Lauren Morris, MD

Dr. Rodriguez is an adult psychiatrist, who is fluent in Spanish and English. She completed residency at St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City via Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons followed by a Fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry in a combined Cornell University - Columbia University program with the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She obtained her medical degree at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestro in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Rodriguez is an adult psychiatrist and has worked with a wide array of patients across various medical settings including extensive experience in Telehealth. Her experience includes Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, in addition to outpatient experience in both clinics and correctional facilities. Dr. Rodriguez has experience treating patients with psychiatric illness who may also be suffering from medical comorbidities, such as obesity, hypertension, pain, and diabetes. She has been deeply involved with teaching and emphasizes psychoeducation while working in collaboration with her patients to help tailor their personalized treatment plan. Her primary focus has been on treating adults with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, and PTSD. Dr. Rodriguez has an approachable, patient-centered style, combined with a passion for optimizing sleep as it pertains to management of a psychiatric illness and overall well-being. She offers supportive therapy as part of her medication management visits, and at times may also offer cognitive behavioral therapy to address underlying stressors which may be contributing to one's presenting ailments. She may also recommend including a therapist in your care team to optimize outcomes.

Angela Harrington is a licensed mental health therapist with 26 years of professional therapy work. She is currently licensed in NE, OK, KS, and CO. She specializes in stress, anxiety, self-esteem, motivation, depression, and coping with life changes. She uses a wide range of clinical approaches in talk therapy, including client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused support.

Dr. Shaily C. Desai, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist who treats adults. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and with General Honors from University of Miami. She completed medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in the prestigious Honors Program in Medicine. She continued her medical education at Jackson Memorial Hospital & University of Miami Hospital for her 4-year psychiatry residency training program. After completing her training, Dr. Desai held an academic appointment at the University of Miami while working at the Miami Veterans Affairs Hospital initially as a behavioral health consultant in the Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI) model and later as a Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) psychiatrist in the Mental Health Treatment Coordinator (MHTC) role.

Dr. Desai’s background spans clinical care, academic research, and community service, giving a comprehensive understanding of mental healthcare delivery across different settings. Dr. Desai developed expertise in quickly building rapport with patients, conducting medication management assessments, and implementing effective interventions. These experiences taught Dr. Desai how to maintain clinical excellence while showing patience and respect for each patient's unique circumstances. She understands the delicate balance of providing thorough care within the constraints of virtual sessions and she has developed strategies to ensure patients feel supported and understood, even though a screen.

By combining clinical expertise with genuine empathy and persistence, Dr. Desai helps her patients navigate their treatment journey with confidence and hope. Dr. Desai’s practice focuses on medication management and supportive psychotherapy in typically 30-minute follow up visits. At times, additional psychotherapy is needed, and a therapist may be added to provide the best outcome.

Background and credentials  

Dr. Alexandra Baluna, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of  Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from  LSUHC-Shreveport and completed her psychiatry residency training at  Montefiore/Albert-Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief of  the Consultation-Liaison (C/L) service. Following residency, Dr. Baluna  served as Senior Chief, during which she was honored with the Leo M. Davidoff  Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Medical Students. Her  professional experiences include roles at Fordham University, Albert Einstein  Student Mental Health Counseling Center, and most recently, as an outpatient  psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center, where she enjoyed teaching and  supervising residents.  

Treatment approach  

Dr. Baluna emphasizes creating a warm, empathic, and nonjudgmental  therapeutic environment. She collaborates closely with patients to develop  personalized treatment plans that consider cultural, biological,  psychological, and social factors. With a strong interest in psychotherapy,  she frequently employs ego-supportive and insight-oriented therapy techniques  during follow-up sessions.  

What you can expect in a first visit    

During an initial visit, patients can expect a welcoming and supportive  atmosphere where Dr. Baluna conducts a comprehensive assessment. This  involves exploring the patient's history, current challenges, and individual  circumstances. The goal of the first session is to collaboratively build an  individualized treatment plan tailored specifically to the patient's unique  needs.  

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Why Talkiatry?    

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great  care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our  providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who speciualize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.

Dr. Caitlin Gardiner is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr. Caitlin Gardiner's practice is based on the biopsychosocial model and believes that the foundation of healing is in psychotherapy and human connection. She is known for incorporating therapy into her medication management practice. Typically she offers 30-minute follow-up visits for medication management with focused therapy based on individual needs. As a known helper, Dr. Gardiner started her career with a bachelor's degree in social work from Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY. After changing career paths, she received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. She stayed upstate to complete her general psychiatry residency, where she was chief resident at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this, she completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Upstate due to the high quality of training. Dr. Gardiner has completed 3 years of advanced training in Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy as well as specialized training in DBT. Dr. Gardiner is a well-rounded psychiatrist who enjoys treating youth and young adults during transitional phases of life while providing a safe and supportive environment. She believes strongly in reducing polypharmacy and providing high-quality medication management through a therapeutic and developmental lens.

Farrah has worked almost exclusively in community mental health centers in Iowa and in Arizona for the last 15 years. She has been providing telepsychiatry services since 2013 across several states, serving hospitals, community mental health centers, local jails, and residential treatment facilities. Farrah was lead prescriber for Living Out Loud, a mental health program exclusively for LGBTQ+ persons. She has worked with patients with comorbid mental health & HIV+ status, and a long history of working with persons with severe mental illness.

Farrah has mentored countless new Psychiatric Nurse Graduates in their first year of outpatient practice and precepted students working to achieve their Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Certification. She was also part of the pilot program for the Integrated Behavioral Health Home, which integrated primary care into treatment for SMI patients.

Farrah Lamoreux offers a warm patient centered approach to psychiatry. She is well known for being easy to talk to, and down to earth. Farrah believes that the patient is the most important part of the treatment team, and engaging patients in the decision-making process of their treatment. Patients say that she listens, they feel heard, and that she tailors care to what best fits your needs. She enjoys working with therapists whenever possible to ensure the best outcomes. Farrah specializes in the treatment of ADHD, but also treats Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, Panic, Agoraphobia, OCD, Autism and Bipolar Disorder.