Daniel Weiss, MD

Cynthia has been a licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2018. Cynthia's current experience as a therapist includes working with children in school settings as well as in the community and adults from all walks of life such as active duty military service members and their dependents, young professionals new in their career, retirees who are attempting to balance life, health and age related challenges and college students in their first year of their undergraduate degree, to graduate students and students newly enrolled in medical or law school. Prior to 2018, Cynthia worked for 23 years with the department of social services assisting families with economic challenges by connecting them with government programs and community resources to help them improve their lives and the lives of their family members. Cynthia has extensive experience working with individuals and families from many diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Cynthia uses a down-to-earth, holistic approach to therapy. She believes if the body is not well, the mind cannot become well. Cynthia will evaluate your bodies wellbeing using an inquisitive approach and she will make suggestions and/or referrals to specialists, when necessary. Cynthia will provide you a safe and non-judgmental space to be yourself, to allow you to heal and grow. It will be Cynthia's mission to get you well as quickly as possible. Therapy will be tailored to the individual using a combination of a person-centered approach in order to empower the individual, focusing on them being the story teller; a solution-focused approach because the individual is the expert of themselves and they know their own abilities; and a strength-based approach in order to tap into the inner strengths and skills that embody the individual.

In the first session Cynthia will spend some time getting to know what happened to you to cause you to decide to start therapy. She will inquire about your childhood, family, culture, current health concerns and want to know what your hobbies are, and she will delve into what your typical day looks like from your wake/sleep cycle to what you typically eat and do during the day. Cynthia will ask you, what are your goals for therapy? Cynthia will work collaboratively with you to create a treatment plan that is SMART-specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time sensitive.

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Dr. Mousavi holds the position of attending psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is Board certified in adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 6 years. Dr. Mousavi's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, she offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow up visits. Dr. Mousavi may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. She has completed her residency at Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College. She has experience of working in private practice at the Institute for Family Therapy in Miami. She has also worked as an outpatient psychiatrist at Montefiore in NY and INOVA outpatient clinic in Virginia.

Dr Cardiel- Sam is Board Certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed undergraduate training at University of Miami followed by medical school at St. Georges University. He has completed Residency in Psychiatry at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center and fellowship training for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Penn State University.  

His training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has given him a unique perspective on mental illness. He has found that these conditions rarely start in adulthood, but rather, are a product of multiple factors and years of lived experience. For this reason, Dr Cardiel- Sam approaches his patients through a trauma informed lens; an acknowledgement of the unique story and challenges that each individual has faced. He is comfortable treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and many more.

Working with Dr Cardiel- Sam, you can expect holistic and collaborative psychiatric treatment. He believes that medication along with therapeutic treatment should fit seamlessly into a patient’s life, with minimal inconvenience. He strives to empower patients in shared medical decision making, making time to explain risks/benefits and alternatives for treatment.

Dr. Blackwood was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She completed medical school as well as General Psychiatry Residency and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. She went to the College of Charleston for undergraduate studies and double majored in Psychology and Spanish. Dr. Blackwood is the first member of her family to become a physician. Her passion for mental health and her desire to help others are what paved the way for her to become a well-trained and highly motivated psychiatrist.

While working together, Dr. Blackwood will get to know you and will be open to you sharing as much or as little about yourself as you would like. Her goal is to create a safe, judgement-free space where you will feel comfortable and heard. When it comes to mental health, Dr. Blackwood understands that having a strong therapeutic alliance is equally as important as accurate diagnosing and medication management.

Dr. Blackwood strongly believes in a patient-centered model, in which medical decision-making is driven by patient preferences. Her job is to empower patients to make informed decisions regarding their mental health. Dr. Blackwood provides a platform with a no-judgement zone for you to feel safe during your appointments.

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Ana Castro, LMHC received a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Queens College, City University of New York. She completed training at F.E.G.S and has worked in community mental health and outpatient hospital-based settings. Ana has 7 years of experience working with individuals as well as with children and families treating anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues, and other mental health issues. Ana uses methods from psychoanalysis, CBT, DBT, along with light supportive therapy in order to provide a person-centered approach. She began by working at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center, working with individuals, as well as children and families in a high-risk area, providing family therapy, psychodynamic and behavioral therapy, and assisting with the coordination of care with outside agencies. Ana has worked at St. Joseph's Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic treating patients with various psychiatric illnesses. She has also worked at St. Vincent's- Westchester Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, providing intake, diagnosis, and individual therapy to a population ranging from adolescents to late adults. Ana continues to work towards expanding her knowledge of evidence-based approaches in order to provide the best outcomes.

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Andrew Lelin is a board-certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. He  received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's  in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics from Stony Brook  University. Dr. Lelin earned his medical degree from Hofstra-Northwell School  of Medicine and completed his residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson School  of Medicine, where he specialized in advanced psychopharmacology with diverse  patient populations. He also has extensive training and experience in  psychotherapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic therapy,  cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal therapy, and cognitive  processing therapy. Following his training, Dr. Lelin provided inpatient  consultation and crisis intervention services in New York City.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Lelin employs a compassionate, humanistic approach designed to align  closely with his patients' personal goals and values. His method integrates  advanced psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic techniques such as  psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, habit-reversal, and cognitive processing  therapies. He aims to carefully balance diagnosis, avoiding both  overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, to ensure precise and tailored care. Dr.  Lelin’s approach is particularly effective in addressing conditions like  anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma-related issues, and other  psychiatric conditions.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

During the initial visit, patients can expect a comprehensive, detailed  evaluation designed to thoroughly understand their individual experiences and  needs. Dr. Lelin prioritizes establishing a compassionate and comfortable  environment where patients can openly discuss their concerns and goals. This  initial assessment is followed by meticulous and thoughtful follow-ups,  providing clarity and direction in the treatment process.    

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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.