Maxine Zhou, MD

Dr. Steven Wilkening is a board-certified adult psychiatrist.He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University followed by a neuroscience researchfocused Masters degree at the University of Mississippi. He then attended medical school at theUniversity of Mississippi School of Medicine, graduating with his MD degree as a Medical StudentResearch Scholar and member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed adultpsychiatry residency training at the University of Cincinnati and has since been working primarily intelepsychiatry.He has experience treating a wide variety of psychiatric conditions and also recognizes that lifestylefactors such as sleep, physical activity and stress-reduction are foundations of good mental health.Alongside medication management, he provides brief supportive psychotherapy, psychoeducation, aswell as elements of cognitive behavioral and solution-focused therapies to assist patients in meetingtheir goals. He often encourages patients to see a therapist in addition to a psychiatrist.

Background and credentials

Dr. Sabera Saklayen is a board-certified psychiatrist licensed in Adult Psychiatry. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her medical degree from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry training at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she served as chief resident and was awarded the William Turner Award for outstanding performance in psychiatry residency. She has extensive experience treating diverse populations, including vulnerable and underserved communities, having worked as an outpatient psychiatrist at Bellevue Hospital for two years.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Saklayen specializes in medication management but takes a holistic, patient-centered approach that integrates supportive therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing (MI). She has extensive experience treating depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social anxiety, OCD, insomnia, and substance use disorders. She is particularly skilled in treating college students and individuals navigating difficult life transitions. If more in-depth therapy is needed, she may refer patients to a therapist as part of a comprehensive care plan.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough and compassionate evaluation, where Dr. Saklayen carefully assesses symptoms, history, and treatment goals. She prioritizes collaboration and individualized treatment planning, ensuring that patients feel comfortable and supported in their mental health care. Follow-up visits are typically 30 minutes and focus on medication management and therapy integration, with referrals to additional therapy when needed for the best possible outcome.

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Why Talkiatry?

We’re a virtual mental health practice that makes it easy to find great care. We combine quality and convenience to help you thrive—faster. Our providers, like this one, are highly trained experts who specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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Dr. Hajer Ben Cheikh earned her medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School, where she worked with refugee populations and participated in global health initiatives. She completed her psychiatry residency at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, serving as inpatient chief resident. Dr. Ben Cheikh has experience across the full continuum of psychiatric care, including higher levels of care, collaborative care, and outpatient settings. She has a particular interest in perinatal mental health.

Dr. Ben Cheikh values open communication, transparency, and collaboration, and takes a friendly, supportive approach to patient care. She practices evidence-based medicine with a thoughtful, minimalist approach to pharmacologic treatment, often favoring single agents that can address multiple concerns when clinically appropriate.

Her approach to care is holistic, integrating psychiatric diagnoses, comorbid conditions, social context, and lifestyle factors. Sessions include supportive psychotherapy, incorporating techniques from other modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic approaches as appropriate. Initial visits emphasize diagnostic clarity and collaborative goal-setting, while follow-up sessions focus on patient priorities, shared decision-making, and personalized strategies that support meaningful, sustainable progress.

Dr. Bianca Fleming is a double board-certified psychiatrist in Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia, earned her MD from Morehouse School of Medicine, completed psychiatry residency at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a child and adolescent fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. She has experience across inpatient, outpatient, and integrative community health settings.

Dr. Fleming values gathering thorough information through a warm, conversational interview style. She strives to create a supportive therapeutic space while maintaining a balanced sense of patient accountability to promote meaningful progress.

Her approach emphasizes shared agenda setting at every visit to ensure both patient and provider needs are met. Dr. Fleming takes a detailed history to guide clinical decisions, prioritizes patient education, and delivers evidence-based, patient-centered care. She integrates psychotherapy into all medication management appointments to support holistic treatment.

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Dr. Li is a board-certified adult psychiatrist based in Florida. He has a particular focus on combining supportive psychotherapy techniques with medication management in the treatment of psychiatric conditions. Some conditions he has particular experience in managing include attention/focus difficulties, anxiety, depression and bipolar mood issues, but he is well-versed in addressing a wide variety of diagnoses.

Dr. Catherine Bledowski is board-certified in General Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) by the ABPN.  She received her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed her residency in General Psychiatry as well as her fellowship in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (Psychosomatic Medicine) at Virginia Commonwealth University.  Dr. Bledowski spent most of her career in large, urban academic medical centers, primarily taking care of patients with severe mental illness, as well as those with mental illness comorbid with other complex medical conditions.  

Dr. Bledowski has a passion for medical education and has held faculty appointments at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Utah, Georgetown University, George Washington University, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.  Dr. Bledowski has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and provided academic presentations to both national and international audiences.  Her interests include emergency psychiatry, brain stimulation therapies, complex psychopharmacology, and psychopharmacology in the medically ill.  Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Bledowski held various leadership positions in academic medicine, emergency psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and brain stimulation at multiple academic medical centers.  

Dr. Bledowski's approach to patient care is centered upon collaboration and utilizing the most up-to-date evidence-based practices.