Maxwell Schauermann, MD

Elizabeth Shaffer, MD, is an accomplished psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. She earned her M.D. degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Appalachian State University where she graduated summa cum laude. Dr. Shaffer's passion for working with children and families developed during her involvement in a pre-K Head Start Program in Rural North Carolina. She completed her General Psychiatry Residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell University. Dr. Shaffer obtained ABPN Board Certification in General Psychiatry in 2023 and is working towards Board Certification in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Shaffer has received honors and awards for her contributions to psychiatry, including the Laughlin fellowship through The American College of Psychiatrists and Resident of the Year at Cape Fear Valley Health System in 2022.Her areas of interest focus on neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD, Autism, and Intellectual Delay. Dr. Shaffer is affiliated with professional organizations like AACAP and APA, demonstrating her commitment to professional development. Dr. Shaffer is dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and family and patient psychoeducation. Dr. Shaffer emphasizes a joint decision-making approach to treatment options and utilizes local resources to provide wrap-around support. Dr. Shaffer is a respected psychiatrist known for her excellence, compassion, and innovative approach to mental health care. Her extensive education, accolades, research contributions, professional affiliations, and community involvement reflect her commitment to making a positive impact in her patients' lives and the broader community.

Dr. Clark is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She is fellowship-trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been in practice for 11 years. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Clark then completed her residency training and continued her training in child and adolescent fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Clark works with patients to create an environment where they feel comfortable and supported. She focuses on medication management along with supportive therapy. Normally visits are 30-minute follow-ups that allow time to focus on areas of support needed. If additional therapy is recommended, she will request a therapist be added to your care team to meet all your needs. Dr. Clark has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with adult, child, and adolescent populations. She has worked in private practice as well as community mental health, where she worked with reaching under-served communities. Dr Clark has a passion for treating both adult and child and adolescent patients with anxiety and depression.

Dr. Michael Lukowski is an adult psychiatrist who holds board certification with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has been practicing medicine for over 4 years. Dr. Lukowski focuses on medication management combined with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. He practices whole-person medicine, caring for the wellness of your mind, body, and spirit and helping you enjoy your relationships with those around you. Dr. Lukowski received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno, NV, before moving to southern California to complete his residency at Loma Linda University. After completing training, Dr. Lukowski began working with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Riverside, CA, where he treated a variety of psychiatric disorders in an outpatient setting. In March of 2020, as the pandemic changed life and medicine forever, Dr. Lukowski adopted a strictly telepsychiatry role at his clinic. He has also held a staff psychiatrist position as an adult inpatient psychiatrist in Tennessee. Dr. Lukowski treats a wide variety of psychiatric disorders within the adult demographic.

Laura Hendricks is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) with over 20 years of experience across a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient care, inpatient psychiatric facilities, private practice, consult-liaison psychiatry, and telepsychiatry. She has worked with individuals across the lifespan and brings a Family Systems perspective to her practice, helping patients develop greater awareness of their personal growth, attachment styles, and behavioral patterns to support more fulfilling lives.

Laura is also a long-time practitioner of Nonviolent Communication (Compassionate Communication), a method that fosters deeper empathy and connection with oneself and others. She integrates these principles into her clinical work to help individuals live more authentically and meaningfully.

Her approach is rooted in a whole-person perspective, guiding clients to recognize their strengths and utilize appropriate treatment tools. This begins with building a strong, respectful therapeutic relationship based on collaboration and shared decision-making. Laura practices evidence-based medication management and incorporates supportive counseling and psychoeducation into every session. She believes that empowering patients through education is essential to improving mental health outcomes.

Laura conducts thorough assessments to clarify diagnoses and treatment needs, with ongoing evaluation throughout the course of care. She works collaboratively with patients to refine treatment goals and strategies, always emphasizing a strengths-based and empowering approach.

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Dr. Mayra Valdivia Carlisle is a bilingual Spanish and English-speaking board-certified Adult Psychiatrist and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist. She earned her master's degree in public health and her medical degree from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. She went on to complete her residency training in Adult Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and subsequently completed her fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She was awarded the Excellence in Public Health Award by the U.S. Public Health Service and Surgeon General for her work addressing health disparities in healthcare. Dr. Carlisle has extensive experience in outpatient and community mental health settings.

Dr. Carlisle provides patient-centered and compassionate psychiatric care combining medication management, psychotherapeutic methods, and lifestyle modifications to create a unique treatment plan. She recognizes that each person benefits from a personalized and holistic approach to healing. Dr. Carlisle specializes in treating diverse psychiatric conditions including ADHD, anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder in children, adolescents, and adults.

During an initial visit one can expect a comprehensive evaluation aimed at understanding individual mental health history, specific concerns, and overall treatment goals. Dr. Carlisle practices a holistic approach to treating mental disorders. This is done through an individualized plan for each patient with careful consideration to medication management, therapy techniques, and lifestyle modifications. Patients can expect an empathetic and collaborative environment focused on their personal experiences and goals.

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Dr. Krishna Divadeenam is a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He trained in New York and earned his medical degree from Albany Medical College in 1997.  He finished his internship at Vanderbilt Medical Center and completed his psychiatric residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 2000. During his residency, he served as Chief Resident at the Kansas City VA Medical Center (KCVA).  His initial post-residency focus was with patients with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) when he worked at the Johnson County Mental Health Center.  He has served as a adjunct professor at the University of Kansas providing clinical supervision to residents and yearly lectures on Bipolar disorder, Tourette’s and Obsessive compulsive disorder for over 20 years.  He worked at Midwest Psychiatric associates in an outpatient private practice for nearly 3 years before returning to the KCVA.  There he oversaw care for combat veterans as a clinical psychiatrist and the supervisor for the PTSD Specialty outpatient clinic.  After 5 years he transitioned to the inpatient unit as the inpatient supervisor and one of the attending physicians of the acute inpatient psychiatric unit.  In addition, he served as the University of Kansas Site director for their psychiatric residency program.  

Dr. Divadeenam believes in a holistic approach to mental health treatment, integrating medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and collaboration with therapists and support staff. He tailors treatment to each patient's unique needs, ensuring a comprehensive and individualized approach to care. His expertise includes treating a variety of psychiatric diagnoses, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders (including OCD), ADHD, and PTSD.

In a first visit, patients can expect a thorough evaluation, where Dr. Divadeenam takes the time to understand their medical history, symptoms, and treatment goals. He emphasizes open communication and collaborative decision-making, ensuring that patients feel heard and supported. Based on this initial assessment, he will develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication management and referrals to therapy or other supportive services as needed.