Erika Zarco, LMFT

Cherie McCarthy is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with experience working across a wide range of populations. Early in her career, she served as an addictions specialist in high schools, prisons, and intensive outpatient and residential settings. Cherie earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from National University and completed her intern hours working with adolescents in foster care and adults with severe mental illness in community-based programs. Over the past four years, she has focused on mental and behavioral health in a telehealth setting, treating lower-acuity concerns such as anxiety, depression, panic, and adjustment disorders, along with trauma work using EMDR.

Cherie believes it is both a privilege and a responsibility to create a safe, supportive space where patients can clarify goals and develop aspirations. Her work emphasizes identifying barriers to success and examining unhelpful core beliefs, allowing patients to move toward meaningful and sustainable change.

Cherie spends the first one to two sessions gaining a clear understanding of where patients are coming from and where they would like to go. From there, she collaborates with patients to develop individualized goals, revisiting and refining them over time to support clarity, growth, and progress throughout therapy.

Shannon McElhone is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and Massachusetts. She has over ten years' experience working in the mental health field. Shannon has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults seeking assistance in managing their experiences with depression/mood challenges, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, attention focus, and relationship issues. Shannon utilizes humanistic, person-centered, collaborative, strength based, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, solution focused and emotionally focused approaches to therapy while maintaining an open, flexible, creative atmosphere to remain aware of the unique and individual needs of each client. Shannon seeks to create a non-judgmental and safe environment where a caring relationship can be built with her clients to utilize and add to their strengths. Through her practice, a collaboration can bring her clients towards achieving their goals and living the life they desire. Shannon completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from St. Joseph's College and received her Master of Science in School Counseling and Extended Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. Shannon's years of experience include working as a Rehabilitation specialist/therapist at a Pros program, a psychotherapist at an outpatient clinic, a Child and Youth Behavioral Military Family Life counselor working with children and families on a Military base in New York. More recently, Shannon has held a role as a psychotherapist on an online platform that provides virtual therapy and continues to engage in this role at Talkiatry. Shannon's specialties include: Depression, Anxiety, OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, Trauma, Grief & Loss, Stress management, Life transitions, Self-esteem issues and Relationship issues.

Dr. Jana McLain is a dedicated mental health professional with over 16 years of experience in education and more than a decade in private practice. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC), specializing in individual, group, couples, and crisis counseling, as well as clinical supervision and program development.

Throughout her career, Dr. McLain has held various leadership roles across school districts and clinical settings, demonstrating a strong commitment to mental health advocacy, counselor mentorship, and behavioral intervention. Her extensive background includes serving as a Student Support Counselor, Crisis and Behavior Intervention Counselor, and Adjunct Professor of Counseling, equipping future professionals with essential skills for client care and goal achievement.

Dr. McLain earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and a Master’s in Counseling from Sam Houston State University, along with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Houston. She is known for her expertise in DSM-5 diagnostics, psychoeducation, and multidisciplinary collaboration to support diverse populations across age groups.

If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply need a safe place to work through life’s transitions, I am here to walk with you on your journey toward healing and growth. Reach out today to begin the process of reclaiming your peace and wellness.

Dr. McLain believes in a holistic approach that takes into account both the mental and emotional aspects of wellbeing, helping you find lasting strategies for improving your overall quality of life. She operates from a person centered approach to guide you on your healing journey.

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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.

Hunada Zein-Eddin is a bilingual (English/Arabic) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and Virginia. She earned her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lancaster Bible College in 2022 and completed her residency at Northern Virginia Family Service and Youth For Tomorrow. She specializes in supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults with challenges related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, adjustment issues, and mood disorders. Hunada also helps clients navigate stress, grief, workplace relationships, anger, and life transitions. She has experience working with individuals, families, and couples and is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as ADHD Clinical Services. Her trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach draws on Attachment Theory, TF-CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Polyvagal Theory.

Hunada understands that life often brings challenges that can feel overwhelming. She partners with clients on their journey toward healing, peace, and resilience by creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. Clients can expect empathy, compassion, and professionalism throughout their care. Her therapeutic style emphasizes collaboration, open communication, and a strong belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality mental health services that foster healing and growth.

Hunada begins therapy by building trust and gaining a thorough understanding of each client’s unique history, concerns, and goals. Initial sessions focus on creating a comprehensive biopsychosocial picture that informs the development of individualized treatment plans aligned with the client’s desired outcomes. Throughout treatment, Hunada ensures clients feel heard, valued, and supported as they work toward achieving their therapeutic goals and long-term emotional well-being.

Dr. David Guggenheim is an experienced clinical psychologist and health care administrator. He has worked with patients at different stages of life, including children, adolescents, and adults, and he has treated patients living with a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dr. Guggenheim has specific training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and foundational training in dialectical behavioral therapy. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Guggenheim served as the Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City, specializing in LGBTQ+ health care. In that role, he oversaw teams of providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, who collectively provided care to thousands of patients in the New York metropolitan area. While at Callen-Lorde, he also served as co-chair for the behavioral health subcommittee of the Community Health Center Association of New York State; worked as an Adjunct Professor at Post University; and performed volunteer clinical work at the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights. Before joining Callen-Lorde, Dr. Guggenheim worked as Associate Chief Behavioral Health Officer at Community Health Center, Inc., a federally qualified health center in Connecticut. A recognized expert, Dr. Guggenheim has delivered lectures to audiences ranging from medical schools to corporate executives, and he has been quoted in national media including The Advocate, Yahoo Finance, and Teen Vogue. Dr. Guggenheim has also been honored with an Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association in 2016. Dr. Guggenheim received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut in 2002 and his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University/Washington, DC in 2009.