Michael Padua, MD

Dr. Alejandra Cattan is a bilingual psychiatrist who delivers care in English and Spanish. She went to medical school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and completed her psychiatry residency at Bronx Care Health system. She then completed additional training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at NY Medical College Psychoanalytic Institute. After completing residency, she worked as an attending psychiatrist in New York and later transitioned to dedicated outpatient work. Dr. Cattan brings exceptional care to her patients. She provides supportive psychotherapy and applies psychodynamic psychotherapy skills to discover the root of their suffering, in conjunction with medication management resources. Dr. Cattan believes in a biopsychosocial model to address her patients' issues. Her areas of expertise include medication management, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance use disorders.

Dr. Seth Flesher is double board-certified in adult psychiatry and addiction medicine.  Dr. Flesher’s practice focuses on medication management of psychiatric illness without the use of controlled substances.  Typically, he offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. However, occasionally Dr. Flesher may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome.

Before joining Talkiatry Dr. Flesher was Medical Director of Advanced Psychiatric Services [complex/high profile cases] at Kings County Hospital and Unit Chief of the Covid19 positive unit.  He was also a clinical professor at Downstate Medical College where he was voted educator of the year numerous times by psychiatric residents and medical students.  Dr. Flesher is a graduate of the prestigious combined 6-year BS/MD program at The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.  He did research at the neuropsychiatric branch of the National Institute of Mental Health, completed his psychiatric residency at St. Lukes/Roosevelt Hospital, and he received his master’s degree in public health from Columbia University.

Dr. Flesher believes that psychiatry should start with a thorough assessment to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.  Then a discussion with the patient of the different evidence-based options available.  Followed by shared decision-making to arrive at an effective treatment plan to achieve the goals that the patient identifies as being important.  This should be done in an honest, open, non-judgmental, but realistic environment.  Understanding that the ultimate goal is to get the patient to a position where they will no longer need medication and/or therapy.

Background and credentials    

Dr. Catherine Cashman is triple board-certified by the American Board of  Psychiatry and Neurology in Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent  Psychiatry, and Forensic Psychiatry. She holds two Bachelor’s degrees: one in  Finance from New York University, and another in Biology from the University  of New Orleans. She earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern  University and completed an Adult Psychiatry residency at LSU Health Sciences  Center in New Orleans. Dr. Cashman subsequently completed two fellowships:  the first in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at LSU New Orleans, along with  a certification in Infant Mental Health (working with children ages 0–6 years  and their caregivers); the second fellowship was in Forensic Psychiatry at  the University of Rochester and the Rochester Regional Forensic Unit.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Cashman brings an extensive and specialized skillset to psychiatry,  informed by her triple board-certifications. Her treatment approach  integrates clinical expertise from adult, child and adolescent, and forensic  psychiatry, emphasizing accurate diagnosis, risk assessment, and  evidence-based care. With specialized expertise in forensic psychiatry and  competency assessments, she employs rigorous evaluation methods to accurately  inform treatment planning and risk management, particularly in complex or  legally-involved cases.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

Patients visiting Dr. Cashman for the first time can expect a detailed and  comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Given her forensic and clinical  experience, initial assessments are thorough, focusing on clear diagnostic  understanding, individualized risk assessment, and appropriate treatment  planning. Patients can anticipate a collaborative, professional, and  structured environment aimed at clarifying diagnoses and addressing their  unique mental health needs effectively.    

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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.

Dr. Thomas Simeone is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Psychiatry.  Following his completion of medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, he completed his Fifth Pathway Clinical Training at New York Medical College.  He then completed his Psychiatry Residency at Tuft's University in Boston, MA, and went on to complete a Child and Adolescent Fellowship Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville FL.  He has since worked in both hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as in Residential Treatment for adolescents. Dr. Simeone has treated a wide spectrum of mental health conditions including Anxiety and Depression Disorders, as well as Mood Disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has also treated ADHD, OCD and Eating Disorders in adults and adolescents. Dr. Simeone has worked in Telehealth Practice for the past 4 years. He is a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and a member of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Dr. Simeone utilizes medication management and psychotherapy practices to achieve treatment goals for his patients.  During an initial assessment and evaluation, a thorough review of the patient's previous mental health treatment is considered.  Dr. Simeone assesses patients' acute symptoms including recent stressors and exacerbating factors and then establishes a comprehensive treatment plan with the patients' goals in mind.  Psychotherapy with medication is incorporated into the treatment plan of all patients.  Dr. Simeone always aims to achieve full remission of symptoms for his patients.

Dr. Simeone's practice focuses on medication management with facets of various psychotherapeutic techniques.  He conducts 30 medication management follow up sessions. Dr. Simeone is a sincere and empathic physician who advocates for patient autonomy and believes in a direct and transparent approach to patient treatment. He encourages active patient participation in their treatment plans.

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Dr. Rachel Bennett is a double board-certified physician in General Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.  She graduated magna cum laude from Rosemont College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology with dual minors in Biochemistry and English Literature.  She earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine with a concentration in Medical Humanities.  Dr. Bennett completed residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Her areas of research interest and publication during undergraduate and medical study and training have included pediatric palliative care, caregiver burden, autism spectrum disorders, and attachment-based family therapy.

Before joining Talkiatry, Dr. Bennett worked for nearly 12 years as a staff psychiatrist for Prospect Crozer Keystone Health System.  Her extensive clinical experience includes providing in-person and telepsychiatric care in a variety of settings including outpatient psychotherapy and community mental healthcare practices, hospital-based clinics, and school-based treatment programs, as well as emergency, consultation-liaison, and inpatient psychiatry.

Dr. Bennett’s treatment approach features an appreciation of the power of narrative in pursuit of deep self-understanding and meaningful personal progress.  She offers thorough assessment in an approachable, warm, and authentic manner, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle factors, the mind-body connection, relationships, and therapeutic rapport in collaboratively empowering her patients to achieve positive change, recovery, and resilience.  She has training and experience in a wide range of therapeutic modalities, including supportive, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family psychotherapy as well as positive psychology, and Dr. Bennett’s strong systems-oriented perspective facilitates her provision of evidence-based care both as an individual psychiatrist and in collaboration with specialized medical and therapeutic care providers when appropriate.

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.