Deborah Ford, PMHNP

Lance Briggs is a dedicated Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of clinical and leadership experience. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, Lance began as a psychiatric RN in acute inpatient settings before becoming a psychiatric RN supervisor in a major Houston hospital while pursuing advanced practice.

After becoming a PMHNP, Lance initially worked with outpatient addiction treatment and severe mental illness populations, later expanding into bariatric psychiatry to support patients preparing for weight-loss surgery. When the COVID-19 pandemic paused bariatric procedures, Lance founded a private practice—Grey Matters Mental Health—in Seattle, which was later sold to a larger healthcare organization in Minnesota. Lance then transitioned into correctional mental health, serving underserved populations within the criminal justice system. Currently, Lance is working at Talkiatry, providing compassionate, high-quality care informed by experience across diverse and challenging environments.

Lance understands that every patient is unique. His approach is grounded in Carl Rogers’ principle of unconditional positive regard, creating a safe, calming space where patients feel heard and valued. Lance takes time to explore developmental history, family background, and major life events, recognizing how past experiences shape present challenges. He aims to understand each symptom fully and offers thoughtful, collaborative treatment options.

Dr. Sarah Benito Figueroa is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist and a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.  She completed her Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Connecticut. Following this, she sub-specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Benito Figueroa served as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at a busy academic outpatient clinic and on an inpatient basis, providing care to children with complex medical needs.

Dr. Benito Figueroa strives to provide a patient-centered and collaborative approach when developing treatment plans. She specializes in medication management and supportive psychotherapy. When appropriate, she may make a referral for more specialized therapeutic interventions. For child and adolescent patients, Dr. Benito Figueroa encourages parental involvement at each visit to ensure a family centered approach is being followed to best support the child's needs.

During the first visit, Dr. Benito Figueroa will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with a goal of understanding a patient's treatment history, current symptomatology and personal goals. She will work together with her patients to foster a collaborative environment, personalize treatment plans and support patients in achieving an improved quality of life.

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Dr. De Paz received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, and has been practicing for 9 years. He completed his psychiatric residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at the University of Texas Medical Branch. After completing training, he worked at the Center for Health Care Services in San Antonio, TX. He worked with special needs children and adults who required the highest level of care both behaviorally and medically. He then continued his treatment of children and young adults at CommuniCare Health Center also in San Antonio. He served as Director of Behavioral Health for CommuniCare for 4 years. Dr. De Paz completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology and Biology at the University of Houston in Houston, TX. While having treated a wide variety of patients, his primary clinical focus has been the treatment of ADHD in children and adults, and working with special needs children and adults who may have Autism Spectrum Disorder or other Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities. Dr. De Paz's practice focuses on medication management. He offers medication management evaluations and follow-up visits. If the need arises, he works with licensed therapists to provide behavioral support.

Dr. Osaji is an Adult Psychiatrist who completed her psychiatry training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. She served her program as a chief resident, which helped to build her leadership and interpersonal skills. She also dedicated herself to leading her resident team and fostering a supportive learning environment. She received the award of excellence in psychiatry knowledge during her residency training. She also has a Master's in Public Health from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and is a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society member.

Dr. Osaji is an adult outpatient psychiatrist who provides care via telehealth. She strives to create a supportive, collaborative space where patients can explore what's bringing them in and work together to determine the best path forward. Whether someone is new to mental health care or returning after some time away, Dr. Osaji recognizes that it's normal to feel a mix of emotions at the start. She takes a thoughtful, personalized approach to treatment that may include medication, therapy recommendations, or simply creating space to talk. While telehealth offers flexibility and convenience, Dr. Osaji is committed to building a meaningful connection with each patient. She does not provide emergency services between sessions but ensures patients can access the appropriate resources when needed. As someone early in her career, Dr. Osaji brings fresh training and a strong commitment to transparency, lifelong learning, and evidence-informed care. She values open communication and believes deeply in each person's capacity for meaningful change.

Dr. Osaji creates a supportive, collaborative space to help patients explore their mental health concerns and goals. She takes a personalized approach that may include medication, therapy referrals, or check-ins, always valuing patient input. Follow-up visits are 20 to 30 minutes, focusing on monitoring progress and adjusting care as needed. She offers convenient access through telehealth while building meaningful, transparent relationships rooted in respect and growth. Dr. Osaji also values collaborative care and often coordinates with therapists or refers patients to therapy when additional support can enhance outcomes.

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Dr. Pipalia is board-certified in both adult psychiatry and internal medicine. Since graduation from residency, he gained specialized experience in treating veterans with terminal illness, specifically Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka Lou Gehrig's Disease), at the VA Medical Center in Portland, OR. He combines both psychotherapy and medication treatment to provide holistic care that addresses not only your mental health but also the parts of your life that surround and are deeply intertwined with your mental health. When more intensive psychotherapy is warranted, he collaborates with an experienced psychotherapist to serve you better. With his experience of internal medicine, he is also comfortable with navigating complex medical issues that may interact with your mental health. Dr. Pipalia is a graduate of St. George's University School of Medicine. He completed a combined Psychiatry & Internal Medicine residency training program at East Carolina University. He went on to complete a fellowship in Clinical Informatics at Oregon Health & Science University, learning how to use modern digital technologies and patient data to improve patient care. His academic activities include a presentation he has given multiple times on Illness Identity, teaching other clinicians how having an illness can change how we perceive our place in the world and how to help patients manage their relationship with illness.

Dr. Gregory Arthmann recently passed the ABPM Addiction Medicine board exam. Dr. Arthmann is an ABPN board‑certified psychiatrist who received his medical degree from the University of Sint Eustatius. He completed two years of Internal Medicine residency at WellSpan York Hospital in Pennsylvania prior to completing his Psychiatry residency training at East Carolina University in North Carolina.

Dr. Arthmann has over 10 years of experience practicing psychiatry and has treated a broad spectrum of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. He utilizes a patient-centered, biopsychosocial approach to psychiatry, primarily focusing on psychopharmacological interventions that align with each patient’s unique treatment goals and clinical needs. His practice style centers around medication management with adjunctive supportive therapy tailored to individual needs. Depending on each patient’s circumstances, he may recommend additional support from individual, family, or group counselors and therapists to achieve optimal outcomes.

During an initial visit, patients can expect a thorough and collaborative discussion focused on their symptoms, treatment goals, and clinical needs. Dr. Arthmann will evaluate the patient’s condition to determine appropriate medication interventions and discuss personalized treatment recommendations. Typical follow-up visits are approximately 20–30 minutes in length. Depending on the severity and complexity of a patient’s situation, referral for additional counseling or therapy may be suggested.