Brett Abernethy, MD

Dr. Micah Turpeau, is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College and completed her psychiatry residency and child & adolescent psychiatry fellowship at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Her training and practice reflect a commitment to supporting patients across the lifespan with individualized, evidence-based care.

Dr. Turpeau strives to create a safe, judgment-free space where patients can share their experiences openly. She encourages honest dialogue so patients feel supported, understood, and fully involved in every decision. Her approach emphasizes evidence-based medication management to reduce symptoms and improve functioning, while maintaining flexibility to adapt strategies as needs and goals evolve.

Dr. Turpeau begins with a collaborative exploration of symptoms, personal history, and goals to establish a clear treatment direction. She tailors care to each individual, balancing medication management with supportive therapy when appropriate. Through shared decision-making, She ensures patients remain active participants in their treatment. By closely monitoring progress and adjusting as needed, She provides care that is both responsive and effective.

Dr. Swagato Bhattacharyya has completed his residency training at Northwell and is a board certified psychiatrist. Dr. Bhattacharyya takes a holistic approach to patient care, establishing strong physician-patient relationships built on trust, respect, and communication. He primarily focuses on medication management and also provides supportive psychotherapy. Treatment sessions will be tailored to work towards a common goal to optimize one's mental well-being. Dr. Bhattacharyya graduated magna cum laude from undergraduate Binghamton University, received his medical degree from NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed his residency in psychiatry at Northwell Mather Hospital. He has trained in various settings, including adult/adolescent psychiatric units and specialty clinics, and has experience in telepsychiatry visits. Dr. Bhattacharyya has experience in treating numerous mental conditions, including depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, ADHD and OCD. Dr. Bhattacharyya also has experience treating patients of diverse cultures, having worked in psychiatric settings in the NYC metro and Long Island area.‍

Tulsie Patel is a board certified psychiatrist who treats adults. She graduated Cum Laude from Drexel University and attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) and was elected to serve as Chief Resident during her final year of training. She has worked as an outpatient psychiatrist in California and Florida and has experience in medication management, individual and group therapy, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). She is dedicated to constantly learning and has previously published numerous articles and book chapters on various topics in the fields of psychiatry, dermatology, and psychodermatology. She is also very passionate about education and medical journalism. During her residency training, she worked at ABC News in New York City as a member of their medical unit. She provided consultation on medical stories for programs including Good Morning America and World News with David Muir. She has published a number of articles on the websites for ABC News and Good Morning America. She also has experience presenting as an on-air expert for ABC News and for mental health podcasts. She is committed to continuously evolving as a provider in order to provide the best care for her patients. Her focus is always to provide patient-centered care by prioritizing open communication and collaboration with her patients. She has experience providing care for a variety of psychiatric illnesses. The conditions she treats include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and ADHD.

Background and credentials

Dr. Sonal Harneja is a board-certified adult psychiatrist specializing in medication management and psychotherapy for anxiety and depressive disorders. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University and her medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (now called the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences). She completed her adult psychiatry residency at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Harneja has held academic appointments at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical College and Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, providing collaborative and client-centered psychiatric care.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Harneja specializes in medication management and supportive psychotherapy, with a strong emphasis on promoting well-being, resilience, and mindfulness. She works closely with patients to develop individualized treatment plans, ensuring that care is collaborative and patient-centered. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she evaluates treatment progress and adjusts care as needed. If additional therapy is beneficial, she may recommend working with a therapist as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Harneja takes time to understand their symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. She prioritizes open communication and trust, working collaboratively to create a personalized care plan that aligns with the patient’s mental health needs. Whether through medication management, therapy, or mindfulness techniques, she aims to foster long-term well-being and emotional resilience.

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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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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.

Dr. Luna Sanchez Rivera holds the position of Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. After completing residency in 2016 at the Ponce Medical School Psychiatry Residency in Puerto Rico, she then moved to North Carolina to complete a subspecialty in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Duke University Health System. There, she transitioned into an assistant professor position, focused on structuring pediatric emergency psychiatric services, and helped support the consult and liaison pediatric service. Her years of experience have included working as an integrated care child psychiatrist within outpatient clinics at Duke University Health System, and she trained and worked as a staff psychiatrist at the Inpatient State Facility in North Carolina. She also served in the Dayton Children's Hospital outpatient clinics in Dayton, Ohio, the Appalachian Health System outpatient clinics in Linville, North Carolina, and more recently has been serving the Child and Adolescent inpatient population in Bangor, Maine. Dr. Sanchez Rivera has an approachable style aimed at providing a comprehensive evaluation for all age ranges and is comfortable managing various levels of diagnostic complexities. She provides supportive psychotherapy while using psychodynamic therapy skills to clarify her patient's constellation of symptoms, identify unifying themes and provide thorough psychoeducation throughout the process to drive positive outcomes. She integrates psychodynamic medication management approaches and is adept at family therapy interventions.