Kristofer Joondeph-Breidbart, MD

Dr. Shelley Sellinger is a board-certified psychiatrist who has been in practice for 25 years. Her career has been devoted to serving both her local community as well as high-risk and underserved patients. As a pioneer and advocate for the use of telepsychiatry years prior to the pandemic, she has presented at the American Telehealth conference as well as at grand rounds. Dr. Sellinger's practice focuses on medication management as well as supportive and insight-oriented psychotherapy. She believes that a combination of therapy, as well as the use of medications, helps provide a patient with the best outcome. Her goal is to help patients live their best and most fulfilling lives. In addition to general psychiatry, she has a keen interest in mood disorders, helping creatives achieve their goals and the LGBTQ community.‍

Melissa Sims, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who is passionate about delivering high-quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022 and has since worked in both community mental health and correctional settings.

Melissa takes a collaborative approach to care, working closely with other mental health professionals, medical providers, families, and relevant support systems to ensure well-rounded treatment. She emphasizes a patient-centered, individualized approach, combining medication management with psychotherapy to meet each person’s unique needs.

Patients working with Melissa can expect a thorough evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and a personalized treatment plan tailored to their mental health goals. One of her core priorities is to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care by providing education grounded in research, evidence-based practices, and clinical experience.

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Dr. Bakhtier is certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. Dr. Bakhtier has been practicing for over 15 years and has been working in the field of Telemedicine for over 10 years. Dr. Bakhtier has been working to make easy access to mental health treatment for everyone and believes that Telemedicine is a great option for more access to mental health treatment.  After completing residency training and a master’s in public health, Dr. Bakhtier started practicing as a staff Psychiatrist and later promoted to the medical director position. He had the privilege of working as the Chief Resident during his residency training and worked with a diverse population, treating many people with different types of mental illness at Lincoln medical and mental Health Center in affiliation with Downtown Bronx Medical Associates P.C. and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Although he is focused on medication management, he is also very interested in therapies like Motivational interview, Supportive therapy to include in the treatment plan. He is very grounded in humanistic values. He likes to work very closely with his patients to build a treatment plan, and he believes in listening to patients and believing that the best outcomes are possible only by working together with patients. He will make decisions after consultation with you and with your approval first regarding adding or changing medication.

Dr. Bakhtier will spend at least 60 minutes on the initial visit and then 30mintues for follow-up appointments where he will develop a treatment plan with you and will be very open to listening to your preferences regarding medication management.

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Sherra St. Clair is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience supporting individuals with a wide range of mental health concerns. Her areas of expertise include attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder, and trauma-related conditions.

She completed her advanced nursing degree at the University of Wyoming, where she was recognized for her compassionate and welcoming approach to patient care. Before becoming a nurse practitioner, Sherra was inspired to pursue further education while working as part of an inpatient treatment team that included psychiatrists, psychologists, patients, and their families. Witnessing the profound improvements patients experienced after a crisis motivated her to transition toward outpatient and preventative care.

Prior to her nursing career, Sherra worked as a medical illustrator and animator, having studied at the University of Michigan’s medical school. She enjoyed creating educational materials for patients, physicians, and attorneys.

Sherra is passionate about working with individuals of all genders and socioeconomic backgrounds. She uses a collaborative, strengths-based approach that incorporates evidence-based medication management, psychotherapy, and patient education. She believes each person is the expert in their own life and strives to empower individuals to build on their self-worth, progress, and potential.

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Dr. Mandel received his Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his Residency in Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan. He has been board certified in psychiatry since 2001 and is a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He has held numerous clinical and academic appointments including serving as Chairperson of Psychiatry at Huntington Hospital in Huntington, New York, and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.

Dr. Mandel has over 25 years of clinical experience treating all mental health conditions. He has a strong interest in mood and anxiety disorders, including work-related anxiety. He authored a section on the pharmacology of social anxiety in the book Work Makes Me Nervous. Dr. Mandel also has expertise working with clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. He has lectured on the pharmacologic management of this condition, including a presentation at the NIMH International Think Tank for the More Effective Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Dr. Mandel continually seeks to streamline complex medication regimens. He has completed a fellowship in integrative psychiatry and carefully considers the potential contributions of lifestyle and nutrition to overall mental health and well-being. By taking an eclectic approach, Dr. Mandel is able to achieve the best possible outcome for all whom he is privileged to serve.

Laura Hendricks is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with over 20 years of experience across a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient care, inpatient psychiatric facilities, private practice, consult-liaison psychiatry, and telepsychiatry. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan and brings a Family Systems perspective to her practice, helping patients develop greater awareness of their personal growth, attachment styles, and behavioral patterns to support more fulfilling lives.

Laura is also a long-time practitioner of Nonviolent Communication (Compassionate Communication), a method that fosters deeper empathy and connection with oneself and others. She integrates these principles into her clinical work to help individuals live more authentically and meaningfully.

Her approach is rooted in a whole-person perspective, guiding clients to recognize their strengths and utilize appropriate treatment tools. This begins with building a strong, respectful therapeutic relationship based on collaboration and shared decision-making. Laura practices evidence-based medication management and incorporates supportive counseling and psychoeducation into every session. She believes that empowering patients through education is essential to improving mental health outcomes.

Laura conducts thorough assessments to clarify diagnoses and treatment needs, with ongoing evaluation throughout the course of care. She works collaboratively with patients to refine treatment goals and strategies, always emphasizing a strengths-based and empowering approach.

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