Gusta Shurdut, MD

Jodie Gardner is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Texas and California. She works with individuals, couples, and families ages 12 and older and has clinical experience addressing depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, addiction, and life transitions. Jodie is certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and has extensive experience supporting clients from diverse backgrounds and identities, including providing affirming care for LGBTQ+ individuals, those in non-traditional or complex relationships, and individuals navigating mood disorders, caregiver stress, and intimacy concerns.

Jodie believes every person has a unique story and deserves an individualized approach to care. She views therapy as a collaborative partnership grounded in open communication and mutual respect. Jodie creates a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore thoughts and emotions at their own pace, using thoughtful questions to help clients uncover insight, strengths, and meaningful solutions.

In the first session, Jodie invites clients to share their story and what brings them to therapy. Together, they identify goals and begin developing a personalized roadmap for treatment. Her approach integrates evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT with trauma-informed care and mindfulness to support lasting growth and change.

Dr. Vargas is an adult psychiatrist who received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio. She subsequently completed her psychiatry residency training at UT Health San Antonio.

Dr. Vargas has a patient-centered and thorough approach to treatment. She has experience treating a broad spectrum of mental health disorders, with particular interest in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She has also worked in clinic with severely mentally ill patients at the South Texas VA in San Antonio.

Dr. Vargas's primary focus is medication management with an emphasis on shared decision-making; however, she frequently also utilizes supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy principles in her approach. She may refer patients to a therapist if further support would be beneficial.

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Dr. Niles Drake is a board certified psychiatrist skilled in prescribing medications and working in psychotherapy. He combines a warm demeanor with excellent clinical skills, and has over 15 years' experience working with adult patients of all ages and many walks of life. He has special expertise combining medication and psychotherapy to help patients reduce symptoms and grow as individuals. Dr. Drake's additional training and experience in psychological modes of treatment enhance the quality of care he provides to all his patients, to meet them where they are and prioritize their individual needs and goals. He also provides medication management-only treatments for people who aren't looking for psychotherapy or who already have therapists. Dr. Drake completed his psychiatric residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. He also completed psychoanalytic training at the Columbia Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. He went on to teach classes at the Center, educating candidates about the nuances of combining psychotherapy with other treatment modalities. In addition to providing outpatient psychiatric treatment for over 10 years in private practice, he has worked extensively in psychiatric emergency settings, supervising residents as attending physician at Columbia-New York Presbyterian Hospital and Long Island Jewish Hospital psychiatric emergency rooms. He also has special expertise treating college-aged and young adult patients, having served as staff psychiatrist at Barnard College's Furman Counseling Center and worked with many students from Barnard and Columbia in his private practice. Dr. Drake offers treatment for many psychiatric conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and personality disorders. He identifies helping people ease and overcome their psychiatric conditions as his calling, and approaches each patient with humility, diligence, and a collaborative spirit.

Dr. Ismail is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from Cairo University, where she also completed her neurology residency at Cairo University Hospitals. Following this, she pursued psychiatric training at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Hospitals, where she was appointed Chief Resident and recognized as Resident of the Year.

Dr. Ismail further specialized with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her career includes multiple leadership roles, notably serving as Chief of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs (PHP) at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where she provided direct care to young patients. She has also held Medical Director positions across various clinical settings, including child and adolescent inpatient units, outpatient programs, and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.

An active educator, Dr. Ismail has been a teaching faculty member, delivering lectures and providing supervision and evaluations for medical residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. Her academic contributions extend to research, where she has served as a principal investigator on multiple studies.

Throughout her career in leadership and teaching, Dr. Ismail maintained an integrative private practice in New Jersey, serving residents of the NJ and NY metropolitan areas before relocating to North Carolina.

Dr. Ismail is passionate about integrative medicine, which combines evidence-based alternative therapies with conventional treatments to optimize outcomes. Her approach focuses on promoting overall wellness, keeping both the body and mind in harmony.

During the diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Ismail will review your medical history and past treatments to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your overall wellness. In addition to medication management, she incorporates supportive, cognitive, or psychodynamic psychotherapy during follow-up visits, as time allows. When appropriate, she may also recommend referrals to specialized psychotherapists to address your individual needs as part of a holistic treatment approach.

Dr. Pan is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 10 years of experience. She holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from UT Southwestern Medical School and completed her medical specialty training in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She has served as faculty at UT Southwestern, teaching medical students and mentoring psychiatry residents.

Dr. Pan is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Pan specializes in medication management for adults with a broad range of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety, bipolar, depression, insomnia, PTSD/trauma-related disorders. Medication treatment may be complemented with elements of supportive psychotherapy, psychodynamic therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Dr. Pan works collaboratively with patients to develop evidence-based treatment plans tailored to their unique needs. If further psychotherapy is needed, she may recommend working with a therapist as well. Asking for help can be difficult, especially when it comes to mental health. During the first visit, patients can expect a welcoming space where they can share their concerns. The visit will also focus on a psychiatric evaluation covering symptom details, psychiatric and other medical history, prior treatments, and how the current symptoms affect the person as a whole.‍

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Sheila Henry, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC, is a dual board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner with over 12 years of clinical experience. She earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification from the University of Michigan and her Adult Nurse Practitioner certification from Wayne State University. Sheila has provided care across inpatient, consultation-liaison, crisis intervention, and outpatient settings, treating a wide range of mental health conditions.

Sheila is dedicated to creating a safe, compassionate, and collaborative environment where patients feel heard and supported. She values open communication and works to build strong therapeutic relationships, empowering patients to take an active role in their mental health journey. She believes in tailoring treatment to each individual and takes time to ensure her patients feel understood, respected, and engaged.

Sheila integrates a holistic perspective, considering both mental and physical health, lifestyle, and relationships. Her process involves developing individualized treatment plans that may include medication management, therapy, and lifestyle guidance. She works side by side with her patients to identify goals, track progress, and make adjustments as needed, fostering meaningful and lasting improvements in overall well-being.