Candace Gillespie, LPC

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Dr. Batson is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who has been in practice for over 20 years. At the heart of Dr. Batson's approach to clinical care is a deep understanding, both professionally and personally, of the effects of trauma and stress on our brains, our bodies and our lived experience. She helps every patient understand the events that have led them to where they are and to find the path to recovery for strength and healing. While Dr. Batson's professional career has spanned the breadth of mental health care, she specializes in helping patients who suffer from the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive behaviors, phobias and depressive disorders. Many of these patients also suffer from debilitating physical conditions such as chronic pain, muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms and other physical manifestations of a chronically activated stress response. Dr. Batson's experience has taught her that these conditions can be treated, and even cured, with a tailored approach of psychopharmacology and mind-body psychotherapeutic approaches to healing. Dr. Batson received a bachelor's degree in European Studies from Vanderbilt University, a medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and completed a combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is board-certified by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her clinical experience treating patients spans the breadth of mental health care delivery, including community mental health care of severe and persistent mental illness, consult-liaison psychiatry, inpatient care on combined medical and psychiatric hospital units and telehealth psychiatry. For over 10 years, she has been specializing in helping patients with stress/trauma-induced physical symptoms caused by neural pathways in the brain; most of these patients are able to significantly decrease and even cure their symptoms. Dr. Batson enjoys meeting new patients and looks forward to learning your Life Story. When not at work, she enjoys all things outdoors - gardening, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and learning about the natural world.

Elena Perea, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Elena Perea is a board-certified psychiatrist. She completed her undergraduate training at Wake Forest University followed by medical school and residency training at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

Dr. Perea holds an adjunct academic appointment at UNC and has been involved in medical education for her entire career. She most recently served as Residency Program Director for the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) psychiatry residency in Asheville, NC. She remains involved in didactic education there for both residents and medical students.

She has a genuine interest in treating a vast array of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and obsessive compulsive and related disorders. She is a skilled psychopharmacologist and interested in the mind-body connection. She believes physical health greatly affects mental health and vice versa and loves helping patients with medical comorbidities to feel well.

Patients looking for a psychiatrist will find that Dr. Perea has a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and management of her patients. She believes in the principle that body and mind are interconnected and utilizes psychoeducation and psychotherapeutic approaches in addition to medications for total wellness.

Thomas Reis, LICSW

Staff Therapist

Thomas Reis is a clinical social worker, independently licensed in Massachusetts. He has 12 years of experience working as a psychotherapist providing psychotherapy to adults both in an outpatient setting and through telehealth. Thomas has experience working with anxiety and mood disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and stress. He specializes in helping people navigate challenging life transitions, existential crisis, addictions, including chemical, behavioral, and process addictions. Thomas helps others empower themselves to improve their self-esteem and the quality of their relationships by teaching healthy boundaries, assertive communication, and active listening skills. By utilizing and teaching strategies and interventions from Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Thomas takes a client-centered approach while working with his clients. He enjoys his work and is passionate about helping people who want help. He attempts to empower clients to work toward achieving their own individual goals at their own pace while being empathetic and open-minded. Thomas works with his clients to create an open and safe environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared without fear of judgment.

Carmen Orellana Martinez, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Carmen Orellana is a Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry who has been in practice for over 6 years, both in the U.S. and abroad. She is double board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry. Dr. Orellana's practice focuses on medication management. She strives to provide exceptional medical care and has extensive experience in treating persons with diverse behavioral disorders and backgrounds. Dr.Orellana involves her patients in all decisions about their health, and provides care that is respectful of patient preferences, needs, and values. Typically, she would recommend evidence-based treatments to her patients and may, occasionally, believe that concurrent therapy is also needed. She would ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr.Orellana received her medical degree from Universidad Evang�lica de El Salvador. Dr. Orellana completed a residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Southern University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. After completing her training, Dr. Orellana remained in the school, where she worked as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, supervising and teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, and treating patients with various psychiatric conditions. Dr. Orellana has experience in treating treatment-resistant mood disorders with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).‍

Allison Holt, MD

National Medical Director

Dr. Allison Holt is an experienced, board-certified child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist who has worked in mental health care in a variety of settings, including health care administration, academia, inpatient psychiatry, private practice outpatient care, forensic and disability evaluations, correctional psychiatry, eating disorder care, and ECT. Dr. Holt is dedicated to providing patients with a relaxed, trusting environment that encourages dialogue and instills the freedom to pursue healing and growth. With empathy, patience and an approachable style, she helps patients see their future with fresh eyes � and develop a plan that will accomplish their goals for change. While medical expertise forms the foundation of Dr. Holt's treatment, her warmth and a sense of compassion are often key motivating factors for patient change and success. Dr. Holt treats a wide variety of needs and illnesses in children, adolescents, and adults, including depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders, attention disorders, trauma related disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Through a patient-centered mix of evidence-based treatments, including medication, psychotherapy, and patient education, she helps her patients understand their options and create appropriate treatment plans that empower them to move toward positive change. Dr. Holt received her medical degree from Ohio State University. She completed a General Psychiatry Residency Program (with extra emphasis in addiction and forensic psychiatry), and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship, at the University of Minnesota. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Holt was the Physician Chief of the Mental Health and Addiction Service Line at M Health Fairview, the largest provider of mental health care in Minnesota. At the same time she was the Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs at the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Holt has been awarded "Top Doctor" by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine every year from 2014 to 2022. She was president of the Minnesota Psychiatric Society 2020-2021, and was also the co-editor of the Minnesota Psychiatric Society's newsletter, Ideas of Reference, from 2010-2019.

Alysha Wilbanks, LCSW

Staff Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Alysha Wilbanks is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. After completing her Master's internship with Lutheran Social Services working with families, children, and adults with mental health concerns, Alysha worked with adults with addiction and mental health concerns in an inpatient detox and rehabilitation hospital. She then transitioned to working at Mayo Clinic as an outpatient psychotherapist working with all ages. Alysha has been providing psychotherapy through telehealth online since the beginning of the pandemic. Alysha specializes in working with teens, people with addiction, and people with a trauma history. Her style is laid-back and approachable when treating individuals who suffer from various diagnoses. She provides supportive psychotherapy and utilizes psychodynamic therapy skills to address the patient's current stressors and identify the root of their concern.

Prit Patel, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Prit Patel is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He obtained his medical degree from the University of South Florida and subsequently completed his residency training at the University of Texas at Austin and Northwell Health's Zucker Hillside Hospital. During his training, Dr. Patel also served as chief resident of Zucker's Hillside Hospital's outpatient psychiatric department. Following his training, Dr. Patel has previously worked at New York Presbyterian's Gracie Square Hospital, where he served as an inpatient psychiatrist treating a variety of mental health conditions, utilizing a combination of medication management and therapeutic techniques in helping those experiencing distress due to their conditions. Throughout his training and career thus far, Dr. Patel has received several awards for his clinical care and contribution to medical and psychiatric education, such as Zucker Hillside's Psychiatric Educator award. Dr. Patel has also contributed to medical research in the domains of psychiatry and LGBTQ+ healthcare .Dr. Patel has an interest in not only treating disorders but also helping patients improve their overall well-being. He treats a variety of conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and trauma-related disorders, through the use of medication and therapy. He has particular experience and interest in treating LGBTQ+ patients as well as young professionals and young adults.

Gira Borad, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Borad is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and has specialized in Addiction Psychiatry. She finished her residency at the WVU campus of Charleston, WV, and finished the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at UPMC/Western Psychiatry Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. She has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at WVU of Charleston, where she was involved in working with residents in inpatient and outpatient settings, provided psychiatric consult services to hospitalized patients, and was part of the Outpatient Comprehensive Opioid treatment program where she provided Medication Assisted Treatment for patients with substance use disorders. She has an interest in treating patients with mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Borad has a special interest in treating individuals having a substance use history and struggling to quit, and has expertise in treating patients with a dual diagnosis of substance use with other psychiatric conditions. She primarily does medication management, in addition to providing some supportive therapy and motivational interviewing to her patients in her 30-minute follow-up appointments. In addition, she may suggest bringing in a therapist to add to your care if clinically necessary.

Juliet Nichols-Nicolescu, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Juliet Nichols has been a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2002 and has been practicing psychiatry for over 25 years. While an expert in psychopharmacology, Dr. Nichols has an integrative approach to treatment and she often incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques when appropriate, tailoring every treatment to each patient's individual needs. She completed her Psychiatry residency at Stony Brook-SUNY and Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Over the last two decades, Dr. Nichols served as an attending psychiatrist at JT Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, where she became proficient in delivering stellar psychiatric care in a variety of settings. She specializes in treating adult and geriatric mental illnesses, including: Depression, Anxiety Disorders (eg, OCD, Panic Disorder, GAD, PTSD), ADHD, and Cognitive Disorders in the elderly. Dr. Nichols strives to help her patients gain insights into their inner conflicts, unveil their strengths, accept their limitations, and build their coping skills. Her approach is dynamic, straightforward, and empathic so patients always feel safe, understood, and at ease. She engages the patient to be an active participant in treatment decision-making, creating a strong therapeutic alliance.‍

Maria Orejarena, MD, PhD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Orejarena is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She finished her residency from Yale University and the University of Texas Houston. She has done extensive research on psychiatry during her PhD in Neuropsychopharmacology and a Master's in Neuroscience. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. She incorporates different therapy modalities and evidence-based treatments, tailored to each person's needs. She enjoys applying her knowledge in neuroscience and pharmacology into her clinical practice and believes a combination of medication and psychotherapy yields the best treatment outcomes. Her ultimate goal is to help patients feel their best and accomplish their own goals by developing tools to navigate internal or external obstacles that are part of life. Dr. Orejarena is originally from Colombia, where she earned her medical degree from Universidad Industrial de Santander. She pursued a Master's in Neuroscience at the University of Barcelona and a PhD in Neuropharmacology at the Universidad Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. Her PhD thesis was honored summa cum laude. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship training at the Institut de Neurobiologie de la M�diterran�e in Marseille, France. She is the author of multiple peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at national and international meetings. Over the years, she has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, acute care, psychiatric hospitals as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center.‍‍

Gregory Miller, DO

Staff Psychiatrist

Gregory Miller, DO, is an adult psychiatrist who prioritizes understanding his patients by first listening to their stories. He collaborates with them to develop both pharmacological and non-pharmacological solutions aimed at improving their functionality. Dr. Miller emphasizes that functioning better often leads to feeling better. Whenever possible, he approaches treatment within the context of the family system surrounding the individual. Raised in South Carolina, and now residents of Florida, Dr. Miller and his wife of 31 years have six children. He enjoys outdoor activities and team sports and is an avid fan of Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. He at times incorporates analogies from their works into therapy if appropriate.

Peter McGowan, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. McGowan is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 14 years of experience, during which time he primarily treated active-duty US Navy sailors, their family members, and military retirees in the outpatient setting. His practice focuses on medication management in addition to supportive and cognitive-behavioral therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. He is a strong advocate of multiple treatment modalities and, in certain situations, may suggest that therapy and/or regular physical exercise be included in your treatment plan to provide the best outcome. He received his B.S. in Physics from the United States Naval Academy. After serving as an Intelligence Officer in the Navy for eight years, he transitioned to medicine and earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. After completing an intern year in Family Medicine, Dr. McGowan completed residency training in Psychiatry at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA, where he remained on staff for the next ten years and was primarily involved in resident training and education. He held academic appointments at the Uniformed Services University and Eastern Virginia Medical School and served as the Psychiatry Residency Program Director for six years. He served his final four years in uniform running the behavioral health department at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA. He recently retired from the Navy after a 30-year career. Dr. McGowan has extensive experience in outpatient psychiatric care. In addition to the full spectrum of mood and anxiety disorders, he has treated a very large number of patients with PTSD stemming from combat, natural disasters, and sexual trauma. He believes that, like his service to the country, working alongside others in their journey to better mental health is an incredible privilege.

Candace Gillespie, LPC

Education and training

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