Alexandra Baluna, MD

Lisha Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with over 23 years of extensive experience working in the mental health field. Lisha has worked with clients facing a variety of life's challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as perinatal and postpartum mental health. She attended undergraduate school in Albany, GA, and graduate school in Valdosta, GA. Lisha is deeply committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Lisha's approach to therapy involves engaging each client with warmth and enthusiasm. She encourages them to be active participants on their journey of emotional growth, healing, and empowerment. Lisha uses therapeutic expertise and various inner-healing approaches to teach clients restorative self-care practices, exercises that cultivate emotional awareness, strategies to manage unhealthy thoughts, and methods to change undesirable behaviors. Working with Lisha, clients can expect to take away from each session a plan of action with detailed steps, easy to apply skills and practical strategies to help them manage stress, heal from hurtful experiences, improve their communication skills and strengthen boundaries in their relationships. They will gain a better understanding about how and why they feel uncomfortable emotions and why they experience strong reactions in response to those associated thoughts.

Dr. Rabia Choudhry, DO, became a psychiatrist with one mission: to provide compassionate, high-quality mental health care accessible to anyone, anywhere. Originally from Pakistan, she pursued her undergraduate degree at Benedictine University in Illinois, medical school at Des Moines University in Iowa, and psychiatry residency at Trinity Health Livonia Hospital/Wayne State University in Michigan. She has experience in inpatient, outpatient, forensic, and community mental health settings.

Dr. Choudhry is committed to meeting patients where they feel most comfortable, whether at home, work, or elsewhere. She offers the same compassion, attentiveness, and expertise as in-person care while removing barriers like travel, time constraints, and distance. Her approach emphasizes that patients are more than a diagnosis, focusing on the whole person—their story, struggles, and strengths.

Dr. Choudhry partners with patients to create individualized therapeutic plans that may include medication management and holistic strategies. Her goal is to promote mood stability, balance emotions, reduce anxiety, quiet overwhelming thoughts, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and strengthen resilience. She believes healing is best achieved through collaboration, open dialogue, and empowering patients to make informed choices about their care.

Dr. Shafi completed his undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He then earned his medical degree from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. He went on to complete his psychiatry residency at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, where he was awarded “Master of the PRITE” for achieving the highest score on the Psychiatry Resident In-Training Examination.

Dr. Shafi specializes in the treatment of various psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and PTSD. He has practiced in multiple settings including inpatient psychiatric facilities, outpatient mental health clinics, and the VA system.  

Dr. Shafi primarily focuses on medication management in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy. Using a collaborative and patient-centered approach, he provides personalized care by tailoring treatment to his patients’ unique needs. Dr. Shafi’s curiosity and compassionate nature allow him to connect with patients from all walks of life. He is committed to creating a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable expressing their mental health concerns.

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Dr. Stephen Byrd is a clinical psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board-certified in both psychiatry and addiction medicine. He has been practicing for over 31 years in a wide variety of settings, including working with inpatients and outpatients in private practice, community mental health, geriatric, VA, and community hospital/medical center settings. Dr. Byrd's practice focuses on evidence-based medication management, usually provided in conjunction with 30-minute supportive psychotherapy, which is informed by cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and motivational enhancement. When more intensive therapy is needed, Dr Byrd may ask you to include a therapist as part of your care team. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland. Throughout his career, he has treated patients with a wide variety of conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Additionally, He has served as director of inpatient geropsychiatry at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, program manager of the substance abuse treatment program at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and medical director of outpatient behavioral health at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Throughout his career, Dr. Byrd has been active in training medical students and psychiatry residents, and he has held clinical teaching appointments at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, University of Washington School of Medicine, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine.�.�

Dr. Bartek holds the position of Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is board-certified in General Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has been caring for children and adolescents as a physician for more than 15 years. Dr. Bartek's approach is holistic, collaborative, supportive, and patient-centered. Dr. Bartek draws on her years as a pediatrician working with families and children in her work as a psychiatrist. Dr. Bartek incorporates therapeutic techniques into medication management visits, but she may also recommend adding a therapist to your care team for the best results. She received her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, WA, before moving to Memphis to complete her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. She completed her undergraduate studies at Haverford College in Pennsylvania. After completing training, she remained in Memphis and worked in the Le Bonheur Children's Hospital Emergency Department as a pediatrician. She then moved to Nashville to work at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in the Emergency Department Fast Track and After-Hours Clinics. Dr. Bartek transitioned to primary care pediatrics at Pediatric Associates of Davidson County for several years before returning to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis to complete the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Post-Pediatric Portal Fellowship program. Dr. Bartek's primary clinical focus is treating children and adolescents.

Background and credentials

Dr. Schaefer is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 16 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, and completed her adult psychiatry residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She then specialized further by completing a forensic psychiatry fellowship at Yale University. She has worked as a staff psychiatrist at Atrium Health System for over 16 years.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Schaefer’s practice primarily focuses on medication management, which she offers in conjunction with supportive therapy and elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). She takes a patient-centered and collaborative approach, ensuring that treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs. If additional therapy is required, she may recommend working with a therapist as part of a comprehensive care plan. Her primary focus areas include depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Schaefer carefully assesses their symptoms, treatment history, and mental health goals. She works collaboratively with patients to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication management and therapy recommendations. Follow-up visits are typically 30 minutes and focus on monitoring progress, adjusting treatment as needed, and ensuring the best possible patient outcomes.

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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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