Huong Phan, LPC

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. Bangs earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Nicholls State University and a Master of Science in Acupuncture from Texas Health and Science University. She completed both her MD and General Psychiatry training at Texas Tech Paul Foster School of Medicine, which was followed by specialized training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Texas School of Medicine. Her clinical approach is grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and she continually expands her knowledge by incorporating tools from a variety of therapeutic modalities.

Dr. Bangs is warm, open-minded, and introspective and is fascinated with the connectedness of the conscious and subconscious mind, body, and spirit.   She approaches treatment through the lens of growth-mindset.  She is prioritizes creating a safe space where patients can strengthen their courage to be vulnerable and authentic. She views therapy as a journey of helping patients explore their inner world, where she acts as a mirror in order for patients to gain insight into their motivations, patterns, values, and higher purpose.

Dr. Bangs prefers knowing her patients on deep level, and highly values the therapeutic process, which requires patience over speed.  She acknowledges that it takes many sessions before even a preliminary understanding of the human being in front of her can be formulated.  She honors the truth that her patients are the experts of themselves, and prefers empowering them over micromanagement.  As subconscious patterns emerge, Dr. Bangs will highlight these, as they are often blind spots to the patient.  Dr. Bangs understands that when it comes to mental health, quick fixes are not the most appropriate or effective means to healing.  However, she respects the use of medications when indicated in addition to talk therapy.

Tiffany Reilly is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 8 years of experience providing therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and families in Seattle and New York City. She received her Master's in Counseling from Northwest University in 2015. Before coming to Talkiatry, Tiffany worked as a Family Therapist and Supervisor at Children's Aid. This role gave her experience navigating the complexities of adolescence, young adulthood, marriage, and other interpersonal stressors. She was also able to pursue additional trainings in motivational interviewing, trauma systems, and LGBTQIA supportive counseling. Tiffany focuses on treating mood and anxiety disorders, as well as the complexities of grief and loss. She has additional experience working with trauma, conduct disorder, ODD, and personality disorders. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Psychoanalytic Theory, and Person-Centered Counseling. Tiffany approaches each therapeutic relationship with empathy and compassion, understanding the uniqueness of personal experience. She believes that all behavior maintains something for each individual and that when we bravely uncover our patterns, we can use our inherent strengths to work towards change.

Barbara (Barb) Pack is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with the Supervision Endorsement and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, Clinical Supervisor Endorsement who has been providing mental health treatment for over 24 years and addiction treatment for over 27 years. Barb utilizes a combination of approaches in working with her clients, including person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution focused techniques, and a variety of other techniques. She has experience in several different types of treatment settings and treatment modalities in both Ohio and Florida. Barb enjoys working with individuals who also have co-occurring disorders, both mental health and substance use. Barb has experience working with a wide range of age groups and mental health issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, grief, relationship issues, and a wide range of substance use issues. She will assess individuals' needs in their first few visits and work with them to develop an individualized treatment plan. Barb works to provide the empathetic listening and emotional support that her clients need to reach their goals. Her dream has been to work herself out of a job, as she wants to help her clients find healing and happiness. Barb attended the University of Akron for graduate school in a Community Counseling Program and attended Malone College, now University, and majored in Psychology.

LaTonya Washington, LICSW-S, PIP, is a trauma and couples' therapist with a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama and advanced training in Brain spotting, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the Gottman Method for couples therapy. With over 15 years of experience, she provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and couples navigating trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.

She specializes in helping couples rebuild trust after infidelity, strengthen emotional connection, and improve communication. She also supports individuals facing anxiety, burnout, and the emotional impact of chronic illness, guiding them toward healing and resilience

New clients can expect a warm, supportive space where they feel heard and understood. LaTonya takes a collaborative approach, tailoring therapy to each client’s needs while integrating practical strategies for healing and growth. Her sessions are focused on fostering insight, building emotional resilience, and equipping clients with tools to create lasting change. Whether working with individuals or couples, her goal is to help clients navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity, connection, and confidence.

Meredith LaFave, LCSW, has extensive clinical experience working with adults, couples, and families in private practice and clinic settings. She has specialized training in EMDR, contemplative psychotherapy, Integrative Wellness, and LGBTQIA+ affirming care. Meredith values creating a safe, collaborative space where patients feel supported, empowered, and encouraged to explore personal growth.

Meredith blends deep exploration and insight with practical, goal-oriented strategies. She fosters a warm, engaging environment that encourages patients to feel respected, challenged, and equipped to build self-efficacy and overall life satisfaction.

Meredith begins by building rapport and understanding what brings a patient to therapy. She explores historical and contextual information, collaborates on personalized treatment plans, and uses evidence-based approaches to guide patients toward meaningful change, resilience, and personal growth.