Lopa Rana, MD

Alexis Lanzillo, MA BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania and Dance/Movement Therapist. She received her master’s degree as a Dance/Movement Therapist from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is also board certified through the American Dance Therapy Association. She has over 15 years of experience working with adolescents and adults of various demographics, living with a vast array of mental health needs.

Alexis is a humanistic therapist, maintaining a clinical focus of a trauma-informed lens. She uses a variety of psychotherapeutic approaches, rooted in dance/movement therapy principles, while integrating elements of additional evidence-based therapies including CBT, DBT, and other mindfulness-based techniques, all with a deep commitment to creating a supportive and non-judgmental space for her clients. She encourages clients to use their voice, verbally and non-verbally enable self-expression to help people build and maintain a positive sense of self.

Meet people where they are at, is always her focus. Alexis believes in the power of the relationship, to self and others, and works with each motivated individual to explore one's own unique experiences, challenge negative beliefs, while gaining a deeper understanding of the mind-body connection. Alexis will be there to support clients in reaching personal goals, challenge beliefs that no longer serve a purpose, encourage healthy risk taking, and establishing healthy boundaries with self and others.

Damaris Chukwura, DNP, PMHNP-BC, is a Board-Certified Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience in mental health care. She began her nursing career in 2007 and has been practicing as a psychiatric nurse practitioner since 2014. Damaris has worked in a wide range of settings including inpatient hospitals, residential treatment centers, partial and intensive outpatient programs, correctional psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment. Her clinical experience spans various conditions such as ADHD, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, PTSD, and treatment-resistant depression. She earned her BSN from Texas Christian University, MSN from The University of Texas at Arlington, and her DNP from The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Damaris values open communication and collaboration with her patients. She creates a warm, caring environment where individuals feel heard and respected. Her approach is both evidence-based and supportive, blending professionalism with a welcoming demeanor. She is passionate about mental health advocacy and reducing stigma. Outside of work, Damaris enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, decorating, and watching reality TV.

During initial psychiatric evaluations, Damaris takes time to fully understand each patient’s history, concerns, and goals. She develops individualized treatment plans that align with these goals and may include supportive therapy or referrals for more intensive therapy if needed. Follow-up appointments typically last 30 minutes, allowing time to track progress and make adjustments as necessary.

Dr.Gusta Shurdut is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with 8 year experience. She completed her medical training at SUNY Downstate Medical center in Brooklyn, and psychiatric residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, NYC. After her residency, she worked as an assistant professor at Mount Sinai Psychiatric Ambulatory Services. Dr.Shurdut graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with an undergraduate degree in biology. Prior to moving to New York, she obtained a degree in communications and public relations and worked as a journalist at her hometown in Latvia.

Dr.Shurdut believes in individual, empathetic, and collaborative treatment approach. Through her residency and work experiences, Dr.Shurdut has developed expertise to treat various mental health conditions including mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, PTSD. While her primary focus is medication management, she also incorporates CBT, psychodynamic and supportive psychotherapy.

Dr.Shurdut’s goal is empowering patients to participate in their healthcare choices. As a psychiatrist, she feels honored to witness the complexity of the human experience, and curious to explore the factors that contribute to it.  On intake appointment, she will take time to understand your concern, provide assessment, discuss treatment options and collaboratively decide on most appropriate action. The follow up appointments are usually 30 minutes and include a psychotherapy modality.

With over two decades in the counseling field, Greta Hicks-Brooks, LPC, is a seasoned and devoted professional at Talkiatry. Earned her most recent licensure credential, and the one recognized in California is Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). Her background includes roles as a Special Education Teacher, Psychology Instructor, Executive Director, Lead Therapist at an outpatient drug treatment facility, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, and Disability Services Counselor.

Greta holds a BA in Psychology from Tuskegee University, an MS in Counseling & Human Development from Troy University, and an MEd in Rehabilitation Counseling from Auburn University. She is licensed in Texas, Colorado, California, and Arizona, and is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Highly structured yet comical, Greta creates a nonjudgmental environment where patients feel comfortable being themselves. Each month, she helps patients set three short-term goals, reflect on accomplishments, and note things they are grateful for—supporting growth, self-awareness, and emotional balance.

During the first session, Greta discusses the reasons for seeking therapy, preferred treatment approaches, and session frequency. She provides homework and clear follow-up focus points, drawing from Client-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused, and Trauma-Focused therapies. Greta meets clients where they are, fully committed to guiding those ready to make meaningful, lasting change.

Roberta Gelfand is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over eight years of experience providing compassionate outpatient mental health care in New York and New Jersey. She works with children, adolescents, and adults across diverse settings, including private practice, outpatient programs, community mental health centers, and non-profit organizations. Roberta supports individuals facing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, attention challenges, and relationship issues. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MSW from Hunter College, CUNY, and is trained in CBT, DBT, ACT, MI, SFBT, IFS, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, emotionally focused therapy, and strengths-based approaches. She also holds certifications in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Integrative Mental Health, and DBT, and has experience supporting neurodivergent individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Roberta creates a warm, judgment-free, and collaborative space where clients feel safe, respected, and understood. Her humanistic, person-centered approach honors each individual’s identity, strengths, and lived experiences. She offers inclusive, affirming care for diverse identities, relationships, and family systems, blending emotional insight with practical tools. Therapy is flexible, personalized, and paced to meet each client’s unique goals and needs.

Roberta begins by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s history, concerns, strengths, and goals. Treatment planning is collaborative, individualized, and evidence-based. Sessions focus on increasing self-awareness, improving emotional regulation, and building effective coping strategies. She regularly revisits goals and approaches to ensure therapy remains supportive, relevant, and responsive to change.

Bethanie is a board-certified Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing credentials and a Master’s in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing from Columbia University School of Nursing, where she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society. She has been in practice for over 10 years, providing care to individuals with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Bethanie also has a strong passion for supporting women’s mental health during the perinatal phase of life.

She believes in a collaborative partnership with her clients, working together to develop a mutually agreed-upon plan of action that maximizes the chances of success.

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