Carolyn Benson, MD

Cassandra Thomas-Jingles is a dedicated, board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with dual certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She is deeply passionate about helping others and takes a holistic, evidence-based approach to mental healthcare, empowering patients to live life to their fullest potential.

Her practice focuses on medication management and supportive therapy, offering 30-minute follow-up sessions. When additional therapy is needed, she recommends including a therapist in the care team to ensure the best possible outcomes. With extensive experience in both outpatient and inpatient settings, Cassandra has worked with adults and children facing a wide range of mental health conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, and psychotic disorders. She strongly believes in prioritizing client involvement and fostering interprofessional collaboration.

Your mental health journey is unique, and Cassandra is here to listen with compassion and without judgment. All conversations are confidential, and her goal is to create a safe, welcoming space where you feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and concerns.

During your initial appointment, Cassandra will review your mental health history, current symptoms, lifestyle factors, and any previous treatments to gain a comprehensive understanding of your needs. Together, you will develop a personalized treatment plan that may include therapy, medication, or other supportive strategies. She values shared decision-making, ensuring your input is considered at every step of the process.

If medication is part of your treatment, Cassandra will clearly explain its benefits, potential side effects, and how your progress will be monitored. Adjustments can be made as needed to achieve the best possible outcome.

Healing takes time, and Cassandra is committed to supporting you throughout the process. Follow-up appointments are essential for tracking progress, making necessary adjustments, and ensuring you receive the care you need.

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Dr. Tamoria is a California native whose career has taken him around the country. As a medical student at Temple School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA he worked in a culturally diverse, urban community. He was Chief Resident at the “President’s Hospital” in Washington DC and spent the first part of his career serving as an active-duty Navy psychiatrist helping servicemembers and veterans. After the Navy, he returned west to WA whereas a Medical Director he led one of the state’s most successful behavioral health programs through COVID and into the telehealth revolution. Now he serves as Talkiatry’s first West Coast Chief leading and supporting psychiatrists across the western US.

Dr. Tamoria works with adults to diagnose and treat a wide variety of mental health conditions including Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and more. He uses a combination of medication management and psychotherapy treatment to help patients improve and thrive. He is well experienced in caring for patients with complex histories or co-morbid medical conditions.

In the first appointment with Dr. Tamoria he completes a comprehensive evaluation of mental health symptoms, medical history, social supports, and stressors. He works collaboratively with patients to develop a treatment plan that may include lab tests, managing medications, initiating psychotherapy, or referring to other specialists. Over time he builds on the patient’s strengths and resilience to lead to recovery.

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Dr. Tetyana Tarnavsky is a board-certified psychiatrist trained in Adult Psychiatry. She attended Dnipropetrovsk State Medical Academy in Ukraine where she received her M.D., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Psychiatry. Dr. Tarnavsky completed her residency at Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program in MA, where she was elected chief resident. Dr. Tarnavsky has an extensive research experience in Ukraine and the USA. She had studied computer addiction for her dissertation; had multiple abstracts and presentations; published several articles in peer-reviewed psychiatric journals as well as a book entitled Computer Addiction: Formation, Diagnosis, Correction and Prophylaxis. She has helped organize international conferences with the goal of improving access to and quality of healthcare in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine, and providing a national model for health care reform. Dr. Tarnavsky has worked with a variety of patients with diverse backgrounds in a Community Health Center and in the Partial Hospitalization Program as well as supervised medical students, psychiatry residents, and nurse practitioners. She has been a lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and was involved in the training of psychiatry residents in the Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Training Program. Her primary focus has been on treating adults with depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, ADHD and other disorders. Dr. Tarnavsky strives to provide quality and compassionate treatment to individuals and their families.‍

Dr. Laura Obler is board-certified in adult psychiatry. She received her medical degree from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in Los Angeles, California, where she stayed to complete her psychiatry residency at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience. During residency she received specialized training in reproductive psychiatry (the treatment of women who are considering pregnancy or are pregnant or postpartum) and acted as Chief Resident of the Women's Life Center at UCLA. Dr. Obler has experience working with a diverse group of patients. She has previously worked in community clinics in the greater Los Angeles area and as a staff psychiatrist at UCLA. She prefers a holistic approach to psychiatric treatment and therefore uses a combination of medication management and talking therapies to treat patients. Techniques she may utilize include cognitive behavioral therapy, experiential psychodynamic therapy, mentalization based therapy, and medical hypnosis.

Jennifer Hewitt is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, credentialed through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She earned her master’s degree in nursing from Gonzaga University and has extensive experience treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Her passion for psychiatry and dedication to patient care are rooted in her background as an emergency room nurse and her experience in emergency medical services (EMS). This foundation has given her a unique perspective on the critical role mental health plays in overall well-being.

Jennifer provides compassionate care to adults, children, and adolescents, recognizing that each individual’s path to mental wellness is unique. She believes that while medication can be an important part of treatment, self-care and therapy are equally essential components of a holistic approach.

She is known for her empathetic listening and genuine connection with patients. Through collaboration, she helps individuals set realistic goals and empowers them to take an active role in their recovery. Her kindness and commitment create a supportive environment where patients can thrive on their journey toward mental wellness

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Dr. Richard Rise has created a successful career as a psychiatrist over the past 30 years. He has participated in a variety of treatment settings and has developed a wealth of experience at both prescribing medications, providing therapy, counseling, and even coaching. He takes an individual approach to treating others, recognizing individuals as unique and worthy of love, respect, and acceptance. He is compassionate, non-judgmental, and truly enjoys helping others. He tends to gravitate towards a combination of medication management (if indicated) and psychotherapy where he treats all facets of the individual. Dr. Rise believes that we are all unique and should be treated as such. He spent most of his career in private practice until deciding to retire in 2014. After this he spent the next 3 1/2 years, reading, studying, traveling, and spending time with his loved ones. In 2018 he was offered a position as a consultant overseeing Ketamine infusion therapy for treating treatment-resistant depression. When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, Dr. Rise was asked to assist a local psychiatric hospital deal with the unique and often deadly consequences of the virus. This proved to be a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and to improve the quality of life of many others. After working at the hospital for the 2 years, Dr. Rise joined Talkiatry to continue providing high-quality psychiatric care to others in a very loving, supportive, creative, and collaborative environment.