Natalie Cummings, MD

Dr. Michael Bartolac is a board-certified psychiatrist with experience in both outpatient and inpatient psychiatric care. He has treated a wide range of psychiatric conditions including affective, psychotic, anxiety, trauma-related, substance use, neurodevelopmental, personality, and neurocognitive disorders. His clinical experience includes hybrid remote outpatient work, inpatient psychiatry on locked units, consultation for medically hospitalized patients, and performing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). He earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed psychiatry residency at West Virginia University/Charleston Area Medical Center.

Dr. Bartolac values creating a space where patients feel comfortable voicing their concerns. His treatment style is rooted in open communication and trust. He primarily focuses on medication management and supportive therapy, while incorporating psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral techniques during 30-minute follow-up visits.

Dr. Bartolac is committed to providing competent and compassionate care. He takes a collaborative approach, working closely with patients and their healthcare team to ensure all aspects of care are aligned with the patient’s needs and goals.

Dr. Kevin DiCesare is a board-certified psychiatrist, treating adults. He received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and then went on to train at Maine Medical Center for his psychiatric residency. He has 22 years of expertise in diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, Bipolar spectrum disorders, adjustment problems, ADHD and other disorders. He is well versed in psychopharmacological interventions, but is a proponent of patients also being active in psychotherapy whenever appropriate. He prides himself in collaboratively arriving at treatment decisions with his patients, and taking the time to listen to their concerns and answer their questions.

Dr. DiCesare has worked in various settings, including community mental health centers and large hospital systems, with experience in inpatient, outpatient, and consultative roles. Prior to joining Talkiatry, he most recently served as an attending psychiatrist on the staff of Southern New Hampshire Health System, where he provided consultative care to referrals made from primary care providers and various specialists.

Dr. Nicholas Sahagian is a Psychiatrist in Colorado who has been practicing since 2023. He completed his MD and Adult Psychiatry Residency at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University and earned his BA in Neuroscience at Skidmore College. Dr. Sahagian has experience managing a broad array of complex psychiatric diagnoses in patients of diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and clinical backgrounds. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, playing guitar, reading, and collecting board games.

Dr. Sahagian offers psychiatric medication management while also incorporating elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, internal family systems, and lifestyle interventions. He believes that every patient is unique, and he works to create a supportive environment where individuals feel heard and empowered in their care.

Grounded in the biopsychosocial model, Dr. Sahagian takes a collaborative, patient-centered approach. He partners with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that integrate biological, psychological, and social factors, with the goal of guiding them along their path to improved wellness.

Dr. Blackwood was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She completed medical school as well as General Psychiatry Residency and Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina. She went to the College of Charleston for undergraduate studies and double majored in Psychology and Spanish. Dr. Blackwood is the first member of her family to become a physician. Her passion for mental health and her desire to help others are what paved the way for her to become a well-trained and highly motivated psychiatrist.

While working together, Dr. Blackwood will get to know you and will be open to you sharing as much or as little about yourself as you would like. Her goal is to create a safe, judgement-free space where you will feel comfortable and heard. When it comes to mental health, Dr. Blackwood understands that having a strong therapeutic alliance is equally as important as accurate diagnosing and medication management.

Dr. Blackwood strongly believes in a patient-centered model, in which medical decision-making is driven by patient preferences. Her job is to empower patients to make informed decisions regarding their mental health. Dr. Blackwood provides a platform with a no-judgement zone for you to feel safe during your appointments.

‍

Dr. Bakhtier is certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. Dr. Bakhtier has been practicing for over 15 years and has been working in the field of Telemedicine for over 10 years. Dr. Bakhtier has been working to make easy access to mental health treatment for everyone and believes that Telemedicine is a great option for more access to mental health treatment.  After completing residency training and a master’s in public health, Dr. Bakhtier started practicing as a staff Psychiatrist and later promoted to the medical director position. He had the privilege of working as the Chief Resident during his residency training and worked with a diverse population, treating many people with different types of mental illness at Lincoln medical and mental Health Center in affiliation with Downtown Bronx Medical Associates P.C. and Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Although he is focused on medication management, he is also very interested in therapies like Motivational interview, Supportive therapy to include in the treatment plan. He is very grounded in humanistic values. He likes to work very closely with his patients to build a treatment plan, and he believes in listening to patients and believing that the best outcomes are possible only by working together with patients. He will make decisions after consultation with you and with your approval first regarding adding or changing medication.

Dr. Bakhtier will spend at least 60 minutes on the initial visit and then 30mintues for follow-up appointments where he will develop a treatment plan with you and will be very open to listening to your preferences regarding medication management.

‍

Dr. Megan Tusken is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her medical doctorate at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Tusken completed residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Tusken provides evidence-based, patient-centered care and considers a trusting doctor-patient relationship integral to helping her patients achieve their treatment goals. During training, Dr. Tusken gained extensive experience in inpatient, consult, emergency room, and outpatient practice settings with culturally and socioeconomically diverse patient populations. She also elected to acquire additional experience with specific patient populations, including patients with treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorders, and sleep disorders, as well as LGBTQ+ individuals and older adults. Tusken's treatment approach is collaborative and holistic. She provides medication management for a variety of mental health conditions, with particular interest in mood and anxiety disorders. In addition to psychopharmacologic interventions, she firmly believes in the mind-body connection, and she incorporates psychotherapeutic techniques into her visits to provide the best, individualized care for each patient.