Kelly Vandivert, LPC

Dr. Stephane Louis, LMFT, QS, earned a B.S. in Psychology and Biblical Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University, followed by her M.S. and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University. In 2020, she was featured in Forbes for her study of resilience and intersecting identities in queer women of Afro-Caribbean descent. Past roles include bilingual mental health assessor, psychology instructor at Broward College, and Student Counselor at Lynn University. As a therapist, Dr. Louis’ work has given her in-depth insight into how multiple systems and important relationships can influence the course of a person’s life.

As a queer woman of Haitian descent, Dr. Louis explores different ways the intersectionality of culture, family, identity, and sexuality can impact our lives. She is fascinated by stories of vulnerability, always looking for strengths and solutions. She helps people feel safe to be themselves and go from where they are to where they can be.

Dr. Louis provides individual, couples, and family therapy, integrating Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Solution-Focused Therapy, collaborative conversations, and systemic approaches to address LGBTQ+ issues, racial trauma, cultural identity exploration, and relational wounds. Dr. Louis will meet you where you are and help you grow into the most authentic version of yourself.

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Kyla Burkey, LICSW, began her career in Outreach, supporting the Adult Mental Health population with substance use, housing, and medication management. She earned her MSW from Westfield State University and has served as a Case Manager, Assistant Program Manager, and Outpatient Clinician. Kyla has facilitated support groups for individuals 55+ and Adult Children of Alcoholics, with extensive expertise in Trauma-Focused Therapy and Crisis Management.

Kyla values a positive, respectful working relationship that fosters trust and consistency in personal growth. She uses a Person-Centered approach, meeting each individual where they are and tailoring therapy to their unique qualities. Kyla creates a safe, confidential space and focuses on building resiliency and confidence while validating experiences, challenging stuck thinking, and exploring overlooked aspects of the self that impact current struggles.

Kyla begins by understanding a client’s history, concerns, and goals, collaborating to identify attainable objectives. She ensures scheduling is clear to support consistency and offers flexible session structures based on client needs. Kyla guides clients in developing symptom management skills while fostering personal insight and growth throughout the therapeutic process.

Amanda Rivera, PMHNP, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the lifespan, certified by the ANCC in 2020. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a biology minor from Clarkson University, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Nursing from St. John Fisher College. Amanda has over 15 years of experience in mental health, beginning in 2010 as a Therapy Aide at Rochester Psychiatric Center. She has practiced across inpatient hospitals, state psychiatric facilities, outpatient community clinics, correctional settings, group homes, and telehealth/private practice. She works with patients ages 16 and older and is highly experienced in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism, psychotic and personality disorders, substance use, and parenting challenges. She values working with families to strengthen the family unit.

Amanda values open communication and collaborates with patients to establish clear, meaningful treatment goals. She provides a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered to take ownership of their mental wellness. Treatment is individualized, with medication decisions guided by a careful balance of safety and symptom relief. Appointments are conversational in nature, allowing care to be more personalized as patients share openly.

Amanda begins each visit by ensuring privacy and safety, then explores the concerns prompting care before gathering a biopsychosocial history through collaborative discussion. She provides education throughout sessions to help patients understand diagnoses and lived experiences. Medication options are discussed based on comfort level and clinical need. Follow-ups are scheduled at the end of each visit, with frequency adjusted as stability is achieved.

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Dr. Krishna Divadeenam is a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He trained in New York and earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College in 1997.  He finished his internship at Vanderbilt Medical Center and completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2000. During his residency, he served as Chief Resident at the Kansas City VA Medical Center (KCVA).  His initial post-residency focus was with patients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) when he worked at the Johnson County Mental Health Center.  He has served as a adjunct professor at the University of Kansas providing clinical supervision to residents and yearly lectures on Bipolar disorder, Tourette’s and Obsessive compulsive disorder for over 20 years.  He worked at Midwest Psychiatric associates in an outpatient private practice for nearly 3 years before returning to the KCVA.  There he oversaw care for combat veterans as a clinical psychiatrist and the supervisor for the PTSD Specialty outpatient clinic.  After 5 years he transitioned to the inpatient unit as the inpatient supervisor and one of the attending physicians of the acute inpatient psychiatric unit.  In addition, he served as the University of Kansas Site director for their psychiatric residency program.  

Dr. Divadeenam believes in a holistic approach to mental health treatment, integrating medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and collaboration with therapists and support staff. He tailors treatment to each patient's unique needs, ensuring a comprehensive and individualized approach to care. His expertise includes treating a variety of psychiatric diagnoses, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders (including OCD), ADHD, and PTSD.

In a first visit, patients can expect a thorough evaluation, where Dr. Divadeenam takes the time to understand their medical history, symptoms, and treatment goals. He emphasizes open communication and collaborative decision-making, ensuring that patients feel heard and supported. Based on this initial assessment, he will develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication management and referrals to therapy or other supportive services as needed.

Meet Alex Starmer, LMHC, your friendly mental health counselor here at Talkiatry. She's not just a counselor; she's your partner on your mental health journey. Alex earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Syracuse University in 2020 and has been in the field since January 2021, working closely with clients facing mental health and substance use challenges. Alex believes in the power of the mind-body connection, and she loves to share polyvagal exercises and mindfulness techniques to help you better understand yourself. She's always learning and growing, with ongoing training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Her go-to tools for therapy are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). With her, you can expect a compassionate and comprehensive approach to your mental well-being. You're in good hands with Alex.‍

Dr. Zaidi graduated residency from University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University in 2015. After residency he worked at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center as a staff psychiatrist. He eventually took on the role of Mental Health Lead Psychiatrist and Interim Clinic Director at the Tomball VA Outpatient Clinic. Dr. Zaidi then transferred to a telepsychiatry role at VISN 15 providing mental health coverage for rural areas in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Dr. Zaidi resides in Houston, Texas and enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and watching/playing sports such as Football, Basketball, and Soccer.

Dr. Zaidi has over 15 years of experience in treating different mental health conditions and is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He enjoys getting to learn about patients and working collaboratively to provide the best treatment possible, be it medications or talk therapy. Dr. Zaidi has vast experience treating Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, among many others.

Dr. Zaidi's goal when working with patients is to not come to a generic diagnosis; rather, it is to get to know about the client and try and manage their symptoms in the best way possible. Overall, the process is collaborative, and both parties need to be comfortable with the decisions moving forward.

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