Giselle Brito, MD

Dr. Atkins is a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board-certified in adult psychiatry and has been in practice for the past 2 years. He has received several awards for teaching and the treatment of chronically ill patients, including Stony Brook University's "William Turner Award" for excellence in education and leadership. Dr. Atkins has focused his practice primarily on medication management. He combines medication management with a therapeutic style that is a blend of supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. Follow‐up appointments with Dr. Atkins typically last 20‐30 minutes. While Dr. Atkins is trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques, he works collaboratively with therapists and may recommend their inclusion as part of your treatment team, depending on your individualized treatment plan .Dr. Atkins attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he received his medical degree. He completed his psychiatry residency at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York. Post residency, he worked with general adult patients as well as older adults at Manchester Memorial Hospital where he served as both an outpatient psychiatrist and Director of the Geriatric Intensive Outpatient Program. Although Dr. Atkins does not treat child or adolescent patients, he has experience working with people of all ages, from young adults to adults. He has experience treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, patients in the perinatal period, and patients with co‐co-occurring substance use disorders. He has regularly managed behavioral problems in adults with autism spectrum disorders as well as dementia. He particularly enjoys working with patients dealing with life or role transitions, older adults, and patients with bipolar or other affective disorders.

Dr. Michael Locher completed Adult Psychiatry Residency Training at Los Angeles County, University of Southern California in which he focused two years of training in conducting Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. Dr. Locher received his Bachelor of Science Undergraduate degree in 3 years with Phi Beta Kappa honors at University of Miami, Florida. In medical school at Stony Brook School of Medicine in New York, Dr. Locher was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society while earning his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Dr. Locher has held academic appointments at University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Western University of Health Sciences, and Ventura Community Memorial Health System Psychiatric Residency Training Program. He has an in interest working with immigrants and LGBTQ+ communities.  

Dr. Locher’s approach to medication management is that it is one tool to be used in the broader context of a multi-modal evidence-based treatment approach that draws upon psychotherapy, mindfulness skills, Buddhist psychology, psychedelic AKA “mind manifesting” studies, yoga philosophy, and other integrative practices. He understands that healing is an individualized process that cannot unfold without a safe space. Dr. Locher is dedicated to holding an approachable, empathic space where you can feel empowered to write the next chapter of your life.  

Dr. Locher is well versed in treating the full spectrum of mental illness. Having worked on multidisciplinary teams in acute inpatient psychiatric hospital settings, psychiatric emergency rooms, and mental health urgent cares for the better part of 10 years, he is comfortable helping with not just mild to moderate illness, but also the most severe cases of mental illness. Dr. Locher is especially motivated to work with you to maintain stability, avoid hospitalization, and more broadly, to achieve wellness.

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Dr. De Jesus is a bilingual psychiatrist, fluent in English and Spanish. She is a double board-certified psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. De Jesus provides medication management services in combination with supportive therapy during 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. De Jesus received her medical degree from the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She completed her Adult Psychiatry residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL. Subsequently, Dr. De Jesus pursued her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Pennsylvania and was a Chief Resident during her last year of training. Dr. De Jesus has been providing psychiatric services in the community mental health setting for 8 years. Her clinical focus has been in treating children, adolescents, and young adults with depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and ADHD. Dr. De Jesus believes in the importance of establishing an individualized treatment approach to meet each individual's need while providing comprehensive care to her patients.

Dr. Steven Wilkening is a board-certified adult psychiatrist.He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University followed by a neuroscience researchfocused Masters degree at the University of Mississippi. He then attended medical school at theUniversity of Mississippi School of Medicine, graduating with his MD degree as a Medical StudentResearch Scholar and member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed adultpsychiatry residency training at the University of Cincinnati and has since been working primarily intelepsychiatry.He has experience treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions and also recognizes that lifestylefactors such as sleep, physical activity and stress-reduction are foundations of good mental health.Alongside medication management, he provides brief supportive psychotherapy, psychoeducation, aswell as elements of cognitive behavioral and solution-focused therapies to assist patients in meetingtheir goals. He often encourages patients to see a therapist in addition to a psychiatrist.

Dr. Mirica Sanders is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She graduated from Tennessee State University and earned her medical degree from Ohio University College of Medicine. She completed her Psychiatry Residency as Chief Resident at The Cleveland Clinic and pursued advanced training in community and public psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Sanders has experience practicing in both outpatient and inpatient settings and holds a special interest in women’s mental health.

Dr. Sanders values creating a warm and inviting atmosphere where patients feel comfortable and heard. She encourages openness and authenticity, aiming for each patient to leave with a clear understanding of their treatment plan. She also welcomes questions to ensure patients feel fully informed and supported throughout their care.

Patients can expect a conversational interview in which Dr. Sanders gathers medical, social, family, and psychiatric history to inform a personalized treatment plan. Each session involves collaboration, with patients actively participating in shaping their care. Following appointments, patients receive an after-visit summary and instructions to guide them between sessions.

Dr. Richard Shehane completed medical school at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and then went on to complete psychiatry residency training at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Dr. Shehane is a board-certified psychiatrist that specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders and ADHD. Dr. Shehane has also worked extensively with patients that have experienced sexual trauma in their past and patients struggling with substance and alcohol use addictions.

Dr. Shehane will focus on two main approaches to mental health treatment: medication management and psychotherapy. Appointments will focus on a mix of interactions aimed at tailoring each patient’s specific medication needs as well as promoting mental health wellness through different types of evidence-based therapy techniques including mindfulness, CBT, CPT and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Dr. Shehane works together patients to develop a plan that fits each patient’s individual needs. Initial appointments will focus on identifying and treating primary concerns, and then later appointments will center on building upon the therapeutic relationship to increase self-awareness, promote emotional insight, and secure lasting positive mental health changes.

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