Benjamin Adler, DO

Mary Poupon is an experienced board certified psychiatric APRN/psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 30 years' experience in her field. She completed her graduate work at Columbia University and is published in her field. Her practice sites have included inpatient hospital treatment, partial hospital programs, in-home programs, outpatient clinics and alternative therapy including equine assisted therapy.  She was the program director and clinician with the Ryan White Mental Health Program in New York providing innovative mental health treatment for adolescents and adults living with HIV/AIDS in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.  In 2013 she became certified as an equine assisted psychotherapist and served as the Director of Mental Health at Embrace Hope in Sandy Hook, CT. She was appointed as the Executive Director of Embrace Hope in 2017. Embrace Hope provided treatment to children, adolescents and adults who were victims of trauma related to the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. She presented a TED x talk in 2018 regarding her work with victims of trauma. She has provided treatment in the outpatient setting for children, teens, and adults. She has provided treatment to young adults at the Covenant House New York shelter program for homeless young adults.

Mary believes the human spirit is resilient. There are many challenges in the lifespan and self-care is paramount to success.

Mary provides psychiatric consultation and assessment and provides a pathway to change. Treatment may include medication management, therapy, and coping skills to assist with life challenges. Mary believes treatment is a partnership and believes in establishing mutually agreed upon goals.

Mary's process for working with patients begins with active listening. The assessment begins with the patient describing why they are seeking engagement in behavioral health treatment at this time. She will complete a psychiatric assessment and evaluation and establish mutually agreed upon goals for treatment. She offers medication management in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Mary believes therapy and medication management if indicated together provides the best treatment outcomes.

Dr. Ocean Workman, MD, has experience in outpatient, inpatient, and psychiatric emergency settings. They earned their medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed residency in psychiatry at the University of Washington, where they served as Outpatient Chief Resident and completed an area of distinction in psychotherapy. Dr. Workman also holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance from Logan University and is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher trained in Rishikesh, India. They have a special interest in serving LGBTQIA+, kink/sex-positive, and non-monogamous communities.

Dr. Workman’s style is warm, collaborative, and grounded in respect for each patient’s individuality. They combine evidence-based and personalized treatments that may include medication management, psychotherapy (ACT, DBT, CBT, psychodynamic, and supportive modalities), and holistic wellness approaches. Dr. Workman strives to create a safe, affirming space where patients can explore and grow in ways aligned with their values.

In the initial sessions, Dr. Workman conducts a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s goals, values, history, and concerns. Together, they develop a tailored treatment plan that reflects the patient’s unique needs, emphasizing shared decision-making and ongoing collaboration.

Dr. Stephen Byrd is a clinical psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board-certified in both psychiatry and addiction medicine. He has been practicing for over 31 years in a wide variety of settings, including working with inpatients and outpatients in private practice, community mental health, geriatric, VA, and community hospital/medical center settings. Dr. Byrd's practice focuses on evidence-based medication management, usually provided in conjunction with 30-minute supportive psychotherapy, which is informed by cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and motivational enhancement. When more intensive therapy is needed, Dr Byrd may ask you to include a therapist as part of your care team. He received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and completed his residency training in psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland. Throughout his career, he has treated patients with a wide variety of conditions in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Additionally, He has served as director of inpatient geropsychiatry at Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, program manager of the substance abuse treatment program at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and medical director of outpatient behavioral health at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho. Throughout his career, Dr. Byrd has been active in training medical students and psychiatry residents, and he has held clinical teaching appointments at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, University of Washington School of Medicine, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine.�.�

Dr. Ann Landowne is Board Certified in Adult, Adolescent, and Child Psychiatry. She has over thirty-five years of experience helping people of all ages cope with a wide range of problems. Dr. Landowne received her medical and psychiatric training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and advanced training in psychotherapy at the Psychoanalytic Association of New York where she is on the faculty. She focuses on medication management and is holistic in her approach to people and the difficulties they face in life. She has expertise in the treatment of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems, and people struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and eating disorders.�

Dr. Peppers works with patients to meet the goals that matter to them. She believes that feeling heard and being understood are key factors in a successful treatment relationship.

She has been working in telehealth since 2018. She has worked extensively with patients dealing with trauma from childhood abuse, assaults, combat, and accidents. She also has a lot of experience treating depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and personality disorders.

After completing her training, Dr. Peppers worked in private practice and in various roles for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She most enjoys working in the clinic because of the long term follow-up.        

Dr. Peppers enjoys her work and includes psychotherapy in her appointments. She offers medication options to treat symptoms but also works with patients to examine behaviors and defenses that may be contributing to their problems. For patients who would benefit from more extensive psychotherapy, she may refer patients to a therapist and work collaboratively with the therapist.

She starts off with a thorough evaluation to make a diagnosis. Then, she works with patients to determine what their treatment goals are and develops a treatment plan to meet those goals.

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.