John Whittier, MD

Veronica McKnight received her Master's degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. She holds clinical social work licenses in Florida, Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. Ms.McKnight's key areas of practice include depression, anxiety, trauma, communication in relationships, parenting challenges, compassion fatigue and grief and bereavement. Ms. McKnight specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a strength based, solution focused approach. Ms. McKnight integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques.  Ms. McKnight has been certified as a Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ms. McKnight has held leadership and clinical roles in community mental health centers, housing programs, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

I am proficient in assisting clients to navigate transitions in all aspects of the life span. Over the past 30 years, my experience has taught me that the most important aspect of therapy is the connection and comfort you feel with the person with whom you choose to share your personal struggles.

I like to listen to what patients are telling me about what is important to them and what they would like to address in therapy.  We can then start to set goals together and work towards the outcomes they want.  We always go at a pace that is comfortable to the client.

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. Gloria J. Rodriguez is an Adult Psychiatrist based in New York. She has over 18 years of experience. Her focus is the treatment of Depression and Anxiety disorders using a combination of medication management and psychotherapy. Before joining Talkiatry, Dr. Rodriguez served as the Vice Chair for the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Morningside and West Hospitals. She earned her Bachelor's degree at the City College of New York. Dr. Rodriguez received her medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and completed her residency training at the Mount Sinai Hospital. She remained on staff thereafter, rising to the position of Division Chief of Inpatient Psychiatry until November 2014. In December 2014, Dr. Rodriguez moved to Mt Sinai Morningside and West, to assume the position of Director of the Acute Care Division. Over the following years, she effectively led numerous changes and improvements, including the establishment of the Child and Adolescent Unit that moved from Mount Sinai Hospital. She was promoted to Vice Chair in January 2019 with a focus on staff wellness, Safety, and Quality Practices.

Dr. Emily Wu has dedicated over a decade to the study and treatment of psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders, with a particular focus on advanced mediation management and cutting-edge therapies such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Spravato. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Wu completed her residency in General Psychiatry at the University of Texas at Houston, where she trained at one of the national largest psychiatric hospitals. She also holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Science from the University of Texas at Houston.

Dr. Wu has extensive experience in applying holistic approach on treating psychiatric illness country and has earned her a strong reputation among her patients. She is also deeply committed to advancing research in psychiatric disorders, particularly neurocognitive disorders. As a teaching physician at the University of Texas at Houston's General Psychiatry Residency Program, Dr. Wu is passionate about educating the next generation of psychiatrists.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Wu has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and serves on committees for several prestigious organizations, including the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians' Academic Committee.

Dr. Wu has been recognized with multiple national awards, including the American Association's Research Colloquium for Junior Investigators, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry's Ruth Fox Scholarship, and fellowships from the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. She also serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals. Her research focuses on exploring mechanisms and developing novel treatments for psychiatric disorders.

Vincent is a licensed professional counselor who has earned his full licensure from the State of Texas. Vincent earned his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in History from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance from Texas A&M San Antonio. Vincent's counseling approach is eclectic, utilizing various modalities including, but not limited to Gestalt, Reality, Narrative, and Solution focused therapy. He is devoted to empowering individuals to free themselves from the excessive burdens of life by a remorseless society. He encourages you to become genuinely free and absolutely understand that you are the master of your own destiny. Vincent's treatment specialties and experience include working with adults, seniors, and adolescents from diverse populations and cultures. Whose suffering included, but not limited to anger, depression, career dilemmas, anxiety, stress, marital problems, collegiate status, self-esteem, family issues, as well as other unforeseen predicaments life unveils. Vincent uses these modalities in a holistic approach assessing clients within their culture, environment, community, and family system to gain a better insight into your distinctive reality. This holistic approach allows us to work together and tailor therapy to your needs. Allowing our collaboration to address the root causes of your current state of wellbeing. Our sessions, along with my education, background, and extensive life experience, have given me a reinforced foundation to assist you in facing the harsh realities of the world. Vincent will inspire you to live your life to its fullest without regret and create healthy tools of positive armor that will guide you eternally. Vincent's platform of therapy will fortify your weaknesses, enhance your strengths, and alleviate your fears where your voice is amplified and capable of surviving the vile discernment of others.

Dr. Akhtar is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in compassionate and comprehensive mental health care. She focuses on medication management for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, providing supportive therapy to help individuals navigate life's challenges and enhance their overall well-being, while emphasizing lifestyle changes and the development of coping skills. Dr. Akhtar completed her medical degree at the American University of Antigua, gaining a profound understanding of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of mental health. Following her residency at Bergen, Newbridge Medical Center, where she was appointed Chief Resident in her fourth year, she worked for several years in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings. Committed to holistic wellness, Dr. Akhtar believes in empowering individuals to make positive changes in their lives and offers guidance on nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management techniques. She is dedicated to fostering a therapeutic alliance built on trust, empathy, and collaboration. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual under her care.