Amy Gonzalez, PMHNP

Dr. Sarita Sharma is a board-certified adult psychiatrist dedicated to providing personalized psychiatric treatment that addresses the mind, body, and spirit for optimized health and healing. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, she earned her medical degree from Avalon University School of Medicine in Curacao and completed her residency at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, Illinois. Dr. Sharma has extensive experience working with underserved patients from diverse backgrounds and with varying severities of psychiatric disorders. She has a genuine interest in treating mood and anxiety disorders like depression and anxiety. She views medication as one of many tools to aid patients, emphasizing the importance of therapy and lifestyle changes aligned with each patient's goals. Believing in a holistic approach, she incorporates mindfulness techniques, lifestyle optimization (sleep, diet, movement), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to target the root causes of unease. She enjoys helping patients navigate meaning and purpose, relationship dynamics, and self-image. With a sincere, direct, and practical approach, Dr. Sharma values empathy and understanding as vital components of effective care. In her free time, she enjoys spontaneous adventures, connecting with fellow human beings, and just being in nature. She is committed to helping you achieve a balanced, fulfilling life.

Background and credentials

Dr. Robert Whelpley, M.D., is board-certified in both Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. He completed his undergraduate studies at Binghamton University and earned his medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He then went on to complete his residency and fellowship training at the University of Rochester. Throughout his career, he has worked with patients and families across the lifespan in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency psychiatric settings.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Whelpley believes in collaborative care, working closely with treatment providers, patients, and families to ensure that mental health concerns are addressed as a team. His approach integrates talk therapy techniques, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and supportive psychotherapy, alongside medication management. He customizes treatment to maximize each patient’s mental health and overall wellness, sometimes incorporating a therapist into the care plan when beneficial.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation where Dr. Whelpley takes time to understand their symptoms, background, and treatment goals. His approach is patient-centered and team-oriented, ensuring that care is personalized and collaborative. He works with patients to develop a treatment plan that balances medication management with therapeutic interventions, fostering long-term mental wellness.

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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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Dr. Michelle Hornbaker-Park is a board-certified General and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over nine years of experience. Her practice focuses on medication management, which is founded not only on evidence-based medicine but also on the understanding that a trusting therapeutic relationship is the cornerstone of behavioral health healing. She incorporates CBT, supportive therapy, and psychoeducation into her medication management appointments and may refer patients for additional psychotherapy to improve outcomes. Dr. Hornbaker-Park received her Bachelor of Science degree from Ursinus College, with a dual major in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Neuroscience. After receiving a Health Professions Scholarship from the Army, she obtained her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. She went on to enter active duty military service and complete General Psychiatry residency training and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship training at Tripler Army Medical Center before completing active duty service as a staff psychiatrist and 101st Airborne Division psychiatrist at Fort Campbell, KY. There she cared for active duty service members and their families to manage depression, anxiety, trauma, and the unique stressors of military service. She later transitioned to federal civilian service and served as a preceptor for Phase II Physician Assistant trainees and Army Social Work interns, reinforcing a passion for education that carried her to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC). During her time at WRNMMC, she served in several roles including Deputy Medical Director of Inpatient Psychiatry, core faculty for the National Capital Consortium Psychiatry Residency Program, Associate Program Director, and associate faculty at the Uniform Services University for Health Sciences (USUHS). Prior to transitioning out of federal service to join Talkiatry, she was repeatedly recognized for excellence in academics and mentorship and received multiple teaching awards. This zeal for education and mentorship, as well as humility, personal growth, and learning, translates directly into her philosophy for patient care. She believes a whole-person approach with open, collaborative teamwork is the key to progress.

Dr. Helms is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed his General Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent fellowship training at the University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has over 25 years of experience as a psychiatrist treating patients of all ages (child, adolescent, and adult�including geriatric) while working in a multitude of treatment settings including outpatient clinics and psychiatric hospitals. He also has several years of experience working as a psychiatric consultant for medical-surgical hospitals, seeing an extensive variety of patients on all floors of the hospital from mother-baby to pediatrics, as well as adult patients on the medical and surgical floors. Dr. Helms takes with him into each patient encounter, his wide breadth of experience and his genuine care and concern for each and every individual patient. He provides both medication treatment and talk therapy. He understands that many patients greatly benefit from either short or long term medication treatment; however, he also understands that talk therapy can oftentimes lead to significant, long lasting positive change, personal growth, and improvements in occupational and relationship success. Moreover, patients will always find Dr. Helms encouraging and supportive as they search for greater meaning and purpose in their lives.

Dr. Cheryl Person is the National Director of Clinical Quality at Talkiatry. She is board certified in general adult psychiatry and has been in practice for 20 years. Dr. Person focuses on medication management but believes that is only part of successful treatment. She will spend her time providing motivational interviewing or supportive therapy, and believes it is often critical to have a therapist as part of the treatment team. Dr. Person received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatric residency at Johns Hopkins and a psychiatric epidemiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus on disaster mental health. After relocating to Texas in 2010, she worked as Director of Psychiatric Services of a large safety-net hospital in Houston. Prior to Talkiatry, she most recently was the executive director/chief physician of a large university student health center and campus pharmacy. In addition to adult psychiatry, Dr. Person has worked extensively with victims of acute trauma and her primary focus is on working with patients who have anxiety and mood disorders.

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.