Consuelo M Reddick, MD

Dr. Irene Pastis is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in adult psychiatry.  She completed residency training at East Carolina University in both internal medicine and psychiatry.  After residency, she pursued her passion in psychiatry and stayed on as a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at East Carolina University.  In this role she specialized in treating adults with mental illness in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  She has spent a considerable amount of time teaching residents and medical students and has published several papers focusing on the neuroscience pathways of mental health conditions.  In her daily practice, Dr. Pastis focuses on evidence-based treatments utilizing the latest clinical guidelines and current approved treatments.  In addition to medication management, she also incorporates psychotherapy in the treatment of mental health conditions.  Dr. Pastis is passionate about taking a collaborative approach with her patients to help them reach their potential.

Dr. Viga Naik takes a holistic approach when practicing, understanding the importance of an integrative treatment care model. She believes optimal patient care goes beyond psychopharmacology and requires incorporation of psychotherapy and psychosocial intervention. She is a strong advocate for her patients, dedicated to being an educator of mental illness to break self, societal, and systemic stigmas. She believes that a strong therapeutic alliance between clinician and patient is essential. She works on creating a safe and empathetic environment while providing psychoeducation to patients, empowering them to play an active role in their treatment. Dr. Naik is an adult psychiatrist with specializations in Addiction Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, also known as psychosomatic medicine. She completed her residency training at New York Medical College and fellowship training at the Mount Sinai Health Systems located at Bronx Care and Beth Israel Hospital. She has worked in both inpatient and many outpatient specialty clinics such as psych/oncology, transplant, collaborative-care, medication assistance treatment, music and medicine, and gender affirmation surgery treating patients with comorbid mental illness and substance use disorders as well as comorbid mental illness and general medical conditions. Her practice focuses on medication management in combination with supportive therapy and providing psychoeducation to patients. She treats depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, substance use disorders and other associated psychiatric disorders.

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.

Amanda Rivera, PMHNP, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the lifespan, certified by the ANCC in 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a biology minor from Clarkson University, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. Amanda has over 15 years of experience in mental health, beginning in 2010 as a Therapy Aide at Rochester Psychiatric Center. She has practiced across inpatient hospitals, state psychiatric facilities, outpatient community clinics, correctional settings, group homes, and telehealth/private practice. She works with patients ages 16 and older and is highly experienced in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, psychotic and personality disorders, substance use, and parenting challenges. She values working with families to strengthen the family unit.

Amanda values open communication and collaborates with patients to establish clear, meaningful treatment goals. She provides a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take ownership of their mental wellness. Treatment is individualized, with medication decisions guided by a careful balance of safety and symptom relief. Appointments are conversational in nature, allowing care to be more personalized as patients share openly.

Amanda begins each visit by ensuring privacy and safety, then explores the concerns prompting care before gathering a biopsychosocial history through collaborative discussion. She provides education throughout sessions to help patients understand diagnoses and lived experiences. Medication options are discussed based on comfort level and clinical need. Follow-ups are scheduled at the end of each visit, with frequency adjusted as stability is achieved.

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Dr. Leslie Chavez is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with a diverse background in clinical and academic medicine. She completed her medical school and residency at the University of New Mexico, where she later served as a psychiatrist and assistant professor, treating high-need patients and teaching residents and medical students. During the pandemic, she transitioned to telehealth and has been dedicated to this field for the past four years. Dr. Chavez is known for making her patients feel seen and heard, using both medication management and supportive psychotherapy. Dr. Chavez began her academic journey as a physics major at UNM and then studied biophysics at the University of San Diego, California. During her postdoctoral fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratories, she was inspired by presentations about professionals working with patients in African countries, which sparked her interest in medicine. During this time, her father died of cancer, and she saw the impact of mental health therapy on his quality of life, further solidifying her motivation to attend medical school. Witnessing the profound impact of mental health on her patients and family, she specialized in psychiatry. Dr. Chavez is a seasoned psychopharmacologist and emphasizes the importance of nutrition, exercise, and community in mental health. She enjoys all aspects of medicine and combines her extensive knowledge with a patient-centered approach.

Background and credentials

Dr. Faujia Sobhan is a psychiatrist with over 20 years of clinical experience practicing psychiatry in Nebraska and South Florida. She completed her Adult Psychiatry Residency Training at Creighton-Nebraska University.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Sobhan is emphasizes compassionate, comprehensive psychiatric care. Her practice integrates medication management, supportive therapy, and psychoeducation. Dr. Sobhan specializes in treating Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Social Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and ADHD. She emphasizes treating each patient as a whole person, considering life stressors, personal goals, and overall functioning, all within a nurturing and non-judgmental environment.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect their first visit with Dr. Sobhan to be thorough, compassionate, and patient-centered. She takes time to actively listen and fully understand each individual's symptoms, stressors, goals, and personal needs. Dr. Sobhan emphasizes creating a trusting, non-judgmental environment and collaborates closely with patients to develop tailored treatment plans that support them in achieving their optimal mental health and well-being.

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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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