Jennifer Hewitt, PMHNP

Zakiyyah Weatherspoon is a dual-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience. Since 2011, she has worked in family medicine, and since 2013, she has focused on mental health care across the lifespan. Her background includes treating children, teens and adults in hospitals, private practices, and community settings.

Since 2017, Weatherspoon specialized in helping individuals manage depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, ODD, eating disorders, and substance use. She uses supportive therapy, solution-focused therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients feel heard, understood, and empowered.

Weatherspoon is passionate about breaking the stigma around mental health. She encourages her clients to speak up, get help, and take control of their mental wellness. Her approach is based on the Mental Health Recovery Model, which focuses on hope, healing, and building a life beyond diagnosis.

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Shaneika Lindsay, PMHNP, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to providing personalized and empathetic care to those in need of mental health care. Her academic journey began with a B.S. in Biology from the University at Albany. She later received her B.S. in Nursing from Pace University and attained her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner M.S. from Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, graduating magna cum laude. Shaneika's practice focuses on medication management. Occasionally, Shaneika may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. For the last seven years, Shaneika has diligently provided care to our nation's veterans, working on a dual diagnosis inpatient psychiatric unit in the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System. In her time at the VA, she has gained extensive experience in managing substance abuse and co-morbid psychiatric disorders. In addition, while attending Hunter College, she completed a yearlong clinical rotation at Casa Promesa, a mental health outpatient and inpatient facility that services some of the most vulnerable and underserved populations in the South Bronx. As a Nurse Practitioner, her primary focus is holistic care, taking into consideration all physical, psychological, interpersonal, and environmental factors when creating unique treatment plans. She strongly believes that all of these factors are interconnected and play a significant role in any individual's mental health and vitality. Shaneika's goal is to work with clients to create a safe, non-judgmental, and collaborative treatment environment that promotes sustained healing and positive self-development.

Serena Mirchandani is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience treating serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. She also provides care for individuals with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, autism spectrum disorder, and substance use disorders. Serena earned both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in psychiatry from Columbia University. She completed a Nurse Practitioner Fellowship at Community Healthcare Network and worked at Bellevue Hospital for 2.5 years, providing care on an inpatient psychiatric unit for a diverse, underserved population.

Serena’s approach is grounded in open communication, evidence-based care, and deep respect for each patient’s lived experience. She prioritizes a collaborative, safe space where individuals feel heard, respected, and empowered. Her holistic style supports honest conversation, transparency in treatment options, and patient-centered goals.

Serena begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand each patient's full story—biological, psychological, and social. She then partners with patients to develop personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that align with their values and goals. She emphasizes education, transparency, and regular follow-up to support ongoing progress and informed decision-making.

Dr Marc Whaley is a Board Certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry, with extensive clinical experience over the past 50 years, mostly in outpatient treatment, and some in-patient settings, in addition to Forensic (legal) ones. He received his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and his medical degree at Tufts Medical School in Boston, and then went on to train at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, for his psychiatry residency. He has held leadership roles, Chief of Department of Psychiatry in a community hospital, President of the local Psychiatric Chapter of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, and founder of a private group outpatient psychiatric practice on Cape Cod called The Psychiatric Collaborative. In 2018, he closed his private practice, seeking more free time in the later years. It did not take long, however, to get back to active practice, first by reviewing files for insurers around the issue of medical necessity, disability, and other psychiatric determinations. He got his first experience in Telepsychiatry when working remotely for a community hospital, far from his home, evaluating patients presenting to their busy ER; He experienced this as a practical and efficient way of delivering psychiatric services. When that contract ended after 3.5 years, he learned about and joined Talkiatry to work as a Staff Psychiatrist, in their well-organized comprehensive program. Dr. Whaley has been recognized by his peers for his career achievement, and he was the 2022 recipient of the Outstanding Psychiatrist Award for Clinical Psychiatry from the MA Psychiatric Society. He has also been a regular panel member, over the past 13 years, for a monthly NPR Radio Talk Show, ( WGBH Cape Cod affiliate, WCAI), The Point with Mindy Todd, focusing on multiple mental health topics.

Dr. Marcia Morris is a psychiatrist with over thirty years of experience providing medication management as well as supportive psychotherapy to adult patients. She takes a positive psychiatry approach to treatment, prescribing medication while supporting patient strengths, social connections, and healthy habits. She has worked with university students as well as employees in an employee assistance program. She provides care for patients with depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and ADHD. In her previous role as an Associate Professor at the University of Florida, she has done research on the increase in depression and anxiety as well as the increased use of psychiatric medications among university students. She has published academic papers and given national talks in these topics with the goal of decreasing stigma and improving mental health care for young adults. She is a founding member of the Association for College Psychiatry and a member of the American Psychiatric Association college mental health caucus. Dr. Morris provides education to the public about mental health as a writer and public speaker. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Huffington Post. She also has been interviewed on NPR and several podcasts. She currently writes a Psychology Today parenting blog "College Wellness: Promoting Happiness & Health in the College Years.” Her book, "The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health & Wellness for College Students,” was published January 2018. Dr. Morris has an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a medical degree from Yale, and psychiatry residency training at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Background and credentials

Dr. Yang is board-certified in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. She received her medical degree from the Medical School of Nanjing University in China and completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the State University of New York in Buffalo. She conducted neuroscience research at Tufts University and Columbia University. Dr. Yang completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – McGovern Medical School (UTHealth) and a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. She has held academic positions at Baylor College of Medicine, supervising medical students, residents, and physician assistant students.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Yang specializes in treating depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety, substance use disorders, ADHD, and trauma-related disorders. She employs medication management combined with supportive therapy and motivational interviewing techniques. Dr. Yang emphasizes building strong therapeutic relationships, tailoring treatment to each patient's unique goals and needs.

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What you can expect in a first visit

In the initial visit, patients can expect a detailed, personalized evaluation by Dr. Yang. She will explore symptoms, medical history, personal goals, and treatment preferences to design an individualized care plan. Patients can expect a compassionate, collaborative approach with clear communication about medication management options and supportive therapeutic strategies aimed at improving their overall well-being.

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Why Talkiatry?

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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