John Hendrick, MD

Dr. Matthew Hamilton is a psychiatrist who works with adults at all stages of life in improving mental health. He emphasizes a holistic approach in collaboration with patients to help them identify and achieve their goals. He has experience helping adults from a diversity of backgrounds with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, panic, OCD, ADHD, substance use and autism spectrum disorder. He offers one-hour initial consultation appointments, as well as 20 to 30 minutes for follow-up visits. Dr. Hamilton received his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, his medical degree at Texas Tech University Health and Sciences Center, and completed his residency training at the University of Texas Medical Branch. During training he worked primarily with adults in local clinics and acute care hospitals in the greater Houston area. He was honored with an award for his accomplishments in psychotherapy during his senior year of residency. Dr. Hamilton offers his expertise in both medication management and psychotherapy in his practice, including cognitive, behavioral, motivational, and supportive therapies. He will collaborate with your therapist when you are working with one and may offer a referral to a specialist therapist if indicated.

Bethanie is a board-certified Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing credentials and a Master’s in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing, where she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She has been in practice for over 10 years, providing care to individuals with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Bethanie also has a strong passion for supporting women’s mental health during the perinatal phase of life.

She believes in a collaborative partnership with her clients, working together to develop a mutually agreed-upon plan of action that maximizes the chances of success.

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Dr. Ernesto Gonzalez is a board certified adult psychiatrist. He completed his undergraduate training at Yale University and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at the Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School Adult Psychiatry Training Program. Dr. Gonzalez prefers a holistic approach that takes the time to know the whole patient, incorporating biological, psychological, social, and cultural perspectives in crafting a comprehensive, individualized, treatment plan. He practices medication management combined with supportive therapy, typically delivered within 30 minute sessions. Elements of psychodynamic, dialectical behavior and cognitive-behavioral therapy will also be incorporated into sessions based on a patient's individual needs. If additional therapy is needed, Dr. Gonzalez will recommend the addition of an individual therapist to the patient's treatment team. Having dedicated his career to adult outpatient psychiatry, Dr. Gonzalez has worked with patients from a wide range of ages, cultures, ethnicities, and social settings across the New York City area. His primary focus is working with patients with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD. He also values working with people adjusting to changes in their lives, whether it be grieving the loss of a loved one, changes in employment, relationships, or adjusting to changes that come with age. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Gonzalez was an Assistant Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and served as Director of the Adult Outpatient Psychiatric Department, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team, and Collaborative Care Departments at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He also had a small practice near his home. Dr. Gonzalez has also had a lifelong interest in meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. This interest has taken him as far away as the townships of Cape Town, South Africa and as close as his local diner, and it edifies the work he does with patients.

Dr. Ankila S. Chandran is a board certified general psychiatrist at Talkiatry with over 20 years of experience treating a diverse population of patients. After graduating with her doctorate in Communication Theory and Research from the University of Southern California she attended the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Northern California and then completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and became board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry in 2006. Dr. Chandran has spent the past 20 years fulfilling her passion for practicing integrated and holistic care for adults suffering from mental illness. Her years of experience include working as a Clinical Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, being an examiner for the oral boards for psychiatrists seeking board certification, engaging in longer term inpatient treatment for chronically ill patients and facilitating consultation-liaison psychiatry with other medical specialties as well as practicing general outpatient psychiatry. Dr. Chandran has an informal and approachable style when treating individuals who suffer from a variety of complex diagnoses, she explains conditions well and helps educate her patients about how to be actively engaged in living their best lives. Concurrent with medication management, Dr. Chandran provides supportive psychotherapy and she has psychodynamic therapy skills that help address the root causes of her patients' distress. If Dr. Chandran feels you would benefit from working separately with a weekly to every other week therapist in conjunction with getting medication management, she welcomes collaboration with your therapist to achieve optimal results. Dr. Chandran strives to empower her patients in advocating for themselves and in achieving an optimal integration of their mental and physical health.

Dr. Deringer is a psychiatrist with board certification in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. She earned her M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School, and she completed her psychiatry residency and addiction psychiatry fellowship training at New York University. She has previously held faculty roles at New York University School of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. She has been involved in training the next generation of psychiatrists through her past work on the Program Director team for the MGH-McLean Psychiatry Residency Program. She has expertise in treating adults with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, personality disorders, trauma, and ADHD.

Dr. Deringer cares deeply about understanding each patient's unique experience.  She recognizes that mental health symptoms are impacted by an individual's biological make-up, social situation, and their individual way of interacting with others in the world.  She will assess all of these factors and work with you to develop an appropriate treatment plan to help you feel better and meet your goals.  She incorporates supportive psychotherapy into all of her patient meetings; this may include discussions of the role of nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits in your overall well-being.

Dr. Deringer will begin the evaluation process with a thorough one-hour session in which we will discuss your current symptoms, your prior treatment history, your medical history, and your goals for treatment.  At the end of that session, she will begin to formulate her diagnostic impression and treatment recommendations.  Sometimes, the evaluation process may require more than one session, and it may be helpful for Dr. Deringer to gather information, with your permission, from prior treatment or to collaborate with your therapist if you have one.  Dr. Deringer will work with you on a medication treatment plan, if clinically indicated, to help you manage your symptoms and achieve your treatment goals.

Dr. Meena Shah is a board-eligible psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 16 years. She specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Shah's practice focuses on medication management in conjunction with supportive and emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow up visits. Dr. Shah believes in the importance of building a therapeutic relationship with her patients and families to help achieve their emotional goals. Dr. Shah completed her residency training through Richmond University Medical Center with NY Medical College and completed her fellowship at Brookdale University Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Shah has extensive experience with the child and adolescent population and worked with foster care programs as well as juvenile residential facility programs .Dr. Shah served as Children's Associate Medical Director at Directions for Living Mental Health Clinic and went on to become Medical Director at Sequel Care of Florida. In addition, Dr. Shah also received her Master's degree in Hyperbaric Medicine. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Florida with a major in psychology. Dr. Shah's primary clinical focus has been treating children, and young adults with ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, and helping them establish coping skills to overcome any life obstacle.