Joy James, MD

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. Shalini Dutta is a medical doctor with experience working across outpatient, inpatient, and community mental health settings. She has extensive experience caring for underserved and diverse populations and was a recipient of the SAMHSA Minority Fellowship Program Grant. Her fellowship training included a focus on Seeking Safety, an evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment model. Dr. Dutta has a strong clinical interest in trauma, trauma-informed care, and integrating psychotherapy principles with medication management. Her clinical work includes treating mood disorders, anxiety, trauma-related conditions, and substance use disorders.

Dr. Dutta values open, collaborative communication and takes a warm, respectful, and nonjudgmental approach to care. She emphasizes partnership and shared decision-making, ensuring patients feel heard and actively involved in their treatment. She brings a trauma-informed lens to her work and collaborates closely with patients to clarify goals and align care with their values. Dr. Dutta takes a holistic view of mental health, considering biological, psychological, and social factors.

Dr. Dutta begins care with a thorough assessment of psychiatric history, current concerns, and treatment goals. She prioritizes understanding how past experiences and trauma may influence present symptoms. Treatment plans are individualized and evidence-based, integrating medication management with therapeutic principles and psychoeducation. She collaborates with therapists and other providers as needed and regularly reviews progress, adjusting treatment based on patient feedback.

Dr. Troy Grantham is a board-certified staff psychiatrist who treats adult patients. A former engineer, Dr. Grantham has developed a passion for guiding patients along the road to recovery. He completed his undergraduate studies at The University of Texas at Austin and later completed medical school and residency in General Psychiatry at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. Dr. Grantham's practice focuses on medication management. He utilizes a systematic approach to ensure diagnoses are accurate and treatment plans are optimized to each individual patient. His approach is also holistic in nature, often incorporating therapy and lifestyle modification into the treatment plan. Dr. Grantham employs multiple therapeutic approaches in his practice depending on the needs of the patient including supportive therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He places great emphasis on psychoeducation so that patients are aware of the nature and prognosis of their conditions as well as the treatment options available. When multiple treatment options are reasonable, Dr. Grantham takes patient preference into account, offering flexibility to the patient experience. He treats a variety of psychiatric disorders with a particular focus on mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and trauma-related disorders.

Please note: Dr. Grantham does not prescribe long-term, daily benzodiazepine medications, however he is happy to help you taper off of these medications and transition to a safer, long-term medication regimen.

Dr. Juliet Nichols has been a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 2002 and has been practicing psychiatry for over 25 years. While an expert in psychopharmacology, Dr. Nichols has an integrative approach to treatment and she often incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques when appropriate, tailoring every treatment to each patient's individual needs. She completed her Psychiatry residency at Stony Brook-SUNY and Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Over the last two decades, Dr. Nichols served as an attending psychiatrist at JT Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, NY, where she became proficient in delivering stellar psychiatric care in a variety of settings. She specializes in treating adult and geriatric mental illnesses, including: Depression, Anxiety Disorders (eg, OCD, Panic Disorder, GAD, PTSD), ADHD, and Cognitive Disorders in the elderly. Dr. Nichols strives to help her patients gain insights into their inner conflicts, unveil their strengths, accept their limitations, and build their coping skills. Her approach is dynamic, straightforward, and empathic so patients always feel safe, understood, and at ease. She engages the patient to be an active participant in treatment decision-making, creating a strong therapeutic alliance.‍

Dr. Kristofer Joondeph-Breidbart is a board certified adult psychiatrist. He earned his undergraduate degree and Master's in Teaching from Boston University, followed by his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Joondeph-Breidbart completed his residency in general adult psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard teaching hospital. Currently, Dr. Joondeph-Breidbart serves as a staff psychiatrist at Harvard University Health Services, where he works with both undergraduate and graduate students. He has developed significant expertise in working with LGBTQ individuals through his involvement with the Gender and Sexuality Clinic at Cambridge Health Alliance and the LGBTQ Interdisciplinary Team at Harvard University Health Services. While he has extensive expertise in treating college-aged young adults, his practice also includes a broad range of patients, with a particular specialization in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). He is trained in Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, a highly effective treatment for OCD. Dr. Joondeph-Breidbart takes a holistic approach to mental health care, integrating therapy into his sessions and collaborating with patients to develop individualized medication regimens that best meet their needs. His gentle and understanding approach helps create a supportive environment for his patients, fostering their mental and emotional well-being.

Dr. Duy Tran is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He received his medical doctorate degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Dr. Tran aims to provide mental health care that helps patients live more fulfilling lives. In his training, Dr. Tran gained extensive experience treating psychiatric disorders in diverse populations, including college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, perinatal women, veterans, and those with socioeconomic disadvantages. He has worked with experts on cases of treatment-resistant depression and provided consultations for patients considering procedural interventions, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and ketamine infusion therapy. Although Dr. Tran's practice primarily focuses on medication management, he uses a holistic approach in developing individualized treatment plans. He typically incorporates elements of various psychotherapy modalities, including supportive, cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), and insight-oriented therapy, in 30- or 45-minute follow-up visits. Occasionally, Dr. Tran may believe that more intensive therapy is needed and recommend that you bring a dedicated therapist into your care team for an optimal outcome.