Michael Underriner, MD

Dr. Vargas is an adult psychiatrist who received her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio. She subsequently completed her psychiatry residency training at UT Health San Antonio.

Dr. Vargas has a patient-centered and thorough approach to treatment. She has experience treating a broad spectrum of mental health disorders, with particular interest in depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She has also worked in clinic with severely mentally ill patients at the South Texas VA in San Antonio.

Dr. Vargas's primary focus is medication management with an emphasis on shared decision-making; however, she frequently also utilizes supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic therapy principles in her approach. She may refer patients to a therapist if further support would be beneficial.

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Dr. Sarah Benito Figueroa is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist and a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.  She completed her Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Connecticut. Following this, she sub-specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Benito Figueroa served as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at a busy academic outpatient clinic and on an inpatient basis, providing care to children with complex medical needs.

Dr. Benito Figueroa strives to provide a patient-centered and collaborative approach when developing treatment plans. She specializes in medication management and supportive psychotherapy. When appropriate, she may make a referral for more specialized therapeutic interventions. For child and adolescent patients, Dr. Benito Figueroa encourages parental involvement at each visit to ensure a family centered approach is being followed to best support the child's needs.

During the first visit, Dr. Benito Figueroa will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with a goal of understanding a patient's treatment history, current symptomatology and personal goals. She will work together with her patients to foster a collaborative environment, personalize treatment plans and support patients in achieving an improved quality of life.

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Dr. Zaidi graduated residency from University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University in 2015. After residency he worked at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center as a staff psychiatrist. He eventually took on the role of Mental Health Lead Psychiatrist and Interim Clinic Director at the Tomball VA Outpatient Clinic. Dr. Zaidi then transferred to a telepsychiatry role at VISN 15 providing mental health coverage for rural areas in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Dr. Zaidi resides in Houston, Texas and enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, and watching/playing sports such as Football, Basketball, and Soccer.

Dr. Zaidi has over 15 years of experience in treating different mental health conditions and is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He enjoys getting to learn about patients and working collaboratively to provide the best treatment possible, be it medications or talk therapy. Dr. Zaidi has vast experience treating Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, among many others.

Dr. Zaidi's goal when working with patients is to not come to a generic diagnosis; rather, it is to get to know about the client and try and manage their symptoms in the best way possible. Overall, the process is collaborative, and both parties need to be comfortable with the decisions moving forward.

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Dr. Rania Elkhatib is a board-certified general psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical care, teaching, and research. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed her psychiatry residency at UTHealth Science Center in Houston, where she later served as an Assistant Clinical Professor. During that appointment, Dr. Elkhatib was heavily involved in medical education and has developed courses in cultural psychiatry and psychiatry boot camps for medical students.

Dr. Elkhatib specializes in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. Dr. Elkhatib focuses on evidence-based medication management but will also incorporate supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize treatment management and patient’s wellness. She is fluent in Arabic and English and has a strong interest in working with diverse patient populations.

Dr. Elkhatib has a holistic approach with focus on medication management while incorporating supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize patient wellness.

Dr. Thomas O’Brien holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and earned his medical degree from Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at Loyola University Medical Center. Dr. O’Brien has experience practicing across outpatient, PHP, IOP, and inpatient settings.

He strives to create a supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and understood. His approach emphasizes a holistic, whole-person method to healing, guided by the patient’s own goals and values. Dr. O’Brien integrates psychotherapy with medication management, drawing on his background in psychodynamic psychopharmacology and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Dr. O’Brien focuses on understanding each patient as a whole to create individualized treatment plans. This begins with a comprehensive history during the initial session to identify biopsychosocial factors. Treatment is then tailored to align with the patient’s unique goals and values, promoting meaningful progress.

Dr. Alexa Hall is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with extensive training and experience across inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient psychiatry settings. She earned her medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at Harvard South Shore. Through her clinical work with the Harvard Medical School system and the Boston VA Healthcare System, Dr. Hall developed expertise in caring for diverse patient populations. She has also served as Medical Director for multiple psychiatry practices, overseeing services such as outpatient medication management, Spravato, IV Ketamine, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

Dr. Hall provides a supportive, non-judgmental environment where patients feel heard, respected, and understood. She takes a collaborative approach, working in partnership with patients to set and achieve individualized wellness goals. Her practice emphasizes whole-person care, integrating both mental and physical well-being into each treatment plan.

Dr. Hall begins by listening closely to understand each patient’s history, experiences, and concerns. From there, she collaborates with patients to identify their personal treatment and wellness goals. She develops individualized treatment plans tailored to these goals, focusing on supporting meaningful progress and long-term well-being.