James Lee, MD

Dr. Mendez-Maldonado is double board-certified in general psychiatry and geriatric psychiatry. She received her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She then moved to New York to complete her residency training at Mount Sinai Beth Israel where she stayed to complete her fellowship in geriatric psychiatry. After her fellowship, she proceeded to work at Woodhull Hospital where she worked as an attending before becoming unit chief and running their Special Pathogens Unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. She focuses on medication management and offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, a focus on nutritional psychiatry, and 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mendez-Maldonado focuses on integrating nutrition, physical activity, and mindfulness techniques alongside pharmacotherapy to achieve a well-rounded approach to mental health.‍

Elyse Sipka is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with over a decade of experience as a mental health RN in outpatient, inpatient, and residential settings, including eating disorder treatment centers, inpatient psychiatric units, and crisis units. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021 and has been practicing as a PMHNP in an outpatient setting for over four years, caring for adults with a wide range of mental health needs including depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, substance use, eating disorders, and severe mental illness.

Elyse creates a safe and supportive environment where patients feel heard and valued. She is warm, empathetic, and approachable, providing comprehensive and holistic care that combines medication management, therapy, and lifestyle interventions to help clients achieve their treatment goals.

Elyse begins with an in-depth initial assessment exploring physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. She collaborates with clients to develop individualized treatment plans, integrating medication management with psychotherapy using principles of supportive therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Dr. Farias is a board-certified physician in both adult and child & adolescent psychiatry, with a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and ADHD. Dr. Farias graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston, majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She then pursued her medical education at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, earning her Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Farias completed a three-year psychiatric residency at TTUHSC, followed by fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry. She completed her first year of fellowship at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and her second year at TTUHSC. With a diverse clinical background, Dr. Farias has gained experience in a variety of settings, including academic psychiatry, consult liaison psychiatry, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), emergency psychiatry, and outpatient psychiatry. This broad range of experience allows her to provide comprehensive, individualized care to patients at all stages of life. Dr. Farias takes a holistic approach to treatment, incorporating both medication management and psychotherapy. She utilizes principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and supportive psychotherapy, recognizing that a combined approach leads to better outcomes for patients.

Dr. Meyen graduated from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency training at Harvard South Shore. She completed a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry through Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Meyen was employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs for 10 years prior to joining Talkiatry. She is board certified in both adult and geriatric psychiatry. She specializes in depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, and many other mental health disorders.

Dr. Meyen is a Harvard trained, board certified, adult psychiatrist who specializes in creating individually tailored treatment plans for patients using high quality evidence and up-to-date clinical guidelines. She has a passion for shared decision making, which means empathetic listening to each patient, and making a customized plan that supports their individual values and preferences.  

When meeting with a patient for the first time, Dr. Meyen carefully reviews current symptoms, past history, patient values/preferences. She works with the patient to develop individual treatment goals. Dr. Meyen values developing a trusting relationship with each patient and wants each patient to feel heard and valued.

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Dr. Rachel Bennett is a double board-certified physician in General Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  She graduated magna cum laude from Rosemont College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with dual minors in Biochemistry and English Literature.  She earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine with a concentration in Medical Humanities.  Dr. Bennett completed residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Her areas of research interest and publication during undergraduate and medical study and training have included pediatric palliative care, caregiver burden, autism spectrum disorders, and attachment-based family therapy.

Before joining Talkiatry, Dr. Bennett worked for nearly 12 years as a staff psychiatrist for Prospect Crozer Keystone Health System.  Her extensive clinical experience includes providing in-person and telepsychiatric care in a variety of settings including outpatient psychotherapy and community mental healthcare practices, hospital-based clinics, and school-based treatment programs, as well as emergency, consultation-liaison, and inpatient psychiatry.

Dr. Bennett’s treatment approach features an appreciation of the power of narrative in pursuit of deep self-understanding and meaningful personal progress.  She offers thorough assessment in an approachable, warm, and authentic manner, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle factors, the mind-body connection, relationships, and therapeutic rapport in collaboratively empowering her patients to achieve positive change, recovery, and resilience.  She has training and experience in a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including supportive, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family psychotherapy as well as positive psychology, and Dr. Bennett’s strong systems-oriented perspective facilitates her provision of evidence-based care both as an individual psychiatrist and in collaboration with specialized medical and therapeutic care providers when appropriate.

Cecilia Wild is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a strong background in treating patients across the mental health spectrum. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University and began her career in a women’s residential facility specializing in mood disorders, eating disorders, and PTSD. She then transitioned to inpatient adolescent psychiatry, where she became a charge nurse and obtained her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Inspired by her passion for mental health, she pursued her master's degree at the University of St. Francis to become a PMHNP.  

Cecilia has extensive experience treating patients at all levels of care, including inpatient, PHP/IOP, and outpatient settings. She later transitioned to telehealth, providing medication management to college students. She is passionate about mental health advocacy, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.  

Cecilia takes a team-based, individualized approach to care. She believes in the importance of education, open communication, and empowering patients in their treatment journey. She emphasizes a holistic perspective, incorporating medication management, therapy, and lifestyle modifications.  

Cecilia prioritizes a trauma-informed approach, recognizing the significant role trauma plays in mental health. She integrates mindfulness techniques, motivational interviewing, and lifestyle changes to support overall well-being. By fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, she helps patients build resilience and achieve their mental health goals.