Catherine Cashman, DO

Dr. Alexandre is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed his psychiatry training both in Brazil and in the United States, where he served as Chief Resident in both programs. He is fluent in both English and Portuguese and is especially attuned to the unique challenges faced by international and immigrant populations. Dr. Alexandre is passionate about helping patients achieve meaningful and sustained improvements in their mental health.

He brings over a decade of experience in mental health care and has a strong foundation in evidence-based treatment. His clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, and cross-cultural psychiatry.

Dr. Alexandre incorporates a collaborative and compassionate approach to care, combining medication management with elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral activation, and interpersonal strategies when appropriate.

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Dr. Natalia Roque is a psychiatrist who received her BA in Biology from the University of Chicago and her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She returned to the University of Chicago to complete her psychiatry residency, where she served as Chief Resident of the outpatient psychiatry clinics and was a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She has experience treating patients across inpatient, outpatient, and consultation-liaison psychiatry settings, with additional training in treatment-resistant depression, trauma, neuropsychiatry, ECT, ketamine, geriatric psychiatry, student counseling, LGBTQ+ mental health, women’s mental health, and culturally sensitive care.

Dr. Roque believes in building a strong therapeutic alliance grounded in empathy, respect, and curiosity. She values collaboration and open communication, ensuring that patients feel like active partners in their care. Her goal is to create a safe, supportive space where individuals feel understood as whole people, not defined solely by their symptoms. She also prioritizes incorporating cultural background and social determinants of health, including financial stressors and systemic barriers into treatment planning.

In her work, Dr. Roque begins by taking time to understand each patient’s unique story, experiences, and goals. She approaches care through a trauma-informed lens and with cultural sensitivity to ensure treatment feels safe, respectful, and relevant. Her process integrates evidence-based approaches, including psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), while tailoring care plans to meet both clinical needs and patient preferences. Dr. Roque regularly checks in on progress, invites feedback, and adjusts treatment collaboratively to support an ongoing, responsive therapeutic process.

Dr. Dave Kopacz studied psychology, medicine, and psychiatry at the University of Illinois. He has over 25 years of clinical experience, most recently 11 years at the Seattle Veterans Affairs and as a national VA Whole Health Education Champion, teaching holistic self-care to staff and veterans. Prior to that, Dr. Kopacz was Clinical Director of a psychiatric rehabilitation center in New Zealand. He has worked in private practice, rural community mental health, and ran a VA tele-health program for Native American/Alaskan and Pasifika veterans.

Dr. Kopacz is board certified in Psychiatry & Integrative Medicine, a certified yoga instructor and a certified iRest (Integrative Restoration) meditation teacher. He is an author and international speaker on topics of burnout, well-being, medical humanities, creativity and health, and cross-cultural approaches to healing. His books include Caring for Self & Others: Transforming Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Soul Loss, and Re-humanizing Medicine. He has also co-authored four books with Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), including Walking the Medicine Wheel: Healing Trauma & PTSD.

"What is your typical process for working with patients?"

Dr. Kopacz combines psychiatric diagnosis with a collaborative and holistic focus on your strengths and personal growth. Combining a psychiatric and self-care assessment, he will help you find a plan for medication, psychotherapy, and well-being work that feels right for you.

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Dr. Lucky Ly is a board-eligible psychiatrist who received his medical degree at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed training in the psychiatric residency program at Millcreek Community Hospital. He has experience treating various psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other related disorders. Dr. Ly uses evidence-based treatments and supportive psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal psychotherapy to help his patients. He encourages open communication and active participation as he believes they are key to successful treatment.

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. Karina Fatova is a board certified psychiatrist who hails from New York City but has made New Orleans her home for the past ten years. She is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and she did her adult psychiatry residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She was proud to have her first position post-residency at the River Oaks Hospital Trauma Unit in New Orleans, LA where she treated patients with Complex PTSD and eating disorders. The Trauma Unit was one of a few of its kind nationally because it provided very specialized treatment that was affordable to many. Dr. Fatova then went on to work at the New Orleans Veterans Affairs Hospital for the last five years in its ambulatory outpatient mental health clinic. Though her passion is Complex Trauma/PTSD, she also regularly saw veteran patients who have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and adjustment disorder. During her five years at the New Orleans VA, she received three special commendations from the director of the VA for feedback from her patients about her effective integrative approach to supportive psychotherapy and medication management. She believes that her rapport with her patients, and their therapeutic work together, is just as important as the medication she prescribes to heal or alleviate their symptoms. Dr Fatova employs psychodynamic therapy techniques, at times, to help those patients who would like to explore childhood experiences that may continue to impact them in their adult lives. With respect to medication management she regularly helps patients target symptoms such as sleep issues, nightmares, persistent worry, emotional dysregulation, frequent mood changes, impulsivity, and "toning down the nervous system," among others. She strongly believes that treatment decisions are best approached as a collaboration between patient and doctor. She sees young adults who are just starting their journey into adulthood, as well as adults who have been navigating life with challenges, which may include untreated, or poorly treated, mental health symptoms. Often, by the time Dr. Fatova sees a patient, they may have lost a significant amount of faith in their mental health doctors, and she is particularly attuned to helping individuals with this type of experience.