Alexandra Baluna, MD

Erin Ellis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in New York. Erin has over 5 years of experience working with adults seeking help with anxiety, depression, other mood disorders, stress, life transitions, LGBTQ+ issues, and trauma. Erin received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY followed by a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Medaille College in Buffalo, NY. Erin has prior experience working for a local hospital in the comprehensive psychiatric emergency program (CPEP) where she provided crisis intervention services.  Erin also has prior experience working in substance abuse in providing mental health counseling treatment on an inpatient unit. Additionally, Erin has worked in community mental work with a variety of different populations. Erin’s therapeutic approach is eclectic in nature, and client centered. Erin collaborates with her clients, meeting them where they are and helping them find personalized solutions to achieve their goals and become their best selves.  Erin utilizes a combination of approaches including mindfulness techniques, cognitive/dialectical behavioral skills (CBT, DBT), as well as compassion and strength-based approaches. Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and discuss what brings you to therapy. It’s normal to feel nervous; therapy is a process we’ll build together over time. We’ll move at your pace, one step at a time, and I’ll be here to guide you throughout.

Dr. Michael Padua is a graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency training at Loyola University Medical Center at Maywood, IL. He is trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating various psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and bipolar disorder with a focus on posttraumatic stress disorder, women's mental health, and cultural psychiatry. He combines his clinical expertise with a passion for working with underserved populations and the LGBTQIA+ population to address mental health needs across various communities. Dr. Padua has experience working in a variety of settings, which includes working as an outpatient psychiatrist at a federally qualified health center (FQHC), and as a correctional psychiatrist at the Washoe County Sherriff's Office in Reno, NV. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Padua has also participated in research and education, and has co-authored peer-reviewed articles in the fields of psychiatry and biology.

Dr. Kimberly Williams is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, with more than 17 years of experience in the mental health field. She holds a master's degree in mental health counseling and a doctoral degree in mental health supervision and education. Her professional experience includes working with populations of diverse demographics, varying circumstances, an array of mental health conditions and challenges, and many other unique living experiences of individuals, families, and couples. Dr. Williams has worked extensively with many presenting issues including diagnoses related to mood disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, psychoses, spectrum disorders, trauma and other challenging life changes. In order to provide culturally informed care and meet clients where they are, Dr. Williams has worked with people in many environments, including but not limited to personal homes or shelters, community settings, medical facilities, outpatient settings, and inpatient settings. Dr. Williams embraces humanistic and psychodynamic approaches to help clients acclimate to the counseling space and find the courage to explore, integrate and nurture one's true self throughout the counseling process. Additionally, Dr. Williams utilizes elements of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, and Systemic and Multicultural Therapies, to help clients further their growth and achieve success toward therapeutic goals.

Dr. Meena Shah is a board-eligible psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 16 years. She specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Shah's practice focuses on medication management in conjunction with supportive and emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow up visits. Dr. Shah believes in the importance of building a therapeutic relationship with her patients and families to help achieve their emotional goals. Dr. Shah completed her residency training through Richmond University Medical Center with NY Medical College and completed her fellowship at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Shah has extensive experience with the child and adolescent population and worked with foster care programs as well as juvenile residential facility programs .Dr. Shah served as Children's Associate Medical Director at Directions for Living Mental Health Clinic and went on to become Medical Director at Sequel Care of Florida. In addition, Dr. Shah also received her Master's degree in Hyperbaric Medicine. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida with a major in psychology. Dr. Shah's primary clinical focus has been treating children, and young adults with ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, and helping them establish coping skills to overcome any life obstacle.

Dr. Julia Trice, MD, has experience across outpatient, intensive outpatient, residential, and inpatient settings. She earned her medical degree and completed psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship training at accredited institutions, developing expertise in comprehensive, evidence-based care. She is double board-certified in adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Trice values openness, collaboration, and clear communication. She builds strong therapeutic rapport by creating a warm, supportive space where patients feel heard and respected. When working with children and adolescents, she ensures they understand that their voice and perspective are essential to shaping treatment and understanding their symptoms.

Dr. Trice begins by thoroughly understanding each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. She uses this foundation to guide treatment from the first session onward. Throughout care, she develops individualized, goal-aligned treatment plans that integrate evidence-based approaches tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Alexandra ("Sasha”) Blaes is a board-certified psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she practiced consult-liaison psychiatry, seeing medically ill patients with psychiatric problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she also treated veterans in nursing homes. Dr. Blaes graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and photography and worked in nonprofit marketing in New York before deciding she wanted to pursue a life in medicine. Following a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program at Columbia University, Dr. Blaes completed medical school at The University of Maryland, followed by a psychiatry residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins, she mastered clinical assessment and treatment of general psychiatric problems. She also received specialized training in eating disorders, addiction, reproductive psychiatry, chronic pain, and geriatric psychiatry, an interest she pursued further with a fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In fellowship and in her subsequent experience at the VA, she developed expertise in caring for the difficulties that can accompany aging, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as the stress of medical illness. Dr. Blaes' practice focuses on medication management. She works to foster a safe and collaborative space in which patients can address psychiatric illness and other barriers holding them back from the lives they want to lead. Typically, she offers appointments for medication management coupled with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute sessions. When Dr. Blaes feels that additional therapy is needed, she will suggest inviting a therapist to join the team for additional support and guidance. She welcomes collaborations with other clinicians, be they therapists or other physicians caring for her patients. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships that help patients grow and meet their goals - whatever their situation, challenge, or life stage. Dr. Blaes welcomes patients from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and is LGBTQ+ friendly. In addition to her background in geriatrics, she has experience working with peripartum women and enjoys working with patients navigating major life changes.