Jabari Jones, MD

Lauren Mingle is an outpatient therapist at Talkiatry. She is dually licensed in Colorado as a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). Lauren earned her master's degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling/Therapy from the University of Northern Colorado. Before joining Talkiatry, Lauren held roles in a diverse array of settings including community mental health, crisis services, and outpatient therapy. Her previous specialty focuses included youth, adolescents, adults, and couples. Lauren uses a variety of evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to meet people where they are at and work with them to best reach their personalized therapy goals.

Dr. Mark Simonds is a Board-Certified general psychiatrist with training and certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He has been practicing general psychiatry for about 25 years. His practice focuses on initial assessment of psychiatric conditions, treatment planning, and psychotropic medication management, typically with a one-hour initial intake and 30-minute follow-up visits. Collaboration with a psychotherapist for the best treatment outcome is welcome and encouraged. Dr. Simonds is a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in General Psychiatry at the University of Southern California, followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry also at USC. Dr. Simonds specializes in psychopharmacology, and as a generalist, he has a lot of experience treating patients with mood disorders (including Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder); trauma and reactive psychoses; pain and psychosomatic disorders; and ADHD and Developmental Disorders, such as Aspergers. Having grown up in the Southern Appalachians but having lived most of his professional life in Los Angeles, he has worked with clients of various socioeconomics, religions, and ethnicities, as well as LGBT youth and adults. He lived abroad in Leeds, England, for one year in college, and continues to travel and obtain knowledge through these experiences. He trains regularly in the gym and does long-distance street biking, and he encourages exercise and a good diet as part of his clients' mental health recovery.

Rebecca Benedict is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a background in providing mental health services across several diverse settings. She has gained invaluable experience working in two community mental health agencies and completing two internships. Rebecca holds a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Syracuse University, and has been working in the role of mental health counselor for three years. Rebecca specializes in addressing the complex interplay between neuro-divergence and mental health symptoms. Her expertise encompasses a wide range of conditions including anxiety, depression, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dissociative disorders, and challenges with emotion regulation. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, narrative therapy, and existentialism. Rebecca is dedicated to tailoring her treatment modalities to fit the unique needs of each client, often integrating creativity and clients' personal hobbies or interests into the therapeutic process to enhance engagement and outcomes. With a compassionate and holistic approach, Rebecca Benedict is committed to fostering a supportive and transformative environment for her clients, guiding them towards improved mental health and overall well-being.

Ellen Grant, LCSW, Eagala Certified, brings extensive experience working with adolescents, adults and families in treating mental health and substance use disorders. Ellen is a graduate of The College of Saint Rose, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She is a graduate of Fordham University, where she obtained a Master's Degree in Social Work. She obtained a post-graduate certification in Military Trauma from Adelphi University. Ellen is certified in equine-assisted psychotherapy and is learning through the Eagala model. She has been practicing in the field for 12 years. She believes in a person-centered approach to counseling and specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She is also certified in Seeking Safety.

Dr. Irene Pastis is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in adult psychiatry.  She completed residency training at East Carolina University in both internal medicine and psychiatry.  After residency, she pursued her passion in psychiatry and stayed on as a clinical assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at East Carolina University.  In this role she specialized in treating adults with mental illness in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  She has spent a considerable amount of time teaching residents and medical students and has published several papers focusing on the neuroscience pathways of mental health conditions.  In her daily practice, Dr. Pastis focuses on evidence-based treatments utilizing the latest clinical guidelines and current approved treatments.  In addition to medication management, she also incorporates psychotherapy in the treatment of mental health conditions.  Dr. Pastis is passionate about taking a collaborative approach with her patients to help them reach their potential.

Dr. Jillian Saad is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who specializes in patient-centered care. She has been practicing for over 8 years in private practice and academic medicine .Dr. Saad focuses on medication management in 30-minute follow-up visits in conjunction with supportive and emotionally focused therapy. She takes a patient-centered approach that acknowledges all the psychosocial aspects of each individual to ensure they receive the most effective treatment possible. She received her medical degree from UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ, then moved to Pennsylvania to complete her residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Upon completion of training, Dr. Saad went into private practice for 5 years in southern NJ where she treated children, adolescents, and adults with a wide array of psychiatric disorders. She then went into academic medicine at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ, where she served as the Associate Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency Program supervising and teaching both residents and medical students .Dr. Saad has experience working with a broad range of psychiatric disorders including mood disorders, PTSD, OCD, and ADHD. She also has a strong interest in Women's Mental Health and alternative treatment options.