Jennifer Snowden, MD

Tracey Griffin is an LMHC and LPC who is dedicated to helping people align with their most authentic selves, holding credentials in NY, NJ, and FL. This includes addressing the struggles of mental health in an open, empathetic, and non-judgmental, therapeutic relationship. She is dedicated to establishing a collaborative working relationship with individuals to help achieve their goals while living a fulfilled and balanced life. Tracey received her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Pace University, followed by her Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from the same institution. She has been trained in performing biopsychosocial assessments and has an extensive history working as a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor exploring various approaches to recovery goals. Tracey's treatment approach is person-centered in conjunction with evidence-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing while remaining culturally sensitive and inclusive. She is well versed in harm reduction as well as abstinence-based approaches to addiction treatment and roots her practice to focus on treating the whole self, which can include exploration of spirituality and purpose. Tracey has experience working with individuals who experience co-occurring disorders, anxiety, depression, codependency, addiction, personality disorders, LGBTQ, men's issues, and trauma.

Racquel Ellis is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York with extensive experience working with the BIPOC community. She provides inclusive mental wellness services to individuals and families. Racquel has been providing mental health services to individuals and families for over a decade and has been a licensed mental health counselor for the past four years. She specializes in working with the BIPOC community and women, offering therapeutic support for mood disorders, trauma, life transitions, and other chronic challenges impacting overall well-being.

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.

Lopa Rana, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who has been practicing for over 29 years. Dr. Rana completed her medical school at B.J Medical College, Ahmedabad, India. Her Psychiatry training was at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She has practiced in varied settings, like being a faculty at SUNY Buffalo, a Private practice in a suburban town of Detroit, Michigan, for 4 years. She, then held a Senior Psychiatrist position at Henry Ford Behavioral Health for 14 years, in Michigan. She has been an Associate Professor at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. In the recent years, Dr. Ranahasd has been overseeing Outpatient Behavioral health at the Corewell Health William Beaumont hospital for the past 10 years. Throughout her career, she has been training and supervising Psychiatry Residents and Medical Students. Apart from being competent in the management of common Psychiatric conditions like Major Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, Psychotic disorders and ADHD, she has an expertise in Advanced Psychopharmacology with a specialty interest in Psychiatric disorders during the pregnancy and the postpartum period. She has almost 2 decades of experience in helping women manage the course of their Mood and Anxiety disorders during and after pregnancy. She has been the consultant for Maternal Fetal Medicine and Obstetricians at Corewell Health for women who have questions and concerns regarding planning, managing, and guiding them during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Rana has performed several Zulresso (Brexanolone) infusions for women with severe postpartum depression, with remarkable outcomes. Dr. Rana values greatly the safety of the customized treatment options for her patients and informed decision making with her patients. Apart from English, she is fluent in Gujarati and Hindi languages.

Candice Charles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor-Advanced (CASAC-A). She has worked with clients from diverse backgrounds, addressing a variety of mental health issues with co-occurring medical and substance use conditions. Candice earned a Bachelor's degree in her home country of Trinidad and Tobago, and her Master's in Social Work from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, and has been practicing since 2016. Candice offers supportive, strengths-based, and solution-focused therapy to help clients evoke a sense of hope, strength, and determination during challenging times. Her approach is eclectic, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, and mindfulness techniques, influenced by her personal practices. In addition to her clinical work, Candice teaches the Identity and Social Justice course at a University in New York, which keeps her attuned to how her clients, of various demographics, experience their environment, and its unique stressors.

Thomas Sargent, MD, holds a master's degree in pharmacology and a Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West/Morningside in New York City. Over the past four years, he has treated a wide range of mental health conditions in various clinical settings. Dr. Sargent has extensive experience treating mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders, PTSD, OCD, personality disorders, and substance use issues. He utilizes both medication management and psychotherapy to provide comprehensive care. Dr. Sargent has received specialized training at the VA and the Center for Intensive Treatment of Personality Disorders in NYC. Passionate about holistic treatment, Dr. Sargent considers the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence mental health. He believes in addressing core issues through targeted care rather than defaulting to prescribing multiple medications. Dr. Sargent strives to create a supportive environment where patients can openly express their concerns. He believes in shared decision-making to ensure that care is evidence-based but also tailored to each patient's unique needs. Dr. Sargent takes the time to thoroughly explain diagnoses and treatment options, empowering patients to make informed decisions about their mental health. His approach emphasizes patient autonomy and aims to build trust, leading to more effective and personalized care outcomes.