Jessica Brusgul, LMHC

Dr. Scot McKay is board certified in Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. He graduated medical school from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He completed his residency and child/adolescent fellowship trainings at the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Center in Denver, CO. Previously, he has worked on the inpatient and partial hospitalization child/adolescent psychiatric units at Children's Hospital Colorado as well as in the school-based health clinics through Denver Health in partnership with Denver Public Schools. He has also worked in community mental health at the Mental Health Cooperative clinics throughout the Middle Tennessee region. He most recently joined a private practice before joining Talkiatry. He has been named to the Nashville Lifestyles Magazine's Top Doctors list in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. McKay enjoys working with patients going through life transitions such as high school to college and college to adult life. He believes it is important to understand the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) when treating them. He treats people struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and ADHD, as well as trouble with relationships and family conflict. Dr. McKay provides both medication management and therapy. He believes that medication is just one of the items in a psychiatrist's toolbox and that therapy is equally important as medication.

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.

Ana Castro, LMHC received a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Queens College, City University of New York. She completed training at F.E.G.S and has worked in community mental health and outpatient hospital-based settings. Ana has 7 years of experience working with individuals as well as with children and families treating anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues, and other mental health issues. Ana uses methods from psychoanalysis, CBT, DBT, along with light supportive therapy in order to provide a person-centered approach. She began by working at New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center, working with individuals, as well as children and families in a high-risk area, providing family therapy, psychodynamic and behavioral therapy, and assisting with the coordination of care with outside agencies. Ana has worked at St. Joseph's Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic treating patients with various psychiatric illnesses. She has also worked at St. Vincent's- Westchester Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic, providing intake, diagnosis, and individual therapy to a population ranging from adolescents to late adults. Ana continues to work towards expanding her knowledge of evidence-based approaches in order to provide the best outcomes.

Dr. Danielle Jackson is a board certified Adult Psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is a graduate of Yale University's Psychiatry Residency and Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Jackson's practice focuses on a combination of psychopharmacology (medication) and psychotherapy techniques including supportive therapy, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. She approaches care from an individualized, patient-centered, collaborative perspective. She often integrates evidence-based lifestyle recommendations in areas such as nutrition, sleep hygiene, exercise, and stress management tools in treatment to help patients achieve their wellness goals. Her interests include adjustment disorder, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD and trauma-related disorders. In addition, she enjoys helping patients navigate the challenges that can accompany changes in life (careers, parenthood, relationships, chronic illness). Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Jackson served as medical director for substance use and co-occurring disorders at Sunset Terrace Family Health Centers at NYU Langone. She has experience caring for a diverse patient population including those with perinatal mood disorders (postpartum anxiety/depression), substance use disorders and those from minoritized and marginalized communities.

Amber Gordon, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to providing personalized mental health care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from the University of Memphis, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Union University, and a nursing practice degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

With over a decade of clinical experience, Gordon has worked in a variety of settings, including psychiatry, intensive care, and dialysis. Her psychiatric experience spans inpatient and outpatient care, as well as residential and correctional facilities. She has served diverse populations, addressing a wide range of mental health conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and perinatal psychiatric conditions.

Gordon’s approach to mental health emphasizes the complex interplay between mental and physical well-being, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors. She integrates conventional medicine with alternative therapies, recognizing the importance of medication while also advocating for therapy, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. This holistic philosophy reflects her belief in each patient’s unique journey to mental wellness. Her therapeutic style is described as warm, empathetic, and empowering, with a strong focus on building a trusting and connected therapeutic relationship.

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Dr. Kirk Carruthers is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience in both outpatient and inpatient psychiatry, as well as addiction medicine. He completed his medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine and trained at University Hospitals – Case Medical Center, where he completed general psychiatry residency and fellowships in addiction and community psychiatry. His experience includes roles in community mental health, academic teaching, and the VA system. Outside of work, he enjoys music production, soccer, spending time with loved ones, and all dogs.

Dr. Carruthers brings a casual, easygoing communication style to create a comfortable space where patients feel at ease. He emphasizes forming strong therapeutic bonds based on trust, and combines supportive therapy with medication management. He encourages collaboration with therapists and uses evidence-based treatment approaches tailored to each individual’s needs.

Dr. Carruthers begins with a thorough understanding of each patient's concerns, history, and goals. He then creates a personalized treatment plan and works collaboratively with the patient to reach their goals, adjusting care as needed for ongoing progress.

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