Jonathan Edwards, LPC

Background and credentials

Dr. Puja Kumar is trained in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry and is a board-certified pediatrician. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her pediatrics residency at Maimonides Medical Center in New York and practiced pediatrics with MedStar Shah Medical Group in Maryland before transitioning to psychiatry. She later trained in child and adult psychiatry at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Kumar provides medication management combined with supportive therapy, typically in 30-minute follow-up visits. She takes a holistic approach to treatment, considering the impact of lifestyle, parenting practices, and family dynamics on mental health. She emphasizes integrative care, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough and compassionate evaluation, where Dr. Kumar takes time to understand their symptoms, medical history, and environmental influences. She prioritizes collaborative decision-making, working closely with patients and, when applicable, their families, to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan. Follow-up visits typically focus on medication adjustments, supportive therapy, and lifestyle recommendations to optimize mental health outcomes.

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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.

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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.

Cynthia has been a licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2018. Cynthia's current experience as a therapist includes working with children in school settings as well as in the community and adults from all walks of life such as active duty military service members and their dependents, young professionals new in their career, retirees who are attempting to balance life, health and age related challenges and college students in their first year of their undergraduate degree, to graduate students and students newly enrolled in medical or law school. Prior to 2018, Cynthia worked for 23 years with the department of social services assisting families with economic challenges by connecting them with government programs and community resources to help them improve their lives and the lives of their family members. Cynthia has extensive experience working with individuals and families from many diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Cynthia uses a down-to-earth, holistic approach to therapy. She believes if the body is not well, the mind cannot become well. Cynthia will evaluate your bodies wellbeing using an inquisitive approach and she will make suggestions and/or referrals to specialists, when necessary. Cynthia will provide you a safe and non-judgmental space to be yourself, to allow you to heal and grow. It will be Cynthia's mission to get you well as quickly as possible. Therapy will be tailored to the individual using a combination of a person-centered approach in order to empower the individual, focusing on them being the story teller; a solution-focused approach because the individual is the expert of themselves and they know their own abilities; and a strength-based approach in order to tap into the inner strengths and skills that embody the individual.

In the first session Cynthia will spend some time getting to know what happened to you to cause you to decide to start therapy. She will inquire about your childhood, family, culture, current health concerns and want to know what your hobbies are, and she will delve into what your typical day looks like from your wake/sleep cycle to what you typically eat and do during the day. Cynthia will ask you, what are your goals for therapy? Cynthia will work collaboratively with you to create a treatment plan that is SMART-specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time sensitive.

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Dr. Shaughnessy is boarded in adult psychiatry and has over 30 years of experience. Dr. Shaughnessy practices medication management in a supportive collaborative environment. Treatment recommendations may include psychotherapy with another professional in addition to medication management .Dr. Shaughnessy has worked with individuals having the spectrum of psychiatric disorders but is particularly interested in working with those with mood and anxiety disorders.

Asmita Neupane is a board-certified Post Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She received her bachelor’s in nursing degree from Metropolitan state university, master’s in nursing degree from Texas Women’s University which specializes in Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and completed her post-master’s degree as PMHNP from Wilkes University. Asmita Neupane has 20 plus years of experience as a Registered Nurse and almost 10 years of experience as Nurse Practitioner. Asmita Neupane is licensed to practice in Maryland and District of Columbia.

Asmita Neupane has professional interests in treating a wide range of psychiatry conditions including depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and eating disorders. She provides psychiatric assessments and medication management along with brief supportive psychotherapy. She focuses on holistic approaches to treatment and believes in keeping her patients healthy rather than only addressing illness. Asmita Neupane is fluent in Nepali, Hindi and English.

Raquel Weinum is a licensed clinical social worker. Her career in the field has spanned over 20 years and includes work with adults, adolescents, and children from diverse populations and experiences. She has treated a wide range of symptoms and challenges, including but not limited to, depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, difficulty with relationships, family conflicts, and loss. ‍Her style is warm and engaging. She considers the role of the therapist to be collaborative. As a therapist she aims to create a safe non-judgmental space for self-exploration, discovery, and healing. The goals in the therapeutic process may involve developing new skills to cope with emotional pain, learning to set new boundaries in relationships, or finding more meaning in life. She utilizes a wide range of approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, relational and psychodynamic approaches, and mindfulness and embodiment work. Regardless of the modality, her work is always trauma informed and strength-based. ‍Ms. Weinum received her Master's degree in Social Work from Fordham University and her BS in psychology from Brooklyn College. She has worked in varied settings including hospitals, community mental health/substance abuse clinics, and home-based crisis intervention services. She has provided individual and group psychotherapy, and has served in supervisory/administrative roles throughout her career.‍