with honors. Dr. Adler completed his psychiatry residency at Woodmont Hospital in South Florida, where he supervised junior residents and medical students.

Dr. Amanda Kerr is a board-certified Psychiatrist. Her practice focuses on medication management, though she passionately believes in a holistic approach. She attended Boston University for her undergraduate studies and Loyola Marymount University for graduate school. She then completed her training at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine for residency, where she was selected to serve as Chief Resident during her final year. After completion of her residency in 2016, she dedicated seven years to serving a wide range of patients in a community mental health setting, both in-person and via telepsychiatry. She also serves as a provider at an Intensive Outpatient Program. She has experience treating patients with depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD. She also has extensive teaching experience in various settings. Dr. Kerr has a gentle and approachable style when providing medication management in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, and at times Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to more fully address each individual's needs. She utilizes mindfulness approaches as well, which she finds personally meaningful in her practices of meditation and yoga. If Dr. Kerr feels you would benefit from working with a therapist as well, she may recommend and values a collaborative approach.