Deora Johnson, PMHNP

Background and credentials

Dr. Stefan is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in outpatient care, inpatient care, and assertive community treatment. She has served as a medical director for large institutions, overseeing the treatment of individuals with complex mental illnesses. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she is fluent in both English and Spanish. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Florida, where she received recognition for her skills as a psychotherapist.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Stefan is deeply committed to patient-centered care, adapting her role to the individual needs of each patient. She believes in treating the whole person, rather than just a diagnosis, recognizing that each patient has unique psychosocial circumstances. She has a strong foundation in psychotherapeutic interventions and is dedicated to providing engaging, compassionate, and meaningful therapy in every patient interaction. With over 10 years of experience as a psychiatrist, she has worked extensively in telemedicine since 2013, ensuring that remote care is as effective and personal as in-person visits.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients meeting Dr. Stefan for the first time can expect a comprehensive and holistic evaluation that considers their symptoms, personal history, and life circumstances. She takes the time to build strong therapeutic relationships, fostering a caring and engaging environment where patients feel understood and supported. Whether through telemedicine or in-person care, she prioritizes personalized treatment plans that integrate medication management and psychotherapy, ensuring the highest quality of care tailored to each patient’s 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 specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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Dr. Zhou is a board-certified psychiatrist who has more than 4 years of experience practicing in various clinical settings with an emphasis on mental health care in outpatient settings. She practices a holistic approach to developing an individualized plan to work toward a patient's goals. Dr. Zhou is experienced in treating depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety, and other related psychiatric disorders. Dr. Zhou received her medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and completed her adult psychiatry residency training at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Zhou's background and experiences have broadened her understanding of cultural stigmas and the relationship it plays in psychiatric care. She incorporates a multitude of treatment modalities such as supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy. Dr. Zhou recognizes the value of a multifaceted approach to wellbeing and may recommend treatment modalities that are complementary to medication management.

Kristina Vaughan, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in Houston, Texas. With over six years of experience as a dedicated social worker and more than two years as a practicing therapist, Kristina brings both compassion and expertise to her work. She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Houston in 2016.

 Kristina specializes in Bipolar Disorder and impulse control disorders. She is known for her empathetic yet direct approach, working collaboratively with clients to identify and prioritize their most pressing needs. Her therapeutic style is eclectic, drawing from a range of evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, and Brainspotting.

Conditions Treated: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and Grief.

If you feel like you've been watching your life unfold from the sidelines instead of taking the lead as its storyteller, Kristina may be the right therapist to help you reclaim your narrative

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is double board certified in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has worked in various settings with culturally diverse populations. Her primary focus has been caring for children in the outpatient programs. Dr. Wharton-Mohammed has spent over ten years as an administrative leader. She has chaired and co-chaired committees overseeing the practice of fellow Psychiatrists and served as the Discipline Chief. She has been teaching/ supervising Nurse Practitioner students and Physician assistant students. Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is experienced with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and therapeutic modalities. She is a dedicated clinician who looks out for her patients. She views each patient and their caregivers' circumstance as unique. She takes a holistic approach with a collaborative approach to help patients understand their options. While the focus may be on psycho education and medication management with supportive and psychodynamic therapeutic interventions, there may be a need for additional therapy. She may ask that a therapist be added to your treatment team. She works towards establishing a meaningful trusting relationship and looks forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals.

Dr. Mullenix is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who strives to form strong therapeutic and collaborative environments with patients and values patient empowerment. Dr. Mullenix received his medical degree from the Chicago Medical School and then went on to complete his residency in psychiatry at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. His interests and expertise are in helping patients struggling with depression, anxiety, including social/obsessive compulsive and generalized anxiety disorders, and ADHD. He provides psychiatric medication management along with supportive, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other modalities of therapeutic treatment. Dr. Mullenix's practice focuses primarily on medication management, or pharmacotherapy. He routinely incorporates supportive therapy into his 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mullenix may occasionally recommend that a therapist be part of the care team to provide optimal outcomes. The philosophy of his practice is to actively involve patients in the decision-making process to improve adherence to treatment and build trusting relationships with all patients.

Dr. Lee Dockery is a general psychiatry provider who joined Talkiatry in August 2022. He is board-eligible with expected certification in fall 2022, with further addiction psychiatry board-certification expected in 2023. He has been training and practicing psychiatry since 2018. Dr. Dockery's practice emphasizes medication management within a therapy-informed framework, utilizing skills from Acceptance and Commitment therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, motivation interviewing, and supportive therapy. He typically offers 60-minute new visits and 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Dockery received his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2014. He then moved to Nashville, TN to complete his general psychiatry residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he served as chief resident of inpatient services. He expects to complete the addiction psychiatry fellowship in spring 2023 .Dr. Dockery has experience treating most general adult psychiatry complaints, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. He has a particular focus in the treatment of young adults, and co-occurring mood disorders and substance use disorders.‍