Deborah Ford, PMHNP

Akif A. Khawaja M.D. is a Clinical General Psychiatrist. He has worked in this field since graduating and obtaining his residency from the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Neurology and Behavioral Sciences in 1996. He has worked mostly with adults ranging from 18 to 90 years of age. He has served as a director of Intensive Outpatient Programs in the state of Mississippi. He currently focuses on medical management of patients above 50 years of age and has served as a director of Geriatric Psychiatric Units.

He has a particular interest in treating mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders, including ADHD. Patients working with him can expect thorough and detailed appointments, as he places special emphasis on gathering comprehensive medical and psychiatric histories, including specific dates of past treatments. During initial visits, he carefully reviews previous medical interventions, particularly procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

His approach prioritizes thorough evaluations to ensure accurate diagnoses. He strongly believes that honesty is essential for achieving the best possible treatment outcomes.

Dr. Schwartz is a board-certified Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He completed his residency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey, where he excelled in his leadership and knowledge, becoming the Chief Resident in just his third year of residency at the busiest outpatient behavioral health clinic in New Jersey. Upon completion of his third year of residency, he went on to become Chief Academic Resident of his program, which allowed him to bestow his knowledge of psychiatry on younger psychiatrists in training. After completing his residency in General Psychiatry, he went on to complete a fellowship in the prestigious Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, based primarily out of the Beth Israel location. During this fellowship he studied Consultation-liaison psychiatry, also known as psychosomatic medicine. It is an exciting subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the care of patients with comorbid psychiatric and general medical conditions. Consultation-liaison psychiatry deals with the understanding and advancement of medical science, education, and the provision of healthcare for medically ill and complex patients. Using his training, Dr. Schwartz can focus on using his extensive medication knowledge to help treat an array of psychiatric disorders. Despite medication management, he also works on a holistic approach to psychiatry, including working with the patient to get the proper therapy services when clinically indicated. During the initial interview, a thorough assessment is done, including any medical and psychiatric history, medications you may be currently taking, and supplements before any medication is dispensed. Using his knowledge in psychiatry and consult-liaison psychiatry, Dr. Schwartz's interests include depression, anxiety, ADHD, obsessive compulsive and related disorders, transgender patients on hormone therapies and post-surgical transition. He also has an extensive interest in medical illnesses with a psychiatric component such as cancer patients, transplant, HIV, and many others alike. He looks forward to working with you to enhance your emotional well-being.

Dr. Vitaly Chernish is a board-certified psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where he also completed his psychiatry residency training. Following residency, he relocated to New York City and worked at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. He also held an academic appointment as Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Chernish specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Dr. Chernish strives to create a therapeutic environment that balances empathy and compassion with structure and clinical clarity. Patients can expect a thoughtful, respectful approach that prioritizes understanding their concerns while providing clear guidance and evidence-based recommendations.

Initial visits involve a comprehensive evaluation of psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial history, current symptoms, and medication use to ensure care is individualized and appropriate. Dr. Chernish emphasizes collaborative, multidisciplinary treatment and regularly coordinates care with primary care physicians, specialists, and therapists when clinically indicated.

Leanne Booth is a board-certified Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who brings over two decades of experience in psychiatric nursing and advanced practice care. She offers a warm, collaborative approach grounded in empathy and whole-person care. Clients describe her as calm, attentive, and deeply compassionate, and she aims to create a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel heard, respected, and understood.

Leanne believes that trust and honesty are the foundation of effective treatment. She values open dialogue and strives to meet clients where they are, without judgment. Her approach is person-centered and trauma-informed, with a focus on empowering clients in their care decisions. She works closely with each patient to understand their goals, preferences, and challenges, while offering evidence-based treatment tailored to individual needs.

In sessions, Leanne blends medication management with supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and motivational interviewing. She takes a holistic view of each patient’s health, considering possible medical causes for psychiatric symptoms and coordinating with primary care providers when appropriate. Her goal is to provide thoughtful, integrated care that supports clients in achieving long-term wellness.

Board-Certified General Psychiatrist | Board-Eligible Child and Adolescent PsychiatristLicensed in New York, Illinois, and Arkansas

Dr. Holly Hunter is a dedicated child and adolescent psychiatrist, licensed to practice in New York, Illinois, and Arkansas. She earned her medical degree from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Dr. Hunter went on to complete a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at UAMS, where she also participated in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program, specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders.

While Dr. Hunter has treated a wide variety of psychiatric conditions, her primary clinical focus is on children, adolescents, and young adults dealing with trauma and co-occurring mental health disorders. Her approach centers on providing medication management in conjunction with supportive therapy, typically through 30-minute follow-up visits. In cases where additional therapeutic intervention is needed, Dr. Hunter may suggest involving a therapist as part of a comprehensive care team to ensure the best possible outcomes.With experience at Burrell Behavioral Health, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and UAMS, Dr. Hunter brings a wealth of expertise to her practice.

She is committed to a collaborative, evidence-based approach to treatment, emphasizing individualized care and a holistic understanding of each patient’s unique needs.

Dr. Sheena Dohar is a board certified general psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she practiced extensively in community mental health with adults of all ages in both outpatient and inpatient settings and as the medical director of several intensive outpatient and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) based programs. She has experience in private practice and in the dual diagnoses of mental health and substance abuse disorders. Dr. Dohar graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology and then completed medical school at West Virginia University School of Medicine. She trained during her residency at WVU, where she served as a chief resident and received the Brandon K. Fuller Award for Physician Empathy in 2017. Dr. Dohar's practice focuses on medication management. Her goals include helping people feel comfortable seeking treatment as well as promoting an understanding of the purpose and reasoning behind the use of various medications to treat psychiatric disorders. Typically, she offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. When Dr. Dohar may believe that additional therapy is also needed, she will ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr. Dohar appreciates and values working with therapists within the Talkiatry practice and in the community in a collaborative effort to promote wellness. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships with the people that she sees in her practice. Her passions include working in the community at large to encourage a better understanding of mental health disorders and to promote suicide awareness and prevention. She has interests in pharmacogenomics as well as treatment resistant approaches to depression. Dr. Dohar appears in several professional publications.‍