John Whittier, MD

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Christa DeFries is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist. She earned her  medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and  completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at Baylor Scott & White in  Temple, Texas. Following residency, Dr. DeFries gained additional experience  treating homeless and formerly homeless populations in New York City,  particularly focusing on individuals with histories of trauma and substance  addiction, prior to joining Talkiatry.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. DeFries practices Adult Psychiatry, employing an integrative treatment  approach combining medication management, psychotherapeutic methods, and  lifestyle modifications. She recognizes that each patient benefits from a  personalized mix of these three aspects of care. Dr. DeFries specializes in  treating diverse psychiatric conditions, including those related to trauma,  substance addictions, and various mental health disorders.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

In a first visit with Dr. DeFries, patients can expect a comprehensive  evaluation aimed at understanding their individual mental health history,  specific concerns, and overall treatment goals. Dr. DeFries emphasizes an  individualized approach, carefully exploring the best combination of  medication, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments tailored specifically to each  patient's needs. Patients can anticipate an empathetic and collaborative  environment focused on their personal experiences and goals.    

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Why Talkiatry?    

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great  care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our  providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.

Dr. Natalie Cummings is a board-certified adult psychiatrist, and board-eligible geriatric psychiatrist. She obtained her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and completed her residency training in psychiatry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital. She then went on to complete her geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. During her fellowship, Dr. Cummings participated in Mount Sinai's Visiting Doctors Program, providing patient-centered and compassionate care to homebound elder adults in New York City. She also received training at Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center on Roosevelt Island during her fellowship, and presented at the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry annual meeting. During her training, Dr. Cummings gained extensive experience providing psychiatric care to various patient populations in multiple patient care settings, including in the outpatient clinic, inpatient unit, and emergency department. Following her training, Dr. Cummings worked at New York Presbyterian's Gracie Square Hospital, serving first in the position of float psychiatrist, providing care to patients on every inpatient psychiatric unit (including the young adult/college student program, Orthodox Jewish program, psychotic disorders program, crisis-stabilization program, dual focus program, and Asian Psychiatry program), before transitioning to an established psychiatric attending for the older adult program. During her time at Gracie Square Hospital, Dr. Cummings received the Physician of the Year Award, and served as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. She worked closely alongside staff psychologist, social workers and nurses to provide multidisciplinary, collaborative care to patients suffering from a variety of mental health conditions. Dr. Cummings primarily focuses on medication management and supportive psychotherapy, but has extensive training in utilizing various therapy modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, reminiscence therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy. When appropriate, Dr. Cummings will refer for more extensive psychotherapy and/or collaborate with your established psychotherapist for comprehensive care. Dr. Cummings strongly believes that addressing psychosocial and interpersonal factors (including relationship health, economic stressors, social isolation and loneliness) is as essential as pharmacologic management in treating mental health conditions. She has particular experience and interest in treating older adults and those suffering from memory disorders, but provides treatment for a variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders, trauma-related disorders and substance use disorders. Dr. Cummings is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry.

Dr. Jane Eisen comes to Talkiatry from her previous position at McLean Hospital, in Boston, where she was Clinical Director of the Depression and Anxiety Division, overseeing the integration of clinical work, faculty development, and research in the division. Clinically, she has experience working with people with significant mood and anxiety difficulties. Dr. Eisen's practice focuses on using an integrated approach to the understanding and treatment of individuals' psychosocial stresses and psychiatric symptoms. Her sessions are usually 30 minutes. She frequently suggests including a family member or friend in at least one session to get a comprehensive sense of each person's strengths and challenges. She received her medical degree from NYU and completed her psychiatric residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She spent a number of years in the Brown system, as Training Director for the Brown Psychiatry Residency and as Vice-Chair of the Brown Department of Psychiatry. For several years, she served as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai West/St. Lukes' prior to her position at McLean, as Clinical Director of the McLean Hospital Depression and Anxiety Division. She has worked primarily with outpatients with the exception of a recent period of residential work at the Pavilion at McLean Hospital. Dr. Eisen is a general psychiatrist with a focus on anxiety disorders, OCD, and mood disorders. She is interested in the impact of trauma and personality and has extensive experience working with young adults.

Dr. Kevin DiCesare is a board-certified psychiatrist, treating adults. He received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and then went on to train at Maine Medical Center for his psychiatric residency. He has 22 years of expertise in diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, Bipolar spectrum disorders, adjustment problems, ADHD and other disorders. He is well versed in psychopharmacological interventions, but is a proponent of patients also being active in psychotherapy whenever appropriate. He prides himself in collaboratively arriving at treatment decisions with his patients, and taking the time to listen to their concerns and answer their questions.

Dr. DiCesare has worked in various settings, including community mental health centers and large hospital systems, with experience in inpatient, outpatient, and consultative roles. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he most recently served as an attending psychiatrist on the staff of Southern New Hampshire Health System, where he provided consultative care to referrals made from primary care providers and various specialists.

Dr. Peter Szeibel is board certified in adult psychiatry and has been practicing for over 36 years. His practice has focused primarily on medication management within the context of a supportive psychotherapeutic relationship. He also utilizes cognitive behavioral techniques. If the patient requires more intensive psychotherapy, Dr. Szeibel refers the patient to a therapist and collaborates with the therapist. Dr. Szeibel has experience in treating Depressive Disorders, PTSD, Panic Disorder, OCD, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, and many other conditions. He feels his personal strengths include his inquisitiveness, scientific curiosity, and his desire to understand his patients better. Dr. Szeibel was born in Hungary, just a few months before the Hungarian Revolution against the Soviets broke out in 1956. He and his family fled under difficult circumstances and immigrated to the United States. Dr. Szeibel grew up in New York City. He attended The Bronx High School of Science, followed by Columbia University for his B.A., where he took a double major in chemistry and music. After obtaining his M.D. from S.U.N.Y in Syracuse, he returned to New York City for residency and fellowship training. During this time he won the Bendheim Fellowship Award at Cohen Children's Medical Center for his research study which examined the effects of background music on the academic performance of children with ADHD. His current areas of interest include adult ADHD, psychiatric and medical co-morbidities, and the LGBTQ population.

Dr. Saisha Jackson is a board-certified psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate training at Hampton University followed by medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She has completed a Residency in Psychiatry at Howard University.

She has a genuine interest in treating a vast array of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and obsessive compulsive and related disorders. She specializes in psychopharmacology. Her practice focuses on medication management, and typically offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits.