Alexandra Baluna, MD

Jeanine Foley is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over a decade of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She holds a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Colorado Denver, an MSN from Vanderbilt University, and a BS from Boston University. Her career includes service as an active duty PMHNP in the U.S. Air Force and roles in the VA and private psychiatric hospitals. She also serves as Adjunct Clinical Faculty for a PMHNP graduate program.

Jeanine believes in patient-centered care built on trust, collaboration, and respect for each individual’s life story. She integrates medication management with therapeutic techniques and creates a safe, inclusive space that is trauma-informed and aligned with each patient’s values. Jeanine emphasizes genuine connection and strives to help clients explore root causes of distress—not just manage symptoms.

Jeanine begins with a comprehensive, collaborative assessment of each patient’s medical, psychiatric, and psychosocial history. She partners with patients to develop flexible, personalized treatment plans that support holistic mental health. Her approach combines psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions, continuously adjusting plans based on feedback and progress.

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Andrew Lelin is a board-certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. He  received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's  in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics from Stony Brook  University. Dr. Lelin earned his medical degree from Hofstra-Northwell School  of Medicine and completed his residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson School  of Medicine, where he specialized in advanced psychopharmacology with diverse  patient populations. He also has extensive training and experience in  psychotherapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic therapy,  cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal therapy, and cognitive  processing therapy. Following his training, Dr. Lelin provided inpatient  consultation and crisis intervention services in New York City.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Lelin employs a compassionate, humanistic approach designed to align  closely with his patients' personal goals and values. His method integrates  advanced psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic techniques such as  psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, habit-reversal, and cognitive processing  therapies. He aims to carefully balance diagnosis, avoiding both  overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, to ensure precise and tailored care. Dr.  Lelin’s approach is particularly effective in addressing conditions like  anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma-related issues, and other  psychiatric conditions.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

During the initial visit, patients can expect a comprehensive, detailed  evaluation designed to thoroughly understand their individual experiences and  needs. Dr. Lelin prioritizes establishing a compassionate and comfortable  environment where patients can openly discuss their concerns and goals. This  initial assessment is followed by meticulous and thoughtful follow-ups,  providing clarity and direction in the treatment process.    

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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.

Dr. Peppers works with patients to meet the goals that matter to them. She believes that feeling heard and being understood are key factors in a successful treatment relationship.

She has been working in telehealth since 2018. She has worked extensively with patients dealing with trauma from childhood abuse, assaults, combat, and accidents. She also has a lot of experience treating depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and personality disorders.

After completing her training, Dr. Peppers worked in private practice and in various roles for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She most enjoys working in the clinic because of the long term follow-up.        

Dr. Peppers enjoys her work and includes psychotherapy in her appointments. She offers medication options to treat symptoms but also works with patients to examine behaviors and defenses that may be contributing to their problems. For patients who would benefit from more extensive psychotherapy, she may refer patients to a therapist and work collaboratively with the therapist.

She starts off with a thorough evaluation to make a diagnosis. Then, she works with patients to determine what their treatment goals are and develops a treatment plan to meet those goals.

Dr. Kira Posteraro is double board-certified in Adult and Addiction Psychiatry and has over 10 years of clinical experience. She completed her General Adult Psychiatry Residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY.

Dr. Posteraro’s career has included serving as Director of Psychiatric Services at an addiction treatment center in Pittsburgh, PA, where she provided care across the full continuum of substance use disorder treatment—including residential, acute PHP, IOP, outpatient, and aftercare services. She later held the role of Section Chief Psychiatrist for the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, offering both residential and outpatient services and acting as Medical Director for the SAMHSA-certified Opioid Treatment Program. Most recently, she served as Chief of Psychiatry for the Behavioral Health Service Line at VA Pittsburgh, where she had the honor of caring for our nation’s Veterans.

While her clinical expertise centers on the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders, Dr. Posteraro also has extensive experience treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depressive and bipolar spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related disorders.

Dr. Posteraro uses a collaborative, supportive approach to care, incorporating motivational interviewing to help guide patients on their journey to wellness. She integrates holistic strategies alongside medication management and is dedicated to meeting patients where they are in treatment to build individualized, effective recovery plans.

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Dr. Carolyn Benson has 21 years of experience in treating adults, adolescents, and children. After graduating medical school at Brody School of Medicine in Greenville, North Carolina, she moved to Rochester, NY to complete her residency and fellowship at University of Rochester School of Medicine. Her focus over the last ten years has been on working with young adults, children/adolescents, and their families. Her expertise covers a wide array of therapeutic modalities and mental health diagnoses. The primary focus of her sessions is to provide medication management with education on treatment options. She will provide therapy models that are appropriate within that 20�30 minute medication session. If longer therapy time frames are indicated, she will discuss the need to add a therapist to your treatment team to achieve optimal care. Her successful treatment outcomes are based on experience, staying current on psychiatric treatments, and having open communication with patients and families of children/adolescents so they can choose the most effective treatments. Prior to medical school, she worked in both marine and biochemical research venues and was coauthor in several research papers. She has an avid interest in the emerging field of neuroscience and frequently gives talks to colleagues and students on current research topics. Her primary objectives in her work are to help patients achieve success in both treatment and life goals and to always take time to truly listen to her patients.

Dr. Gamberino is a board certified adult psychiatrist who has been in practice for over 25 years. He has always been fascinated by how the brain works, especially in the setting of stress, anxiety, and trauma. He completed his training at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine MD/PhD program and earned his PhD in Neuroscience. He subsequently completed a Residency in Adult Psychiatry including an Anxiety Disorder Research Fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Gamberino had a private practice for over 10 years with a focus on providing psychotherapy integrated with pharmacological management. He worked for 25 years with adult and geriatric Veterans at Department of Veterans Affairs with focus on treating PTSD, as well as a full range of anxiety and mood disorders including 7 years of providing care through telehealth treatment. Dr. Gamberino also has 10 years of experience working with adolescents in the juvenile justice system.

Dr. Gamberino is experienced and comfortable treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions including PTSD, mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder, and all anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and OCD. He enjoys sharing knowledge with patients to help them better understand the origins of their symptoms and a range of strategies to manage them.

Dr. Gamberino utilizes a non-paternalistic approach respecting the autonomy of his patients while helping them gain insight into their presenting problems utilizing a collaborative shared decision making approach to help reduce symptoms and optimize functioning. His practice combines evidence-based medication management with psychotherapy utilizing elements of supportive, cognitive behavior, and insight-oriented therapy. Dr. Gamberino utilizes a patient, caring approach, meeting patients where they are to empower them with making changes that lead toward improvement and optimization of their wellness.