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Christa DeFries, MD

Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
Conditions Treated
Anxiety
Depression
LGBTQIA+
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma
Phobias
Tics/Tourette Syndrome
Medication Management

Education and training

  • Wellesley College, BA
  • UT Southwestern Medical Center, MD
  • Baylor Scott and White Texas A&M College of Medicine, Residency

Get to know

Christa DeFries, MD

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Christa DeFries is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist. She earned her  medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and  completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at Baylor Scott & White in  Temple, Texas. Following residency, Dr. DeFries gained additional experience  treating homeless and formerly homeless populations in New York City,  particularly focusing on individuals with histories of trauma and substance  addiction, prior to joining Talkiatry.    

Treatment approach    

Dr. DeFries practices Adult Psychiatry, employing an integrative treatment  approach combining medication management, psychotherapeutic methods, and  lifestyle modifications. She recognizes that each patient benefits from a  personalized mix of these three aspects of care. Dr. DeFries specializes in  treating diverse psychiatric conditions, including those related to trauma,  substance addictions, and various mental health disorders.    

What you can expect in a first visit    

In a first visit with Dr. DeFries, patients can expect a comprehensive  evaluation aimed at understanding their individual mental health history,  specific concerns, and overall treatment goals. Dr. DeFries emphasizes an  individualized approach, carefully exploring the best combination of  medication, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments tailored specifically to each  patient's needs. Patients can anticipate an empathetic and collaborative  environment focused on their personal experiences and goals.    

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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Angie Catlin, PMHNP

Staff Nurse Practitioner

Angie Catlin DNP has been working in mental health for over a decade. She has experience working inpatient, outpatient, and intensive outpatient clinics. She has also worked as a provider in residential care centers and long-term care. She began as a BSN nurse, after graduating from Pittstate University in Kansas, in the critical care field before finding psychiatry at an inpatient child and adolescent hospital. Working with young patients in crisis led her to want to continue her education to become a psychiatric provider to address lack of access to care for those with mental health needs. Angie continued to help ensure those in need have access to care, and assisting her patients obtain the best outcomes became her passion.

She then enrolled in a dual master’s program to obtain her Master’s in Nursing and Master’s in Business for health care administration as she wanted to gather as much knowledge as she could on the barriers to care and to address those barriers. After finishing her dual Master’s with a MSN and MBA/HA from University of Phoenix, she enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at University of Missouri in Columbia to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. While in her Doctorate program she completed residencies in rural outpatient clinics, urban outpatient clinics, and nursing homes to understand the barriers for patients of all age groups in each level of care. Since graduating from Mizzou, Angie maintained her zealousness in making care available to all; working with diverse populations in every setting. She enjoys reading up on the latest research pertinent to her clients, including new medications and treatments on the horizon. Angie is an avid football fan and enjoys cooking, reading, live music, and spending quality time with her family including her Saint Bernard and two English bull dogs during her downtime.

Angie Catlin DNP has worked with patients suffering from anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD personality disorders, learning disabilities, insomnia, Autism, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s and dementia, Parkinson’s, Psychosis, Depression, Schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia. Angie has always been an advocate for those with mental health issues and is willing to do what is needed to help patient’s feel supported, educating her patients on current treatments and treatment options, and best practices. Moreover, Angie advocates for LGBT issues and understands the issues facing those who are LGBT in society.

She is compassionate about the care she provides as she wants patients to achieve their best life. She will always spend time with patients discussing medications to ensure decisions are a team decision between patient and provider. She has always included counseling and education as part of her practice to ensure her patient receive best evidenced based outcomes She believes that psychiatric care decisions should be made with the patient, not for the patient, so patients feel heard respected and understood.

Angie Catlin DNP begins her sessions with new patients by gathering a thorough history including family history, medical history, surgical history, medication and psychiatric history. This ensures that the whole patient is treated and their entire histories are considered in influencing how the patient came to her and what their issues may be. Angie is careful to listen to each patient and assess what is important to them along with goals they may have for their treatment. Angie collaborates with her patients in a team approach to develop treatment plans that the patient feels comfortable with in achieving their goals.  

She values open communication and individualized treatment plans that focus on each patient’s needs and the barriers they face helping to address those barriers so patients can achieve to live their best lives. Angie wants the best for all patients she treats and accepts her patients as they are and supports what they believe is vital to their needs. Angie is a firm believer that the patient knows what works for them and is always patient centered in her approach.

Jenny Joseph, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Jenny Joseph is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and completed her adult psychiatry residency at New York Medical College at Metropolitan Hospital Center. She has experience working with diverse patient populations and treating a range of psychiatric conditions.

Treatment approach

Dr. Joseph specializes in medication management for various psychiatric conditions, including mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. She employs a patient-centered approach that emphasizes empathy, open communication, and collaboration. In addition to pharmacological treatment, she incorporates psychoeducation and supportive therapy to help patients better understand and manage their conditions. When beneficial, she may recommend additional therapy and coordinate care with a therapist to ensure comprehensive treatment.

What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough evaluation that explores their symptoms, treatment history, and personal goals. Dr. Joseph takes the time to listen and understand each patient's needs, ensuring that their treatment plan is tailored to their specific concerns. She provides a compassionate and structured approach to medication management while fostering a collaborative environment where patients feel supported in their mental health journey.

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.

Lopa Rana, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Lopa Rana, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who has been practicing for over 29 years. Dr. Rana completed her medical school at B.J Medical College, Ahmedabad, India. Her Psychiatry training was at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has practiced in varied settings, like being a faculty at SUNY Buffalo, a Private practice in a suburban town of Detroit, Michigan, for 4 years. She, then held a Senior Psychiatrist position at Henry Ford Behavioral Health for 14 years, in Michigan. She has been an Associate Professor at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. In the recent years, Dr. Ranahasd has been overseeing Outpatient Behavioral health at the Corewell Health William Beaumont hospital for the past 10 years. Throughout her career, she has been training and supervising Psychiatry Residents and Medical Students. Apart from being competent in the management of common Psychiatric conditions like Major Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychotic disorders and ADHD, she has an expertise in Advanced Psychopharmacology with a specialty interest in Psychiatric disorders during the pregnancy and the postpartum period. She has almost 2 decades of experience in helping women manage the course of their Mood and Anxiety disorders during and after pregnancy. She has been the consultant for Maternal Fetal Medicine and Obstetricians at Corewell Health for women who have questions and concerns regarding planning, managing, and guiding them during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Rana has performed several Zulresso (Brexanolone) infusions for women with severe postpartum depression, with remarkable outcomes. Dr. Rana values greatly the safety of the customized treatment options for her patients and informed decision making with her patients. Apart from English, she is fluent in Gujarati and Hindi languages.

Deborah Bearman, PMHNP

Staff Nurse Practitioner

Deborah Bearman, PMHNP, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to helping individuals facing mental health challenges live more fulfilling lives.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in psychiatry from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Deborah is trained in psychiatric diagnosis, medication management, and both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies. Over the past 10 years, she has gained valuable experience in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, community mental health clinics, and private practice.

Deborah approaches adult mental health from a holistic perspective, combining medication management with supportive counseling, which she offers during 30-minute follow-up sessions. While her primary focus is medication management, she believes most individuals benefit from therapy as well. She has extensive experience in both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies and is committed to providing psychoeducation to patients, families, and caregivers.

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Deborah values the therapeutic relationship and its positive impact on daily functioning. By working collaboratively with patients to create comprehensive and effective treatment plans, she supports them in achieving healthier, more satisfying lives.

Deborah Edelman, DO

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Edelman is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Board Eligible in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She completed her psychiatry residency training at the Medical College of Georgia and SUNY Downstate, followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at SUNY Downstate. Throughout her career, Dr. Edelman has practiced in various clinical environments, including inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric units, academic outpatient treatment clinics for adults and children, emergency psychiatric settings, and community psychiatry. She has over seven years of experience.

Treatment approach

Dr. Edelman utilizes a collaborative, supportive, and patient-centered approach, combining pharmacotherapy with therapeutic modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, supportive therapy, and interpersonal therapies. She treats a wide variety of conditions, including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, learning disorders, substance use disorders, PTSD, and schizophrenia. Her goal is to partner closely with patients to meet their specific needs, achieve their personal goals, and enhance their overall quality of life.

What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect their initial visit with Dr. Edelman to include a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, during which she takes the time to understand each patient's individual concerns, goals, and history. She emphasizes collaborative planning of treatment, carefully integrating medications and tailored therapeutic interventions. Patients will experience a compassionate and supportive atmosphere designed to set clear expectations and foster progress toward their personal mental health goals.

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.

Syed Abbasi, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Syed Abbasi is an adult psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate education at Rutgers University and earned his medical degree at Ross University. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center with training at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, additionally as Chief Resident at Columbia University's Outpatient Adult Psychiatry Eye-6 clinic. Dr. Abbasi is passionate about and experienced in providing holistic, thoughtful, evidence-based care for patients with depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma-related disorders, relationship issues and struggles with self-image. He believes empathy and understanding are the most fundamental components of the doctor-patient relationship. He provides psychiatric medication management and integrates supportive psychotherapy, elements of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), stress management techniques and lifestyle interventions to meet patients where they are and collaborate toward improvement and optimization of their wellness. Occasionally, when appropriate, he may recommend adding a therapist to your care team for further benefit.

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Specialties
Anxiety
Depression
LGBTQIA+
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma
Phobias
Tics/Tourette Syndrome
Medication Management
States
New York
Texas
California
Languages
English
Takes insurance
Virtual visits
1 years experience