Maria Orejarena, MD, PhD

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is double board certified in General Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She has worked in various settings with culturally diverse populations. Her primary focus has been caring for children in the outpatient programs. Dr. Wharton-Mohammed has spent over ten years as an administrative leader. She has chaired and co-chaired committees overseeing the practice of fellow Psychiatrists and served as the Discipline Chief. She has been teaching/ supervising Nurse Practitioner students and Physician assistant students.

Dr. Wharton-Mohammed is experienced with a wide variety of psychiatric diagnoses and therapeutic modalities. She is a dedicated clinician who looks out for her patients. She views each patient and their caregivers circumstance as unique. She takes a holistic approach with a collaborative approach to help patients understand their options. While the focus may be on psycho education and medication management with supportive and psychodynamic therapeutic interventions there may be a need for additional therapy.  She may ask that a therapist be added to your treatment team. She works towards establishing a meaningful trusting relationship and looks forward to working with you to help you achieve your goals.

Bryce Thacker grew up in a rural community, where he learned the value of helping others achieve their best selves to support overall community health and well-being. With a passion for helping people live their best lives, he earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Nebraska and completed his nursing education at Creighton University. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and in Community Health, from Creighton University, and later completed a nursing practice degree at the University of Colorado with a focus on population and community health. He also holds a post-graduate certification in psychiatric mental health from Washburn University.

Bryce practiced family medicine for 18 years before transitioning to psychiatric mental health in 2022. His background in both physical and mental health gives him a holistic perspective on care. Since shifting his focus, he has helped individuals improve their quality of life through medication management for mood disorders, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. He continues to live in a rural community with his family and remains committed to helping people become their best selves.

Bryce believes that each person’s “best self” is unique and that mental health care should meet individuals where they are. He emphasizes a collaborative, client-centered approach, always keeping the individual’s goals at the heart of care. He is dedicated to helping clients identify and overcome the symptoms and stressors that interfere with their well-being, and he works to dismantle limiting beliefs or labels that may have been placed on them.

By taking the time to understand each person’s challenges and aspirations, Bryce helps clients find sustainable, holistic paths to wellness. His care is grounded in empathy, respect, and a deep commitment to supporting each person’s journey toward a fulfilling and balanced life.

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Dr. Erlach is a board certified adult psychiatrist who has previously worked for the United States Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, graduating in 2009, followed by active duty military service in the United States Air Force until 2024. He completed residency training at the combined military-civilian Wright State University/Wright Patterson AFB training program in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Erlach enjoys working with all types of patients. He takes a collaborative approach to patient care and develops a treatment plan alongside the patient so that both are fully invested in the plan. He generally has weekend and evening appointments only.

Dr. Erlach incorporates therapy into medication management appointments. Dr. Erlach feels that addressing psychosocial stressors and developing coping mechanisms are a vital component to treatment.

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Dr. Mark Varela is a board-certified psychiatrist joining Talkiatry directly out of residency. He focuses primarily on medication management, often accompanied by brief cognitive, motivational, or supportive therapy. He may request that you also meet with a therapist regularly for your benefit. Dr. Varela received his medical degree and general psychiatric residency training both from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in West Texas. He treats young adults and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.

Dr. Mathews is an adult psychiatrist who works with young adults and adults struggling with anxiety and depressive disorders. She uses a compassionate, non-judgmental, and reflective approach to listening and working with clients. Dr. Mathews' practice focuses on medication management, offered in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Dr. Mathews completed medical school at Stony Brook University School of Medicine where she also earned her masters in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. She completed her adult psychiatry residency training program at Montefiore/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The philosophy of Dr. Mathews' practice is to help promote each individual's natural capacity for healing. She ultimately strives to help clients create rich and meaningful lives while also offering mindfulness skills to empower clients to effectively cope with the pain and suffering that life can bring.

Dr. Shahan Syed is a Board-Eligible Psychiatrist who offers personable, compassionate, and empathetic care. Before completing his residency in psychiatry, Dr. Syed graduated from International American University College of Medicine and recently completed his residency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, NJ. He gained experience as a clinical researcher, emergency medical technician, and a registered nurse in both psychiatric and emergency departments prior to his formal training. This diverse background equipped him with valuable tools to deliver empathetic care to a wide range of patients with experience treating anxiety disorder, traumatic disorders, depressive and bipolar disorders, substance use disorders, ADHD, OCD, and psychotic disorders. During his residency, Dr. Syed also took on the role of chief resident, demonstrating a remarkable ability to educate both his patients and colleagues. Throughout his residency, Dr. Syed actively pursued additional training opportunities at various safety net hospitals in New Jersey to care for underserved populations.

Dr. Syed places significant importance on collaborating with patients and all relevant parties to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors affecting the patient's life before making treatment recommendations. Additionally, Dr. Syed emphasizes the importance of lifestyle, sleep, mindfulness, and nutrition, and their impact on overall mental health. He has experience in utilizing interpersonal and supportive psychotherapy, along with principles of motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy, to foster resilience and meaningful change in partnership with other mental health professionals involved in patient care.

Dr. Syed employs a range of therapeutic methods alongside medication management to ensure a thorough and holistic approach for every patient. His goal is to create a safe environment that encourages healing and wellness, enabling individuals to remain motivated and live their lives to the fullest.

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