Jessica Mars, LCSW

Mu Xu, MD is a Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He obtained his medical doctorate degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and PhD from New York University. He completed his psychiatry residency at New York University. Dr Xu is licensed to practice in California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Dr. Xu provides both medication management for a variety of psychiatric conditions. Dr. Xu is fluent in English and Mandarin. Dr. Xu is a general adult psychiatrist specializing in medication management. He values building strong connections with patients from all walks of life and tailoring treatments to their unique needs. His working style is characterized by attentive listening, detailed follow-up questions, and straightforward communication, fostering a collaborative and empathetic environment.

Lisha Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with over 23 years of extensive experience working in the mental health field. Lisha has worked with clients facing a variety of life's challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as perinatal and postpartum mental health. She attended undergraduate school in Albany, GA, and graduate school in Valdosta, GA. Lisha is deeply committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Lisha's approach to therapy involves engaging each client with warmth and enthusiasm. She encourages them to be active participants on their journey of emotional growth, healing, and empowerment. Lisha uses therapeutic expertise and various inner-healing approaches to teach clients restorative self-care practices, exercises that cultivate emotional awareness, strategies to manage unhealthy thoughts, and methods to change undesirable behaviors. Working with Lisha, clients can expect to take away from each session a plan of action with detailed steps, easy to apply skills and practical strategies to help them manage stress, heal from hurtful experiences, improve their communication skills and strengthen boundaries in their relationships. They will gain a better understanding about how and why they feel uncomfortable emotions and why they experience strong reactions in response to those associated thoughts.

Dr. Ioana Horotan-Enescu is a board-certified Psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she was an Active-Duty staff psychiatrist at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY. Her military service also included roles such as Medical Director of Behavioral Health and Interim Clinic Chief for Embedded Behavioral Health Clinic. She completed her internship and residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and earned her Doctor of Osteopathy Degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her clinical experience spanned from the inpatient to the outpatient setting and afforded her the opportunity to develop comprehensive skills in the treatment of PTSD, mood disorders, thought disorders, addiction and perinatal mood disorders. Her teaching experience spanned multiple institutions, where she has served as a preceptor and mentor for medical students, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students. In addition to medication management, she augments her practice by implementing mindfulness, psychodynamic and supportive therapy techniques in her everyday practice to enhance treatment and improve treatment response. Dr. Horotan-Enescu holds several certifications, including in Cognitive Behavioral Health Therapy for Suicide Prevention, Motivational Interviewing and Battlefield Acupuncture. She has delivered presentations at national and international conferences on various topics, reinforcing her commitment to advancing the field of psychiatry.

Dr. Robert Smeed, DO, is a board-certified psychiatrist with a passion for healing the human mind and consciousness. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Psychiatry Residency at Wayne State University College of Medicine. Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), Dr. Smeed served as an outpatient psychiatrist at Veterans Affairs for 11 years, honing his expertise in mental health care. Driven by a deep interest in consciousness and innovative treatments, he combines talking therapies, neuromodulation, and modern psychopharmacology to help patients achieve lasting wellness.

Dr. Smeed is proficient in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions while specializing in treatment-resistant depression, neurodevelopmental disorders, anxiety and trauma disorders. His treatment style is empathic and collaborative, emphasizing family dynamics and relationships while integrating psychodynamic principles with biopsychosocial models. He approaches each patient with creativity, using open-ended discussions and innovative therapeutic and psychopharmacologic strategies to tailor care, ensuring a personalized and effective treatment experience.

Dr. Smeed begins with open-ended dialogue, allowing patients to develop their narrative, which is often therapeutic. Treatment plans are customized to patient needs and align with diagnostic standards of care. He incorporates medication reviews, mindfulness techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), supportive therapy, and psychodynamic approaches. Dr. Smeed also educates patients on lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise, to support mental health, fostering a holistic and individualized path to wellness.

Dr. Catherine Shim is a board-certified psychiatrist and completed her training at the University of Washington, where she received additional certifications in Psychotherapy and Community Psychiatry.  Prior to joining Talkiatry, she spent years serving the mental health needs of underserved communities as well as our Veteran population.  Dr. Cat is excited to bring that same dedication and selfless service to her Talkiatry patients!

Dr. Cat is experienced in managing a multitude of mental health conditions, but her specialty is providing behaviorally oriented trauma-informed care.  Her approach is to treat primarily through psychotherapy and behavioral change, with medication management serving as an important (and often essential) adjuvant to optimizing mental health.

Dr. Cat tends to have a very casual engagement style, so expect a frank but open conversation during your first meetings with her.  Following that initial screening, anticipate a candid discussion about her approach to your condition and an initial treatment plan.  Please feel free to bring up any questions or concerns at any time during this process, and note-taking is highly encouraged!

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Tracey Elle is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in psycho-somatic manifestations of stress, anxiety, trauma, perinatal support, postpartum/variable presentations of depression, parenting support, and grief (loss of loved ones/menopause/life transitions/unfulfilled goals).

Tracey utilizes psychodynamic, CBT, and solutions-oriented approaches to patient centered care. Tracey has worked with individuals from all walks of life, LGBTQIA+ community and age groups.  

Tracey is committed to providing a comfortable and safe therapeutic environment in order to support the journey to a new path of emotional freedom and wholeness of mind, body and spirit, judgment free. She is committed to working alongside you to fine tune the coping strategies that you already have and help you uncover new mechanisms to add to your self-care toolbox.