Amit Suneja, MD

Carla Brown, MD, is double board certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Fellowships at the NYU School of Medicine, where she also trained in child and adolescent psychodynamic psychotherapy. Dr. Brown has practiced in Level V schools, residential treatment centers, crisis clinics, partial hospital and IOP settings, and telebehavioral health since 2012. She specializes in ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, and high-functioning autism, and has held medical director and academic roles.

Dr. Brown is passionate about caring for adults, children, and families. She believes compassionate, evidence-based, multidisciplinary care is essential to healing. Having served diverse communities from rural areas to major cities, she partners with patients in a warm, down-to-earth manner to reduce stigma and support their best interests. She views medication as one of many tools and encourages a comprehensive approach to wellness.

Dr. Brown begins with a thorough evaluation of each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. She collaborates closely to create individualized, measurable treatment plans tailored to each person’s strengths and needs, adjusting care thoughtfully to support meaningful, ongoing progress.

Amberly Chaplin, PMHNP, has experience practicing across multiple levels of psychiatric care, including outpatient, inpatient, emergency psychiatric services, and PHP/IOP settings. She brings a unique interdisciplinary background, having earned a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Master of Arts in Psychology from Boston University School of Medicine, followed by licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She later completed both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health at Northeastern University.

Amberly prioritizes creating a collaborative, supportive environment where patients feel heard and actively involved in their care. She values transparency and patient education, believing that shared understanding helps align treatment decisions with each individual’s personal goals, values, and lifestyle.

Amberly conducts thorough, structured initial evaluations that remain conversational and patient-centered, with careful attention to personal history and current concerns. She respects each patient’s lived experience and preferences when developing highly individualized treatment plans and, when appropriate, integrates holistic and nutritional approaches to complement traditional psychiatric care.

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Dr. Kirk Carruthers is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience in both outpatient and inpatient psychiatry, as well as addiction medicine. He completed his medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine and trained at University Hospitals – Case Medical Center, where he completed general psychiatry residency and fellowships in addiction and community psychiatry. His experience includes roles in community mental health, academic teaching, and the VA system. Outside of work, he enjoys music production, soccer, spending time with loved ones, and all dogs.

Dr. Carruthers brings a casual, easygoing communication style to create a comfortable space where patients feel at ease. He emphasizes forming strong therapeutic bonds based on trust, and combines supportive therapy with medication management. He encourages collaboration with therapists and uses evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to each individual’s needs.

Dr. Carruthers begins with a thorough understanding of each patient's concerns, history, and goals. He then creates a personalized treatment plan and works collaboratively with the patient to reach their goals, adjusting care as needed for ongoing progress.

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Elizabeth Shaffer, MD, is an accomplished psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She earned her M.D. degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Appalachian State University where she graduated summa cum laude. Dr. Shaffer's passion for working with children and families developed during her involvement in a pre-K Head Start Program in Rural North Carolina. She completed her General Psychiatry Residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University. Dr. Shaffer obtained ABPN Board Certification in General Psychiatry in 2023 and is working towards Board Certification in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Shaffer has received honors and awards for her contributions to psychiatry, including the Laughlin fellowship through The American College of Psychiatrists and Resident of the Year at Cape Fear Valley Health System in 2022.Her areas of interest focus on neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, Autism, and Intellectual Delay. Dr. Shaffer is affiliated with professional organizations like AACAP and APA, demonstrating her commitment to professional development. Dr. Shaffer is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and family and patient psychoeducation. Dr. Shaffer emphasizes a joint decision-making approach to treatment options and utilizes local resources to provide wrap-around support. Dr. Shaffer is a respected psychiatrist known for her excellence, compassion, and innovative approach to mental health care. Her extensive education, accolades, research contributions, professional affiliations, and community involvement reflect her commitment to making a positive impact in her patients' lives and the broader community.

Dr. Mott grew up in southeastern Idaho. She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California at Berkeley in 2009, and her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in 2014 from the University of Chicago. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Utah in 2018 and became board certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in 2019. Following her residency, she worked as an inpatient psychiatrist at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah and served as an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. In 2021 she moved to Dallas, Texas to work in a residential and partial hospitalization treatment center for eating disorders. She loves to incorporate psychotherapeutic techniques and goal setting together with medication management to help patients achieve wellness and fulfillment in their lives.

Dr. Mott enjoys treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders and substance use disorders. She believes strongly in individualized treatment that focuses on holistic, compassionate and collaborative care with patients.

She loves to incorporate psychotherapeutic techniques and goal setting together with medication management to help patients achieve wellness and fulfillment in their lives.

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Background and credentials  

Dr. Alexandra Baluna, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of  Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from  LSUHC-Shreveport and completed her psychiatry residency training at  Montefiore/Albert-Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief of  the Consultation-Liaison (C/L) service. Following residency, Dr. Baluna  served as Senior Chief, during which she was honored with the Leo M. Davidoff  Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Medical Students. Her  professional experiences include roles at Fordham University, Albert Einstein  Student Mental Health Counseling Center, and most recently, as an outpatient  psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center, where she enjoyed teaching and  supervising residents.  

Treatment approach  

Dr. Baluna emphasizes creating a warm, empathic, and nonjudgmental  therapeutic environment. She collaborates closely with patients to develop  personalized treatment plans that consider cultural, biological,  psychological, and social factors. With a strong interest in psychotherapy,  she frequently employs ego-supportive and insight-oriented therapy techniques  during follow-up sessions.  

What you can expect in a first visit    

During an initial visit, patients can expect a welcoming and supportive  atmosphere where Dr. Baluna conducts a comprehensive assessment. This  involves exploring the patient's history, current challenges, and individual  circumstances. The goal of the first session is to collaboratively build an  individualized treatment plan tailored specifically to the patient's unique  needs.  

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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.