Alisa Zezetko, MD

Dr. Mark Varela is a board-certified psychiatrist joining Talkiatry directly out of residency. He focuses primarily on medication management, often accompanied by brief cognitive, motivational, or supportive therapy. He may request that you also meet with a therapist regularly for your benefit. Dr. Varela received his medical degree and general psychiatric residency training both from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in West Texas. He treats young adults and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.

Ekta Rathee, DNP, PMHNP-C, is an experienced psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner with an extensive clinical background in a variety of patient care settings. Rathee's diverse clinical background has strengthened her belief in a holistic approach for optimal patient outcomes. Though her primary focus remains medication management of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, she equally supports and incorporates the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, and supportive therapy in her daily patient care practice. Rathee truly believes in an individualized and holistic patient care approach, which requires a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a commitment to stay abreast of the latest in the field. Her favorite learning modality is to learn from unique patient care scenarios, which often requires a deep dive into the existing body of evidence-based knowledge. Her most important advice for her patients is to never lose hope.

Matthew is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and received his education in this specialty at Maryville University of St. Louis, Missouri.  He has been working in the mental health field for over 20 years and has provided care to patients in diverse care settings including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient mental health centers, psychiatric home health, and telepsychiatry.  Matthew is passionate about expanding access to high quality mental health care to all in need and greatly enjoys collaborating with patients from diverse backgrounds.  In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, reading, traveling, and searching for the best Mexican food around.  

Patients working with Matthew should know that he utilizes a very collaborative approach to patient care.  He does not assume that he knows what's best for patients but works closely with them to find the most appropriate and effective treatment plan for the unique individuals that he treats.  For Matthew, safety is always the first priority, but he does not believe in a "one size fits all" approach to mental health care and is focused on tailoring the treatment to the patient.  Matthew utilizes an empathic approach to mental health treatment and patients will feel heard and valued.  

Matthew's process for working with patients includes a thorough psychiatric evaluation at the initial appointment to make sure we are getting to the right diagnosis and remaining on track to improve the patient's mental health. Follow-up appointments are focused on monitoring for progress or regression and working collaboratively to meet mutually agreed upon goals. Collaboration is key!

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Background and credentials

Dr. Escamilla is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience in treating mental health conditions. He is a graduate of Harvard College and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his psychiatry training at the University of California at San Francisco and further specialized through a research fellowship with the American Psychiatric Association. In addition to his clinical work, he is a Jungian Analyst and holds academic positions as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University Department of Psychiatry and as the Frank McMillan Jr. Scholar at the Jung Center of Houston.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Escamilla brings a deeply analytical and research-driven approach to psychiatry, integrating traditional psychiatric treatment with Jungian analysis. He has a strong background in academic research and clinical psychiatry, contributing extensively to the field through research publications. His expertise spans a wide range of mental health challenges, and he is committed to understanding the complexities of each patient’s experience to tailor a treatment plan that best suits their needs.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation that takes into account their personal history, psychological patterns, and treatment goals. Dr. Escamilla’s approach emphasizes thoughtful analysis and evidence-based care, ensuring that each patient receives a personalized and insightful treatment plan. His sessions may incorporate medication management, psychotherapy, and Jungian analytical techniques to provide a holistic and individualized treatment experience.

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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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Deora Johnson, PMHNP, is a board-certified adult psychiatric nurse practitioner with 24 years of experience. He is passionate about providing clients with a holistic approach to mental health care, incorporating both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Deora works with adult and senior populations, focusing on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions. He collaborates closely with clients to guide them through understanding and selecting the most effective interventions and medication management options for their needs. Supportive therapy, solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing are integral components of his medication management sessions.

Deora earned his Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, and completed a nursing practice degree at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He has experience treating patients in a variety of outpatient and inpatient settings.

His areas of specialty include the treatment of major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and insomnia. His research focused on non-pharmacologic interventions for insomnia in individuals with depression.

Deora also has experience working with military veterans. At the VA Outpatient Clinic in Baltimore, Maryland, he treated veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as those from the Vietnam and Korean War eras. His clinical work focused on PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder.

Deora believes the therapeutic relationship offers a unique opportunity to work collaboratively through life’s challenges. He views medication management as an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan that also includes therapy.

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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.