Entisar Hamid, LCPC

Maria-Anne Duncan, LCSW-R holds the position of psychotherapist at Talkiatry. She has over twenty years of experience working with individuals, families, and groups addressing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. Before joining Talkiarty, Ms. Duncan worked as a Director of Clinical Services for a not-for-profit in the Hudson Valley Region of New York State. Prior to that, Ms. Duncan worked for a local hospital in the psychiatric department providing treatment to the Inpatient and Outpatient units. She has held several positions as a clinician and program director. Additionally, Ms. Duncan has taught parenting classes, Mental Health First Aid and provides training on Trauma-Informed Care. Ms. Duncan started her career as a clinician in a Crime Victims' Assistance Program funded by New York State. Through this experience she began to explore the effects of trauma on individuals, their families, and the community. Ms. Duncan has been trained in both EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and SE (Somatic Experiencing). She utilizes these body-focused therapies to help her clients be released from years of painful energies locked in their systems. Ms. Duncan received her Bachelor's Degree from Marist College and her Master's from Fordham University. She has been trained to supervise Social Work Students in their field placements. Ms. Duncan appeared in the Vassar College student-developed training video, "He said, She said" which is used to train peer sexual assault counselors. In April of 2022, she became a trainer for LivingWorks "SafeTALK" program. Additionally, Ms. Duncan has a trained therapy dog, Monkey, who goes with her to local hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort and affection.

LaJoya McDonald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with extensive experience across outpatient, telehealth, and managed care settings. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and life transitions.

LaJoya is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative environment where clients feel heard and empowered. Her treatment style is integrative and person-centered, utilizing evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Solution-Focused Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, supportive therapy, goal-oriented therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques.

LaJoya helps clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and patterns while developing practical tools for coping, healing, and growth. She believes in tailoring each treatment plan to the unique goals, strengths, and values of the individual, and takes pride in walking alongside her clients through life’s challenges with compassion and respect.

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Ms. Ellen Ortiz is fully licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in multiple states. She has decades of life experience to support her 3 years of full licensure. Ms. Ortiz sees individuals from the perspective of the various environments they interact in and how it impacts them. Ms. Ortiz is enthusiastic about collaborating with clients under the care of one of our psychiatric experts in order to allow for a more complete and personalized approach for each individual's needs.
Ms. Ortiz began her education later in life at Elgin Community College then continued to acquire her bachelor’s degree from Argosy University with honors. Ms. Ortiz forged ahead and completed her Master’s in Family Counseling at the CACREP accredited graduate school, Northeastern Illinois University. Her training included the externship for Emotion Focused Therapy with Dr. Sue Johnson.

Ms. Ortiz incorporates therapy from a Solution Focused perspective including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Attachment theory.  Ms.Ortiz has been trained in Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed therapy. Her life experience and clientele have spanned all life cycles, races, and medical needs as well as honoring all varieties of human beings. She has also supported clients through medical diagnosis and end of life as well as grief.

Ms. Ortiz brings enthusiasm for each client based on the belief that each person has unique purpose, strengths and abilities on which to draw on. The client's abilities paired with tools and support acquired in therapy will lead each of her clients to a life they choose to enhance.

Susan is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. In 2005, she began working in the mental health field by volunteering as a domestic violence advocate for a local women's shelter. She graduated from Texas State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and continued her education by obtaining a master's degree in counseling from St. Edwards University. Over the years, Susan has worked with several universities, group practices, and community mental health clinics. Susan received CBT training from the Beck Institute and is also trained in EMDR. She works with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, feelings of shame and guilt, trauma, and emotional abuse.

Susan understands that seeing a new therapist can be intimidating. She wants all of her clients to know that she is a safe space and that your feelings and experiences do matter.

Susan uses a holistic approach when working with clients. She also uses unconditional positive regard. Both therapist and client work together to create treatment goals. Techniques used include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed CBT, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Rogerian and EMDR.

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Melissa Racklin is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience. She works with individuals who have a wide variety of mental health challenges. Melissa helps individuals to work through symptoms that are holding them back and help them live a better, more fulfilling life.‍Melissa is experienced in the areas of panic disorders, generalized anxiety, OCD, phobias, separation anxiety. She particularly enjoys working with adults who are motivated to grow through the process of therapy. Melissa has worked extensively with clients who have depression, bipolar disorder, women's issues, ADHD, personality disorders, marital/relationship issues along with couples counseling, divorce, self-harm, adjustment disorders, and more. Melissa holds certification in clinical supervision as well as school social worker certification. And has training in red flags for suicidality.‍Melissa's approach is custom-tailored for each individual client. She has a supportive, genuine, and authentic style of treatment. Melissa is warm and empathic and strives to create a safe and trusting therapeutic environment for her clients. She utilizes active listening skills and is intuitive and skilled in various modalities of treatment. Most often, Melissa uses CBT, DBT, and a psychodynamic approach in her work with clients.

Courtney Flynn, LCSW, earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2015 and Master of Social Work in 2017 from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has over a decade of experience practicing psychotherapy in the Northern Colorado region.

Courtney began her career in 2014, working with high-risk youth on parole in a residential treatment setting. In this role, she provided crisis intervention and therapeutic support to adolescents with complex trauma. In 2015, she served as a facilitator at a high school Wellness Center, supporting teens struggling with substance use, trauma, and mental health challenges by connecting them with individualized resources.

From 2017 to 2022, Courtney worked at Mountain Crest Behavioral Health Center in Fort Collins as a care coordinator and behavioral health therapist. There, she provided a wide range of services, including crisis intervention, individual therapy, family and couples counseling, group therapy, trauma-focused care, and discharge planning for adolescents and adults in an inpatient psychiatric setting.

In 2022, Courtney shifted her focus to clients with substance use disorders. She joined Northpoint Recovery in Loveland, Colorado, where she served as a primary therapist for both adolescents and adults in intensive outpatient and inpatient programs, offering individual and group therapy.

In 2023, Courtney began working at The Redpoint Center in Fort Collins, an intensive outpatient program specializing in mental health and substance use treatment. There, she facilitated individual and group therapy sessions, helping clients explore and address the underlying causes of their behaviors in a safe, supportive, and authentic therapeutic environment.

Courtney is skilled in a range of therapeutic approaches, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, recovery-oriented care, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She has extensive experience working with individuals and families affected by trauma, and has successfully treated a variety of concerns, including mood disorders, PTSD, anxiety, depression, family conflict, personality disorders, and substance use disorders. Courtney takes a strengths-based approach with her clients, tailoring her methods to their unique needs and empowering them to create a life worth living.

Courtney's passion for this work is driven by a deep commitment to supporting her community and a genuine sense of empathy and compassion for others. Outside of her clinical work, she has been a professional dancer for over 15 years and has taught dance in her community for the past 12. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, listening to music, seeking new adventures, and being with her friends, family, and loved ones. Traveling is also one of her greatest joys when she's not working or dancing.

Courtney's approach to working with clients is rooted in meeting them where they are, respecting their autonomy, and empowering them to connect with both their past and present selves. She prioritizes building rapport and trust from the very first session, ensuring clear goals and objectives are established early on. Courtney brings a kind, compassionate, and positive attitude to each session, fostering a structured yet upbeat environment where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts and emotions freely.

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