Margaret Ngumi, PMHNP

Bethany McCann is a board-certified Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist. After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Kent State University, she received her medical degree from Ohio Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then went on to complete her Psychiatry Residency training at The Ohio State University, where she served as a Chief Resident for two years.

Following residency, Dr. McCann pursued an additional year of training through Ohio State, where she completed a Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. A large portion of her time was spent in the state hospital system, where she learned more about the interplay between psychiatry and the law, provided high-quality psychiatric services to an inpatient forensic population, conducted forensic evaluations, and educated the Court on psychiatric topics through expert testimony.

While Dr. McCann has had experience working in a variety of settings, she has maintained a passion for outpatient psychiatry and building a strong, therapeutic relationship with her patients. Dr. McCann will provide an evidence-based medication management visit for a variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, PTSD, and OCD, while incorporating therapeutic techniques that are tailored to the individual and their goals.

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Paul Fairbanks is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 11 years of experience supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds. He has worked in both outpatient and inpatient settings and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Argosy University. He maintains independent licenses in Illinois and Arizona and is dedicated to fostering growth and well-being in his patients.

Paul uses a client-centered approach grounded in acceptance, understanding, and empathetic connection. He believes positive change is possible with the right environment and mutual commitment. He partners closely with patients, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other evidence-based methods to achieve the best outcomes.

Paul works collaboratively to navigate life’s challenges, whether they are personal, family, or relationship-related. He provides tailored solutions for each patient, with experience in marriage and couples counseling, blended families, individual therapy, adolescents, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. His goal is to create meaningful progress that empowers patients to succeed.

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Jessica Fairchilds is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with over 8 years of experience in many psychiatric settings and populations. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and is passionate about providing high quality, comprehensive mental health services. Jessica prides herself in her patient-centered approach by fostering strong provider-patient relationships to achieve optimal treatment outcomes. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and young daughters, traveling the globe, or getting lost in a historical fiction novel.

Jessica is highly focused on building a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients while making them feel heard and validated. She strives to provide the highest level of care while exploring different treatment options to find what works best for each individual.

Jessica will focus on learning about the client as an individual and learning the concerns of the client while working to develop an individualized treatment plan. She uses her extensive knowledge of medications and therapy techniques to guide treatment options for the best outcomes.

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. Catherine Shim is a board-certified psychiatrist and completed her training at the University of Washington, where she received additional certifications in Psychotherapy and Community Psychiatry.  Prior to joining Talkiatry, she spent years serving the mental health needs of underserved communities as well as our Veteran population.  Dr. Cat is excited to bring that same dedication and selfless service to her Talkiatry patients!

Dr. Cat is experienced in managing a multitude of mental health conditions, but her specialty is providing behaviorally oriented trauma-informed care.  Her approach is to treat primarily through psychotherapy and behavioral change, with medication management serving as an important (and often essential) adjuvant to optimizing mental health.

Dr. Cat tends to have a very casual engagement style, so expect a frank but open conversation during your first meetings with her.  Following that initial screening, anticipate a candid discussion about her approach to your condition and an initial treatment plan.  Please feel free to bring up any questions or concerns at any time during this process, and note-taking is highly encouraged!

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Dr. Borad is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and has specialized in Addiction Psychiatry. She finished her residency at the WVU campus of Charleston, WV, and finished the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at UPMC/Western Psychiatry Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. She has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at WVU of Charleston, where she was involved in working with residents in inpatient and outpatient settings, provided psychiatric consult services to hospitalized patients, and was part of the Outpatient Comprehensive Opioid treatment program where she provided Medication Assisted Treatment for patients with substance use disorders. She has an interest in treating patients with mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Borad has a special interest in treating individuals having a substance use history and struggling to quit, and has expertise in treating patients with a dual diagnosis of substance use with other psychiatric conditions. She primarily does medication management, in addition to providing some supportive therapy and motivational interviewing to her patients in her 30-minute follow-up appointments. In addition, she may suggest bringing in a therapist to add to your care if clinically necessary.