Jency Sachadanandam, MD

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Dr. Caitlin Gardiner is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr. Caitlin Gardiner's practice is based on the biopsychosocial model and believes that the foundation of healing is in psychotherapy and human connection. She is known for incorporating therapy into her medication management practice. Typically she offers 30-minute follow-up visits for medication management with focused therapy based on individual needs. As a known helper, Dr. Gardiner started her career with a bachelor's degree in social work from Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY. After changing career paths, she received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. She stayed upstate to complete her general psychiatry residency, where she was chief resident at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this, she completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Upstate due to the high quality of training. Dr. Gardiner has completed 3 years of advanced training in Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy as well as specialized training in DBT. Dr. Gardiner is a well-rounded psychiatrist who enjoys treating youth and young adults during transitional phases of life while providing a safe and supportive environment. She believes strongly in reducing polypharmacy and providing high-quality medication management through a therapeutic and developmental lens.

Caitlin Tillberg, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Caitlin Tillberg (she/her) is a board-certified psychiatrist. She has a BA in musicology and cognitive science from Oberlin College, an MD from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, and completed general adult psychiatry residency at Duke University. Dr. Tillberg practices patient-centered and trauma-informed care, valuing patient autonomy and collaborative decision-making, acknowledging the burden many people carry from intersecting oppressions. She believes therapy is important � often equally important as medication, or more � and will work together with you to make a realistic treatment plan that will fit into your life. Dr. Tillberg also has a niche working with people with complicated relationships with their bodies, whether due to disordered eating, gender dysphoria, chronic illness/disability, or trauma. She welcomes LGBTQ+ patients, including trans and non-binary adults. She also enjoys working with patients with OCD, as well as autistic/neurodivergent adults (including those seeking adult autism evaluation). Please note Talkiatry is most appropriate for autistic patients with Level 1 (or case-by-case Level 2) support needs and who are verbal. Regarding eating disorders: Please note that for patient safety, per Talkiatry policy, Dr. Tillberg is unable to work with patients with current active anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (or significant relapse in the last 6 months), or with patients requiring current regular medical or lab monitoring for complications of binge-eating disorder or ARFID. Bariatric surgery patients are welcome if medically stable. Patients with current disordered eating that does not rise to the level of a formal diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia, or with a past history of anorexia or bulimia in sustained remission, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis at the first appointment. Dr. Tillberg looks forward to meeting you.

Richard Rise, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Richard Rise has created a successful career as a psychiatrist over the past 30 years. He has participated in a variety of treatment settings and has developed a wealth of experience at both prescribing medications, providing therapy, counseling, and even coaching. He takes an individual approach to treating others, recognizing individuals as unique and worthy of love, respect, and acceptance. He is compassionate, non-judgmental, and truly enjoys helping others. He tends to gravitate towards a combination of medication management (if indicated) and psychotherapy where he treats all facets of the individual. Dr. Rise believes that we are all unique and should be treated as such. He spent most of his career in private practice until deciding to retire in 2014. After this he spent the next 3 1/2 years, reading, studying, traveling, and spending time with his loved ones. In 2018 he was offered a position as a consultant overseeing Ketamine infusion therapy for treating treatment-resistant depression. When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, Dr. Rise was asked to assist a local psychiatric hospital deal with the unique and often deadly consequences of the virus. This proved to be a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and to improve the quality of life of many others. After working at the hospital for the 2 years, Dr. Rise joined Talkiatry to continue providing high-quality psychiatric care to others in a very loving, supportive, creative, and collaborative environment.

Shelah Radke, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Shelah Radke, MD, JD, is a double board-certified Child and Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist with over a decade of extensive experience in mental health care, specializing in the well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. She currently serves in St. Louis, MO, where she is known for her dynamic leadership as a Medical Director and her robust clinical practice. Throughout her career, Dr. Radke has held pivotal roles, including Medical Director of Crisis Psychiatry Services at Mercy Hospital and key positions in several reputable outpatient clinics across the U.S. Her clinical acumen spans a diverse range of settings, from private practice and crisis care to specialized programs in residential and educational institutions. A staunch advocate for evidence-based approaches, Dr. Radke integrates lifestyle and pharmacological interventions to foster mental health resilience among her patients. She is particularly passionate about the shared decision-making model, which enhances patient empowerment and satisfaction by actively involving them in their treatment plans. Dr. Radke's academic contributions are equally notable. She has developed educational curriculums that significantly improve health outcomes and has shared her expertise through numerous media appearances and professional talks. Her commitment to medical education is reflected in her mentorship of nurse practitioners and her involvement in creating community psychiatry programs. Complementing her medical expertise, Dr. Radke holds a Juris Doctorate, with a focus on public health and social policy, which enriches her understanding of the legal and systemic aspects of healthcare. Her approach is deeply holistic, informed by her training in integrative medicine and her personal commitment to wellness, which she practices through nutrition, exercise, and travel with her family. Dr. Radke's professional journey is driven by a commitment to optimizing mental health outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for her patients and their families.

Richard McColl, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Richard McCall is a board-certified psychiatrist with over 25 years of comprehensive experience in delivering exceptional mental health services across various settings. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his Psychiatry residency training at Duke University School of Medicine. He treats adult patients of all ages and is known for a compassionate, patient-centered approach. Dr. McColl integrates psychopharmacology with multiple psychotherapy modalities. He has specialized training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and more. He looks forward to helping patients reach their goals for mental health care while providing a compassionate and collaborative environment.

Violetta Aranda, LPC

Staff Licensed Professional Counselor

Violetta Aranda, LPC is a native South Texan and second generation Mexican- American. She is a 2011 graduate of St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas and obtained full LPC licensure in Texas in August of 2017. Her practice focuses on cognitive behavioral modalities within a humanistic client-centered approach to foster healing through self-acceptance and self-awareness. She has over a decade's worth of experience working within the mental health field and fifteen years working directly with children and adolescents in various capacities. Before joining Talkiatry, Miss Aranda practiced exclusively within the community health sector and these experiences provided the opportunity to become fully immersed in Trauma and Crisis Management and fostered the passion for evolving research in the treatment of trauma-informed care. She now aspires to utilize these allocated experiences and passion for the field to promote mental health awareness, client advocacy, and quality of care.

Zeynep Altun, MD, PhD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Zeynep Altun is board-certified in Psychiatry and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Dr. Altun graduated cum laude from Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical School. She completed her residency training in Neurology and is Turkish board-certified in clinical Neurology. Subsequently, she moved to the U.S. and finished her Ph.D. in cellular Neuroscience at Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Dr. Altun completed her psychiatry residency training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and after, her clinical fellowship in Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at Columbia University Medical College, New York Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Altun has practiced in various settings including Bellevue Hospital, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia Doctors Faculty Practice Office, Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside Hospitals. Dr. Altun has held various academic appointments at New York University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry; New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical College Department of Psychiatry; New York State Psychiatric Institute and Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. She spent most of her professional career supervising and teaching medical students, psychiatry residents and nurse practitioners. As an adult psychiatrist, Dr. Altun has extensive theoretical knowledge of the nervous system and its disorders and more than 10 years of experience in treating various mental illnesses including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, autism-spectrum and neuropsychiatric disorders, psychiatric emergencies and crisis management as well as cognitive behavioral and supportive psychotherapy. In Columbia Doctors, she collaborated closely with the Lieber Recovery Clinic, treating young adults with various mental illnesses. The philosophy of her practice is to collaborate with patients and work together with them so that they can lead symptom-free, productive, and stable lives.

Siera Kirkland, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Siera Kirkland is an adult general psychiatrist. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has been practicing for 8 years. Dr. Kirkland focuses on collaborative and evidence-based care. She believes it is imperative to form a therapeutic relationship with each individual and work together as a team to formulate the best treatment plan. Her passion is to educate, empower, and support. She specializes in medication management and brief psychotherapy .Dr. Kirkland received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at The Cleveland Clinic Akron General and Summa HealthSystem in her hometown of Akron, OH. Upon completion of residency, she relocated to Charlotte, NC to start her career as the Lead Psychiatrist at Novant Health Psychiatric Associates- Matthews. Dr. Kirkland has experience in treating various patient populations. Her areas of focus have been perinatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. She has also worked with adults with co-occurring substance use disorders. Special interests include women's health and minority mental health disparities.‍For established patients of Dr. Kirkland, call 917-634-5311 to schedule an appointment and let the care coordinator know you are an established patient.

Mustafa Taquee, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Mustafa Taquee is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, he completed his medical degree at Oakland University William Beaumont in Rochester, MI. He is a graduate of the Adult Psychiatry Residency Program at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, MI. As a testament to Dr. Taquee's desire to help patients reach their full potential, he has also completed a psychotherapy fellowship through the Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. Dr. Taquee believes that every patient brings their own mosaic of experiences embedded in a unique story. He understands that building a strong therapeutic relationship through empathy, compassion, trust, and respect is essential. He enjoys taking time to understand his patient's goals, offer psychoeducation, and create a collaborative plan for treatment with the patient. He believes in a holistic approach to mental health treatment, which includes medication management, supportive and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, as well as mind-body medicine techniques. He also has a special interest in psychodynamic therapy, an in-depth therapy modality, which he incorporates in all patient interactions and sessions. Due to the diversity and richness of culture in southeast Michigan, Dr.Taquee has experience working with patients from varied backgrounds. He enjoys the challenge such a heterogeneous environment brings and is particularly fond of working with young adults experiencing life transitions. He also has experience working with patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as adolescents and geriatric populations.

Rania Elkhatib, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Rania Elkhatib is a board-certified general psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical care, teaching, and research. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed her psychiatry residency at UTHealth Science Center in Houston, where she later served as an Assistant Clinical Professor. During that appointment, Dr. Elkhatib was heavily involved in medical education and has developed courses in cultural psychiatry and psychiatry boot camps for medical students.

Dr. Elkhatib specializes in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. Dr. Elkhatib focuses on evidence-based medication management but will also incorporate supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize treatment management and patient’s wellness. She is fluent in Arabic and English and has a strong interest in working with diverse patient populations.

Dr. Elkhatib has a holistic approach with focus on medication management while incorporating supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize patient wellness.

Robert Werner, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Blake Werner is an adult and addiction psychiatry board certified physician who has been in practice for the past 4 years. He received his medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX, before moving to charming Charleston, SC to complete his residency in adult psychiatry. Following residency, Dr. Werner navigated his way to the northeast to complete a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Post-fellowship, Dr. Werner joined the Yale faculty as an assistant professor and was employed through the Veterans Affairs, treating substance use disorders in an outpatient clinical setting. Through his clinical practice, Dr. Werner has worked with a variety of patients across the northeast via telemedicine to treat their general mental health concerns, substance use disorders, as well as behavioral addictions. While Dr. Werner's clinical practice post residency has primarily focused on substance use disorders, he has spent the last couple of years on the inpatient psychiatric setting, assisting patients with a wide variety of mental health conditions as well as enjoying time working with residents and medical students. In his role as a psychiatrist, Dr. Werner enjoys working collaboratively with patients to develop a beneficial and effective treatment plan aimed at fostering emotional well-being. While primarily utilizing medications as tools to assist patients in achieving their desired level of functioning, he is well versed in motivation enhancement therapy and prefers psychodynamic and supportive therapeutic processes. He is looking forward to meeting and working with you as you progress along your path of wellness.

Mekayla Davila, LMHC

Staff Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Mekayla Davila is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who has been in practice for 6 years. She has experience working with many diverse populations and mental health conditions. Mekayla attended graduate school at Teachers College Columbia University where she received an M.A. and M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. Her education and experience span both psychology and criminal justice fields as she has always been interested in their intersectionality. In previous roles, Mekayla has worked mostly with children, adolescents, and adults of minority populations, with focuses on treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and other stressor-related disorders. Mekayla strongly believes that every therapeutic interaction is unique, so she uses an eclectic approach, with foundations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Psychodynamic Therapy, to tailor treatment to the specific needs of each individual. Mekayla puts emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and finds it important to provide a safe and comforting environment for all.

Jency Sachadanandam, MD

Education and training

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