Joy James, MD

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Before graduating from the NYU Silver School of Social Work, Dana worked in international human rights and educational settings. She has over 15 years of experience as a clinical social worker and previously worked with formerly homeless adults in supportive housing as a social worker, supervisor, and assistant program director.

Dana views therapy as a meaningful act of self-investment - an opportunity to approach oneself with curiosity, courage, and compassion. She strives to create a warm, validating, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed space where clients feel seen and supported.

Her approach is collaborative, relational, and evidence-based, integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Dana helps clients cultivate emotional flexibility, resilience, and self-awareness while clarifying their values and taking meaningful action in alignment with what matters most to them.

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Ashley LaBanca provides medication management and supportive psychotherapy services. She has worked in mental health for over 12 years. A graduate of the University of North Dakota, she began her career in an outpatient setting, later transitioning into a lead nurse practitioner role before moving into telehealth services. Her goal is to reach individuals in need when in-person care is not feasible. Ashley lives in North Dakota with her family and enjoys traveling, reading, and spending quality time with them.

Ashley views medication as a tool rather than a cure. She incorporates alternative treatments by assessing physical health, exploring natural alternatives to medication, focusing on nutrition, and helping clients develop coping skills to manage daily stressors. Her guiding principle is the integration of therapy and medication management to support healing and growth. She encourages clients to be active participants in their treatment, fostering a collaborative, respectful, and open therapeutic relationship.

Ashley tailors her collaborative approach to each individual’s needs. She draws from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other treatment modalities, combining them with evidence-based prescribing to create personalized care plans. She also considers the social dimensions of mental health, addressing relationships, self-esteem, and internal healing.

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Dr. Fatima Ghandour is an adult psychiatrist originally from Southeast Michigan. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan and her medical degree at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Authority Health in Detroit, where she was recognized as Resident of the Year in her graduating class. Dr. Ghandour has experience practicing in both outpatient and inpatient settings and has treated a wide range of conditions including depression, anxiety, ADHD, and PTSD.

Dr. Ghandour values open communication and collaboration, working closely with patients to set clear and meaningful treatment goals. She fosters a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take an active role in their care. Her empathetic and patient-centered approach helps individuals feel safe sharing their unique experiences and challenges.

Dr. Ghandour begins each relationship with a thorough evaluation, taking time to understand each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. From there, she develops an individualized treatment plan that reflects the patient’s needs and preferences. She combines evidence-based strategies with ongoing dialogue to ensure treatment remains responsive and aligned with each patient’s progress and well-being.

Dr. Mark Varela is a board-certified psychiatrist joining Talkiatry directly out of residency. He focuses primarily on medication management, often accompanied by brief cognitive, motivational, or supportive therapy. He may request that you also meet with a therapist regularly for your benefit. Dr. Varela received his medical degree and general psychiatric residency training both from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in West Texas. He treats young adults and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.

Dr. Leslie Davis became a psychotherapist because she believes that mental health shapes and influences various aspects of life. Mental health is considered vital! She has been a Doctor of Social Work since 2021 and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2019, with experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with concerns such as trauma, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, marital issues, and more. She has extensive experience in various settings including inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), school settings, community-based settings, and emergency departments.‍Dr. Leslie Davis does not see her role as a therapist as needing to "save the world” or "empower” clients. Instead, she believes in working alongside clients to help them identify tools within themselves and community resources to successfully achieve their goals. The types of therapy offered include, but are not limited to, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Culturally Sensitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Multicultural Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Alongside the use of evidenced-based practices and culturally informed care, Dr. Leslie Davis has developed a proven approach for helping clients (a) identify the root cause of their challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.

Dr. Karla Garcia is a board-certified psychiatrist trained in Adult Psychiatry. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Education. She then went on to complete her medical education and residency training at the University of Chicago. She is board certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Garcia believes in patient-centered care, seeking to care for the whole person.  She values the therapeutic relationship, working to guide patients in their treatment while also encouraging patients to take an active role in their care. Dr. Garcia cares about getting to know you as a person and helping you reconnect with your values. Her clinical approach is holistic, collaborative, and supportive.

Dr. Garcia focuses on evidence-based treatments for psychiatric illness that utilize a combination of medications and psychotherapy. Using a range of skills and interventions, Dr. Garcia believes in a multi-faceted approach to treatment.

Dr. Garcia has experience working in a wide variety of inpatient, emergency, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient psychiatric settings and in treating a broad spectrum of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, substance use disorders, personality disorders, ADHD, and OCD. She treats patients in English and Spanish.