Justin Uzl, MD

Renee LaRock-Gary is a licensed mental health counselor in New York State. She has extensive experience working in an array of settings from crisis to office settings; with children to adults; and with individuals to groups. She graduated magna cum laude with a masters from SUNY Plattsburgh and has a current certification as an Integrative Sex and Couples Therapist and several past certifications in a variety of areas including anxiety, grief, and substance abuse. Renee's specialty is trauma and she worked for a decade exclusively with survivors of sexual trauma. Overall, she has over 30 years of experience in the human and social services field and has held a variety of positions, including LGBTQ Teen outreach worker, domestic violence counselor, and manager at a halfway house, to name a few. As an eternal learner, Renee regularly participates in ongoing training in a variety of areas in order to keep abreast of the most up-to-date knowledge in the mental health field. Primarily, she utilizes CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and/or DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) to help people reach their goals, and she often brings in other modalities to fit a person's individual needs.

What has motivated Dr. Wheatley over the course of her career as a caregiver? Dr. Wheatley is a native Houstonian who grew up in a working-class community. Through curiosity and hard work, she was able to attend a university that included people of vastly different life experiences. She was molded by both communities to appreciate the commonalities of humanity. That broad exposure extended her empathetic spectrum to grasp the needs of the American diaspora.

Dr. Wheatley uses a biopsychosocial approach to evaluate the patient. She gathers patient history with a mindset that considers the neuroscience that chemically shapes mood, thoughts, and behavior. She is able to uncover factors that can inhibit psychological growth and development. She has experience in seeing how the social conditions of the “then” can influence the resiliency of the “now”. Dr. Wheatley appreciates, and is proficient in, advances in technology, but prioritizes the analog relationship between doctor and patient.

Meeting people where they are. It is an old trope, but describes how one allows a patient to set the path forward. An open-ended interview is conducted with an open mind towards resolution. When being evaluated and treated by Dr. Wheatley, a patient can expect to be met in a cordial but professional manner. Treatments are discussed and considered based on the mental state of the patient and the clinical efficacy and scientific evidence of benefit. The patient is invited to ask questions and consider whether they wish to pursue the suggested treatment plan.

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Huong "Claire" Phan is a licensed mental health counselor at the New York State Education Department Office of the Professions and a licensed professional counselor at the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Claire completed her Master's in Mental Health Counseling at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. Claire has been practicing for 5 years as a licensed therapist providing counseling for mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, prolonged grief disorder, adjustment disorders, women's issues, and also helping clients navigate relationship difficulties and other challenges. Claire completed her clinical internship and worked as a therapist at the Institute for Human Identity, one of the first psychotherapy centers in New York to provide LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapy. Claire is passionate about serving the LGBTQ+ community and providing a safe space for her clients regardless of differences in gender identity, expression, sexual orientation, race, and culture. Claire practices with a holistic approach that incorporates cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and mindfulness-based therapy techniques to help clients gain awareness, practice acceptance, and foster resiliency. Each of these therapy modalities requires active participation from the client to connect mind with body, intent with action so that healthier patterns can emerge.

Dr. Kira Posteraro is double board-certified in Adult and Addiction Psychiatry and has over 10 years of clinical experience. She completed her General Adult Psychiatry Residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY.

Dr. Posteraro’s career has included serving as Director of Psychiatric Services at an addiction treatment center in Pittsburgh, PA, where she provided care across the full continuum of substance use disorder treatment—including residential, acute PHP, IOP, outpatient, and aftercare services. She later held the role of Section Chief Psychiatrist for the Center for Treatment of Addictive Disorders at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, offering both residential and outpatient services and acting as Medical Director for the SAMHSA-certified Opioid Treatment Program. Most recently, she served as Chief of Psychiatry for the Behavioral Health Service Line at VA Pittsburgh, where she had the honor of caring for our nation’s Veterans.

While her clinical expertise centers on the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders, Dr. Posteraro also has extensive experience treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depressive and bipolar spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related disorders.

Dr. Posteraro uses a collaborative, supportive approach to care, incorporating motivational interviewing to help guide patients on their journey to wellness. She integrates holistic strategies alongside medication management and is dedicated to meeting patients where they are in treatment to build individualized, effective recovery plans.

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Meredith McMillan is a Licensed Mental Health Therapist with 9 years of experience working in mental health. She specializes in working with individuals who experienced trauma and toxic stress, as well as those with addiction issues, relationship challenges, and adjustment disorders. Ms. McMillan's therapy practice focuses on providing person-centered encouragement and support. She utilizes a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral approach to help you to develop your understanding of yourself and your challenges and enable you to utilize your strengths to facilitate your healing. She received a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University in Orlando, Florida, and established herself as a therapist working in community mental health in the Lakeland, Florida area. She spent several years working at Tri-County Human Services providing co-occurring outpatient substance abuse therapy. Later, she shifted to providing services to children through Tri-County's B-Net program and Children's Home Society. She went on to become the Clinical Supervisor at the Children's Home Society providing care to children and adolescents impacted by trauma and the child welfare system. Before joining Talkiatry, she also served as the clinical supervisor and therapist at The Mary Welsh Foundation, providing care to individuals of all ages and specializing in trauma and family issues. Ms. McMillan has worked with individuals dealing with a variety of mental health issues throughout her years of experience as a therapist. She has worked with people of all ages and has experience working with families and couples. She has had additional training to serve individuals dealing with addictions and with processing trauma. She has had extensive experience working with individuals dealing with mood disorders and anxiety, as well as relationship and parenting issues.

Dr. Zhou is a board-certified psychiatrist who has more than 4 years of experience practicing in various clinical settings with an emphasis on mental health care in outpatient settings. She practices a holistic approach to developing an individualized plan to work toward a patient's goals. Dr. Zhou is experienced in treating depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety, and other related psychiatric disorders. Dr. Zhou received her medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and completed her adult psychiatry residency training at LSU Health Shreveport. Dr. Zhou's background and experiences have broadened her understanding of cultural stigmas and the relationship it plays in psychiatric care. She incorporates a multitude of treatment modalities such as supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy. Dr. Zhou recognizes the value of a multifaceted approach to wellbeing and may recommend treatment modalities that are complementary to medication management.