Marc Whaley, MD

Dr. Aisling Rea is a dedicated therapist with an extensive educational background and experience in the field of psychology. She earned a Bachelor of Science at Florida Atlantic University, completed a Master of Science at Florida International University and a Doctorate in Psychology at Walden University. During her internship at Youth Automotive Training Center and The Humanistic Center for Counseling Services, Dr. Rea worked with individuals, families, couples, first responders and high-risk populations, having the opportunity to work with a variety of clients. As a professional, Dr. Rea gained valuable experience working in inpatient and outpatient programs and settings. Dr. Rea has a passion in helping clients heal from depression, anxiety, mood disorders, psycho-spiritual and relationship challenges. She believes open, empathetic understanding and taking a collaborative approach are the keys to a client-centered practice, and an important part of the healing and wellness of clients. In addition to Dr. Rea's clinical practice, she loves the ocean, enjoying photography, SCUBA diving, participating in beach clean-ups, and spending time with her family, dog and cat.

Dr. Upton Thomas is a board-certified psychiatrist who takes a warm, collaborative, and evidence-based approach to care. With a focus on treating mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and substance use, he integrates psychopharmacology and psychotherapy to support patients in achieving meaningful change. He brings curiosity, creativity, and a deep respect for each individual’s story to his clinical work.

Patients often find Dr. Thomas easy to talk to and appreciate his calm, thoughtful demeanor. He emphasizes shared decision-making and believes that treatment works best when the patient’s values and voice are at the center. Dr. Thomas aims to create a safe space for honest dialogue and ongoing reflection as treatment evolves.

Dr. Thomas begins with a comprehensive evaluation to understand each patient’s mental health history, current concerns, and goals. He then develops an individualized treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, or both. He prefers to use the lowest effective dose of medications and often integrates psychotherapeutic strategies such as CBT, DBT, or insight-oriented work into his sessions.

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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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Akif A. Khawaja M.D. is a Clinical General Psychiatrist. He has worked in this field since graduating and obtaining his residency from the University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Neurology and Behavioral Sciences in 1996. He has worked mostly with adults ranging from 18 to 90 years of age. He has served as a director of Intensive Outpatient Programs in the state of Mississippi. He currently focuses on medical management of patients above 50 years of age and has served as a director of Geriatric Psychiatric Units.

He has a particular interest in treating mood, anxiety, and cognitive disorders, including ADHD. Patients working with him can expect thorough and detailed appointments, as he places special emphasis on gathering comprehensive medical and psychiatric histories, including specific dates of past treatments. During initial visits, he carefully reviews previous medical interventions, particularly procedures such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

His approach prioritizes thorough evaluations to ensure accurate diagnoses. He strongly believes that honesty is essential for achieving the best possible treatment outcomes.

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.

Dr. Anne Rohs is board certified in both adult and geriatric psychiatry and has practiced psychiatry for over 10 years. She has extensive experience treating critically ill patients in hospital settings. This experience allowed her to hone skills necessary to care for individuals with complex psychiatric illnesses complicated by medical conditions. Dr. Rohs' approach to care involves providing a consistent, empathic, non-judgmental space to develop and attain shared treatment goals. She is committed to developing a partnership that is always respectful of patients' points of view, and she utilizes this knowledge to inform treatment plans that are safe, effective, and agreeable to patients. At the same time, she is sensitive to financial or insurance coverage factors that may impact treatment. After completing residency training at Montefiore Medical Center, Dr. Rohs was invited to serve an additional year as Senior Chief Resident for its adult psychiatry residency training program. She spent the next year as a fellow in Geriatric Psychiatry before her appointment as an attending physician on Montefiore's acute psychiatric inpatient unit. During her training years, Dr. Rohs made several trips to Uganda to serve as an attending physician with the Doctors for Global Health Project. Dr. Rohs subsequently transferred to Bronx Psychiatric Center (BPC), where she treated inpatients and outpatients suffering from severe mental disorders. At BPC, she expanded her knowledge base and became an expert in advanced psychopharmacology. Dr. Rohs also spent time prior to joining Talkiatry as an attending physician at NYU Langone Hospital. Dr. Rohs specializes in treating a variety of psychiatric conditions including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and dementia. She is attuned to the direct and indirect mental health impact of the pandemic and its aftermath on patients of all ages. Dr. Rohs does not usually treat ADHD patients. For the small number of patients she treats who have ADHD, Dr. Rohs requires comprehensive testing, multiple follow ups, and a full medical workup before confirming a diagnosis to ensure appropriateness and safety of chosen treatment.Dr. Anne Rohs is board certified in both adult and geriatric psychiatry and has been in practice for over ten years. She has an extensive background working in hospital settings treating critically ill patients. This experience has helped hone her skills in caring for individuals with complex psychiatric illnesses complicated by medical conditions. Dr. Rohs’ approach is to provide a consistent, empathic, non judgmental space to develop and attain shared treatment goals. Dr. Rohs is committed to developing a partnership which is always respectful of patients’ points of view, and she utilizes this knowledge to inform treatment plans that are safe, effective and agreeable to patients. She is sensitive to financial or insurance coverage factors that may impact treatment.

After completing residency training at Montefiore Medical Center, Dr. Rohs was invited to serve an additional year as Senior Chief Resident for their adult psychiatry residency training program. She spent the following year as a fellow in Geriatric Psychiatry before being appointed an attending physician on Montefiore’s acute psychiatric inpatient unit. Dr. Rohs subsequently transferred to Bronx Psychiatric Center, where she treated patients suffering from severe mental disorders in both inpatient and outpatient settings. As a result, she further expanded her knowledge base and became an expert in advanced psychopharmacology. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Rohs served as an attending physician at NYU Langone Hospital. She has also been an attending physician for the Doctors for Global Health Project in Uganda.

Dr. Rohs specializes in treating a variety of psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and dementia. She is attuned to the direct and indirect mental health impact of the pandemic on patients of all ages. As the Covid situation evolves, Dr. Rohs is available to see patients either in the office or via telehealth platforms.

Dr. Rohs does not usually treat ADHD patients. For the small number of patients she treats who have ADHD, Dr. Rohs requires comprehensive testing, multiple follow ups, and a full medical workup before confirming a diagnosis to ensure appropriateness and safety of chosen treatment.