Marla Richard, MD

Dr. Alexandra Held is a general psychiatrist who holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She completed her psychiatry training at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD. She is passionate about incorporating psychotherapeutic tools into her practice, including supportive psychotherapy.

Dr. Held takes a warm, collaborative, and nonjudgmental approach to care. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space where patients feel heard and empowered to take an active role in their treatment, using a combination of supportive psychotherapy and medication management.

During the first few sessions, Dr. Held will take time to get to know the patient—their history, current concerns, and what they hope to achieve through treatment. Together, they will develop a comprehensive plan that may include psychiatric medications and supportive therapy. Follow-up visits are typically focused on checking in, adjusting treatments if necessary, and continuing to build on progress.

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Dr. Chelsea Karson is a board-certified psychiatrist who completed her residency training at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital where she was Chief Resident of her program. Dr. Karson is passionate about patient care, believing in caring for the whole person. While completing her residency training, she led an interprofessional team to bring miniature-therapy horses to the inpatient psychiatry unit and thereby forge a relationship between the organization and all of Advocate Aurora Healthcare. Dr. Karson partnered with a mental health counselor to create a virtual therapy program of resources, the Bridge Project, to close the gap between inpatient and outpatient care that is now used throughout the Advocate Aurora network. At graduation Dr. Karson received the 2024 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Ruggie Humanitarian Award. The Ruggie Award selects and honors a graduating resident or fellow who displays academic excellence, commitment to the education of others, professional bearing, and a concern for the patient within the light of Human Ecology. Dr. Karson attended undergraduate at Elmhurst University, a biology major with minors in chemistry and medical humanities. She went to medical school at Rosalind Franklin University and was chosen to join the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her dedication to compassionate patient care.

Dr. Susan Kim is a board certified psychiatrist who was born and raised in Queens, NY. She has spent much of her time in the North East and is currently residing in New Jersey with her spouse and dog, Luna. Dr. Kim began her medical training at Temple University in Philadelphia and completed her psychiatric residency at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was chief resident for her final year. She has worked in numerous psychiatric roles. This includes working at a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP) at Stony Brook University Hospital, as well as the inpatient voluntary psychiatric unit at Holy Name Hospital. She has also worked as a psychiatric consultant for patients admitted to medical-surgical units at Holy Name Hospital. Dr. Kim is well versed in medication management, particularly for depression, anxiety, as well as psychotic disorders. Her treatment style includes several psychotherapeutic techniques, including supportive, cognitive behavioral, and psychodynamic, based on her patient's needs and preferences. She also holds a special interest in cultural psychiatry as well as relational intelligence.

Dr. Martha James is board-certified in general adult psychiatry and has more than twenty years of experience working with adults in a variety of mental health care settings including academia, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, university medical centers, VA medical centers, and community mental health settings. Dr. James received her medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatric residency at the University of California, Los Angeles Neuropsychiatric Institute. Dr. James has experience treating adults with a variety of mental health problems including anxiety, mood disorders, trauma related disorders and psychotic disorders.

Dr. James is an experienced, open-minded psychiatrist who prioritizes empathy and understanding in her work. She recognizes that each individual's path to wellness is unique and strives to meet patients where they are in this process. Dr. James believes that while some individuals may benefit from treatment with medication management alone, psychotherapy is often important for treatment success. She encourages patients to participate in psychotherapy and believes a therapist can be a crucial part of the treatment team.

Dr. James uses a collaborative, patient-centered treatment approach with the goal of reducing mental pain and improving wellness so that patients are better able to pursue their unique personal and professional goals. She utilizes psychopharmacology, psychoeducation, and supportive and psychodynamic psychotherapy skills when working with patients.

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Evelyn Kuang, PMHNP, is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience spanning clinical practice, research, and teaching. She trained at Columbia School of Nursing and in specialized psychiatric programs including Gracie Square Hospital, NYP Mt. Sinai SAGE elders, and Harlem’s STAY program. Evelyn has worked with diverse communities, including LGBTQ+ youth, older adults, and Asian-American populations, with expertise in sexual health, geriatric psychiatry, and trauma. She is also a musician and composer, integrating creative expression into therapeutic work.

Evelyn provides person-centered, trauma-informed care with an intersectional and decolonized lens. She emphasizes shared decision-making and creates a compassionate environment where patients feel safe and heard. Passionate about addressing implicit bias in healthcare and supporting ethnic identity formation, she focuses on improving access and quality of mental health care for Asian diaspora communities.

Evelyn begins by exploring each patient’s history, concerns, and goals through a trauma-informed, intersectional approach. She develops individualized treatment plans aligned with patient goals, incorporating supportive psychodynamic psychotherapy alongside medication management to ensure holistic care.

Avi Adri is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with a passion for helping others achieve their goals through medication management and psychotherapy. He is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy. Avi has experience supporting individuals with depression, anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and ADHD. He is an LGBTQIA+ affirming provider who believes in empowering individuals in their lives.

He earned his Master of Science in Nursing with a specialty in psychiatry from Stony Brook University and a nursing practice degree from Chatham University. Avi is committed to providing evidence-based, compassionate treatment for mental health conditions to enhance quality of life. His previous experience includes two years at Columbia University Medical Center on an inpatient psychiatric unit and four years on the medical consultation-liaison psychiatric team, where he treated patients with a range of acute and chronic medical conditions while providing medication management and psychotherapy. His work at Columbia involved treating a wide spectrum of psychiatric conditions with the goal of achieving symptom remission.

Additionally, Avi has practiced at a private clinic in New York City, focusing on interventional techniques such as TMS and ketamine therapy, alongside medication management and psychotherapy.

Through mindful techniques and compassionate care, Avi is dedicated to the well-being of his clients. He views each person as more than a diagnosis and approaches care through a client-centered, holistic lens.

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