Ayanna Swinton Jamison, MD

Xavier Diao, MD (he/him) is a board-certified psychiatrist. He earned his undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, where he also obtained his medical degree. Dr. Diao completed his psychiatry residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, received additional training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell, and finished a psychoanalytic fellowship at the New York Psychoanalytic Society & Institute. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he was an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, where he provided clinical care and teaching along the undergraduate-graduate medical education continuum.

Dr. Diao's therapeutic orientation is informed by psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and dialectical behavior modalities. He has expertise in the treatment of a diverse range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Dr. Diao uses a developmentally informed and LGBTQ-affirmative approach in his practice, with the aim of enriching meaning and alleviating suffering in the domains of work, play, and love.

Dr. Diao begins each encounter with gentle curiosity, inviting patients to share their stories without fear of judgment. Together, he crafts an individualized treatment plan with the patient that may include medication, psychotherapy, and/or referrals to subspecialty care, always in close collaboration with other members on the treatment team.

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Dr. Parrish is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with extensive experience in community psychiatry, academic psychiatry, veterans' mental health, and correctional psychiatry. She completed medical school and adult psychiatry residency at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and a Master of Public Health from University of Virginia. She graduated with honors from University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.  

Dr. Parrish is a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha national medical honor society. She has also produced over 20 peer-reviewed papers and posters.  

Dr. Parrish has worked with geriatric patients, individuals who identify as LGBTQ+, patients with serious mental illness, women with perinatal and postpartum needs, individuals with cancer, patients with co-occurring substance use disorders, and combat veterans.  

Dr. Parrish takes a patient-centered collaborative approach to tailor treatment plans to meet each individual's goals. Her technique promotes overall wellness. Utilizing her expertise in diagnosis and pharmacology, she optimizes care, monitors progress and ensures treatment success. Dr. Parrish incorporates behavioral activation techniques to promote improved mental health and overall well-being, with the ultimate goal of helping patients feel their best.

Dr. Amara (She/Her) is an American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified psychiatrist. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and arts from the University of Albany. She then graduated from St. Matthews University's School of Medicine in the Grand Cayman Islands. After completing her residency at LSUHSC-Ochsner program in 2016, she worked at Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans for 7 years. Her roles there included working with patients in the field of Consultation Liaison psychiatry. In addition, she was the medical director of the behavioral medical unit (IOP) and the lead of the transcranial magnetic stimulation clinic. Dr. Amara has been very involved in academics and won the Faculty Member of the year, Adult Psychiatry Program, LSU-Ochsner 2021, Teaching Excellence Award in Psychiatry University of Queensland 2019 and Roger Hatchette Award of Excellence in Emergency Psychiatry 2016. She then served in her community at Crescent Care FQHC clinic in 2023. Her interests include providing care for various behavioral health concerns, including Adjustment disorder, Mood disorders, including Treatment resistant depression, Anxiety disorders, PTSD, Neurodegenerative illnesses, Somatic disorders, Gender Dysphoria, and LGBTQIA2S+ community inclusive care. Dr. Amara's practice is focused on the functionality of a person in their life, including relationships, career, physical wellness and living a robust life. She provides primarily medication management but also includes Supportive therapy, Action Oriented therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational interviewing when appropriate. Her style is very approachable, inclusive and always grounded in humanistic values.**THIS PROVIDER CANNOT PRESCRIBE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR LOUISIANA PATIENTS**

Elizabeth Vah, LCSW, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2008 with a master’s degree in clinical social work. She completed her internship at Seton Medical Center, gaining experience in the emergency room and specialty clinics. Elizabeth has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has training in DBT, CBT, mindfulness, solution-focused, and person-centered counseling.

Elizabeth takes a collaborative approach, partnering with patients to clarify goals and create a roadmap for growth. She has supported individuals from diverse backgrounds facing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, interpersonal challenges, and severe mental illness. Her approach blends evidence-based therapies with individualized care, emphasizing a trusting, supportive relationship and a safe, nonjudgmental environment.

In the first session, Elizabeth creates a welcoming space to discuss challenges, goals, and personal history, reviewing confidentiality and treatment structure. Together, she and the patient develop a personalized plan. Ongoing sessions focus on exploring thoughts and feelings, identifying patterns, and practicing skills to support meaningful change, with regular goal review and reflection on progress.

Dr. Michael Gravenstein earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he also completed his psychiatry residency. During training, he was recognized with multiple awards, including the Malcom Randall VA Resident of the Year Award, the Ross A. McElroy Psychotherapy Award, and the John “J.D.” Dorian Award for best sense of humor. He has worked across outpatient, inpatient, and consult liaison settings, and has experience treating a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, personality disorders, and transitional age concerns. He also has expertise working with LGBTQIA+ patients and provides psychodynamic, CBT, and supportive therapies.

Dr. Gravenstein believes in a comprehensive approach to treatment that integrates medications, therapy, and lifestyle interventions. While medications can be very effective, he views them as just one part of a broader treatment plan tailored to each patient’s needs. He emphasizes individualized care and sees treatment as a team effort, meeting patients where they are and progressing at a pace they feel ready for.

Dr. Gravenstein strives to create a warm, collaborative environment that fosters open communication and genuine connection. He may challenge patients therapeutically but always with careful attention to their readiness and comfort. His goal is to build trust so that meaningful conversations and progress can occur. For him, success is always shared—when patients succeed, they succeed together; when challenges arise, they regroup and move forward together.

Dr. Kathryn Hu is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She majored in biology and neuroscience at Brandeis University, attended medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and completed residency training at Stony Brook University Hospital. ‍Dr. Hu practices a patient-centered approach to mental health care. She works collaboratively on goals of treatment, with a focus on medication management while incorporating supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness. ‍Dr. Hu treats a variety of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and ADHD.