Georgia Gaveras, DO

Dr. Megan Freeman is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult Psychiatry. She completed her residency training at Vidant Medical Center at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina in 2021 where she was the chief resident. Since then, she has worked as an attending physician at an inpatient adult psychiatric unit in Burlington, North Carolina. As a resident and attending she has treated adults of all ages and in all areas of mental health. Dr. Freeman's talkiatry practice will mostly focus on medication management in conjunction with support or acceptance-based therapy during 30-minute follow-up visits. During this time, Dr. Freeman hopes to collaborate with her patients to help set treatment goals and ways to track progress in between appointments. Dr. Freeman is board certified in adult psychiatry. She enjoys seeing patients with a wide variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. She enjoys combining medication management with various therapy techniques.‍

Dr. Alexandra ("Sasha”) Blaes is a board-certified psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she practiced consult-liaison psychiatry, seeing medically ill patients with psychiatric problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she also treated veterans in nursing homes. Dr. Blaes graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and photography and worked in nonprofit marketing in New York before deciding she wanted to pursue a life in medicine. Following a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program at Columbia University, Dr. Blaes completed medical school at The University of Maryland, followed by a psychiatry residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins, she mastered clinical assessment and treatment of general psychiatric problems. She also received specialized training in eating disorders, addiction, reproductive psychiatry, chronic pain, and geriatric psychiatry, an interest she pursued further with a fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In fellowship and in her subsequent experience at the VA, she developed expertise in caring for the difficulties that can accompany aging, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as the stress of medical illness. Dr. Blaes' practice focuses on medication management. She works to foster a safe and collaborative space in which patients can address psychiatric illness and other barriers holding them back from the lives they want to lead. Typically, she offers appointments for medication management coupled with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute sessions. When Dr. Blaes feels that additional therapy is needed, she will suggest inviting a therapist to join the team for additional support and guidance. She welcomes collaborations with other clinicians, be they therapists or other physicians caring for her patients. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships that help patients grow and meet their goals - whatever their situation, challenge, or life stage. Dr. Blaes welcomes patients from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and is LGBTQ+ friendly. In addition to her background in geriatrics, she has experience working with peripartum women and enjoys working with patients navigating major life changes.

Dr. Gregory Marc Varhely is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist. He grew up in Austin, Texas, and attended Texas State University, where he earned a BA in Psychology and a Master's degree in Biology/Biochemistry. After graduating from medical school at Ross University, he completed his residency in Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Varhely has served as an outpatient psychiatrist at the Department of Veterans Affairs and acted as an attending physician for resident psychiatrists at Texas A&M and UT Dell Medical Schools. He then acted as a sole proprietor of an outpatient psychiatric medication management and psychotherapy practice in Georgetown, Texas and later started contracting for North Central Health Care Mental Health Clinic, applying psychotropic medication management expertise to community-based treatment facilities in Wisconsin. Dr. Varhely's approach is rooted in forming meaningful connections with his patients. He wholeheartedly believes that psychological suffering stems from a blend of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Dr. Varhely works together with his patients to uncover these factors and create treatment plans tailored to their specific needs using an eclectic blend of the latest in psychopharmacology, as well as psychodynamic, supportive, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Dr. Michelle Zaydlin is a board-certified psychiatrist who has experience in caring for diverse patient populations presenting with an array of diagnoses. Her interests include neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, ADHD), mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, and comorbid medical conditions. She has completed internships in pediatric neuropsychology and worked as a behavior therapist, delivering Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, enriching her understanding of development and neurocognitive functioning. Additionally, Dr. Zaydlin actively participates in research and is actively engaged in educational initiatives for other healthcare providers. Dr. Zaydlin believes in a collaborative and compassionate approach to mental health care. She works with patients across their lifespans, integrating psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. She integrates cultural sensitivity with evidence-based practices to provide individualized, holistic care. Her empathetic approach and clinical knowledge enable her to foster meaningful connections with her patients and facilitate positive treatment outcomes.

Dr. Leslie Chavez is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with a diverse background in clinical and academic medicine. She completed her medical school and residency at the University of New Mexico, where she later served as a psychiatrist and assistant professor, treating high-need patients and teaching residents and medical students. During the pandemic, she transitioned to telehealth and has been dedicated to this field for the past four years. Dr. Chavez is known for making her patients feel seen and heard, using both medication management and supportive psychotherapy. Dr. Chavez began her academic journey as a physics major at UNM and then studied biophysics at the University of San Diego, California. During her postdoctoral fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratories, she was inspired by presentations about professionals working with patients in African countries, which sparked her interest in medicine. During this time, her father died of cancer, and she saw the impact of mental health therapy on his quality of life, further solidifying her motivation to attend medical school. Witnessing the profound impact of mental health on her patients and family, she specialized in psychiatry. Dr. Chavez is a seasoned psychopharmacologist and emphasizes the importance of nutrition, exercise, and community in mental health. She enjoys all aspects of medicine and combines her extensive knowledge with a patient-centered approach.

Dr. Ayanna Swinton Jamison is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 18 years of experience in general, as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She has extensive experience in counseling, and medication management. Dr. Jamison is committed to educating her patients about their illness and providing personalized care for each patient. Dr. Jamison received her undergraduate degree from Jackson State University. She graduated from Saint Louis University Medical School and completed her residency training in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Jamison is a proud mom of four who enjoys spending time with her family, and attending her kids' sports events.