Osman Athar, MD

Bracha (Brooke) Winograd is a licensed clinical social worker with comprehensive experience working in the mental health field. Brooke has worked directly with clients of various ages and demographics living with a variety of mental health conditions. Brooke completed her undergraduate degree with The College at Brockport in Upstate New York and her master's degree in social work through Nazareth University in Rochester, NY. In her work with an outpatient mental health clinic and day treatment programming, Brooke collaborated closely with psychiatric prescribers to meet clients� diagnostic and therapeutic mental health needs. Brooke has been practicing clinical social work in a variety of settings, focusing on treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and other mental health symptoms that challenge individuals on their journey to wellness. Working with Brooke is collaborative in nature, with the goal being to have the client's goals and preferences front and center throughout treatment. Brooke is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma-focused CBT, person-centered care, and motivational interviewing (MI). Brooke is passionate about her work and empowering her clients to build the skills necessary to reach their goals.

Melissa knows first-hand how powerful the counseling experience can be. Melissa committed herself to the hard work of deep interpersonal counseling and has a passion to help others build a life of hope, joy, and resiliency. As an undergraduate, she studied at Toccoa Falls College in the mountains of North Georgia. She finished her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and began working in the Crisis Stabilization Unit. Melissa assisted with the opening of a psychiatric hospital, advocating for the needs of the patient. She has served in Jerusalem and Africa and strives to be inclusive of everyone as an individual of significant value. Melissa focuses on building a strong rapport with her patients, highlighting their strengths, teaching mindfulness, boundaries, emotional regulation strategies, and often writing trauma narratives. She utilizes Solution Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. ‍

Background and credentials

Dr. Yang is board-certified in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. She received her medical degree from the Medical School of Nanjing University in China and completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the State University of New York in Buffalo. She conducted neuroscience research at Tufts University and Columbia University. Dr. Yang completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – McGovern Medical School (UTHealth) and a fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. She has held academic positions at Baylor College of Medicine, supervising medical students, residents, and physician assistant students.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Yang specializes in treating depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety, substance use disorders, ADHD, and trauma-related disorders. She employs medication management combined with supportive therapy and motivational interviewing techniques. Dr. Yang emphasizes building strong therapeutic relationships, tailoring treatment to each patient's unique goals and needs.

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What you can expect in a first visit

In the initial visit, patients can expect a detailed, personalized evaluation by Dr. Yang. She will explore symptoms, medical history, personal goals, and treatment preferences to design an individualized care plan. Patients can expect a compassionate, collaborative approach with clear communication about medication management options and supportive therapeutic strategies aimed at improving their overall well-being.

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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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Robin Lawson is a LCSW with 14 years of clinical experience, who has extensive experience with adults ages 18 and older who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. Robin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and her Master’s degree from the University of South Florida. Robin has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has specialized experience with those facing chronic or serious medical illnesses. Robin finds joy in connecting with her clients and creating a safe space for them to gain insight on themselves, their strengths and their opportunities for growth.

Robin has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 14 years, with an emphasis on Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Grief/Loss. Robin primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in her practice as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Andrew Lelin is a board-certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. He  received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's  in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics from Stony Brook  University. Dr. Lelin earned his medical degree from Hofstra-Northwell School  of Medicine and completed his residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson School  of Medicine, where he specialized in advanced psychopharmacology with diverse  patient populations. He also has extensive training and experience in  psychotherapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic therapy,  cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal therapy, and cognitive  processing therapy. Following his training, Dr. Lelin provided inpatient  consultation and crisis intervention services in New York City.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Lelin employs a compassionate, humanistic approach designed to align  closely with his patients' personal goals and values. His method integrates  advanced psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic techniques such as  psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, habit-reversal, and cognitive processing  therapies. He aims to carefully balance diagnosis, avoiding both  overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, to ensure precise and tailored care. Dr.  Lelin’s approach is particularly effective in addressing conditions like  anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma-related issues, and other  psychiatric conditions.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

During the initial visit, patients can expect a comprehensive, detailed  evaluation designed to thoroughly understand their individual experiences and  needs. Dr. Lelin prioritizes establishing a compassionate and comfortable  environment where patients can openly discuss their concerns and goals. This  initial assessment is followed by meticulous and thoughtful follow-ups,  providing clarity and direction in the treatment process.    

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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 speciualize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.

Dr. Dennis Valerstain is a board-certified Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. After completing his undergraduate education at Emory University, he attended medical school at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He subsequently completed psychiatry residency at University of Miami/Jackson Health System and further sub-specialized at University of Miami/Jackson Health System with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Valerstain has had the opportunity of working with a diverse array of patients including children, adolescents, the severely mentally ill, veterans, and cancer patients across three distinct hospital systems. Dr. Valerstain has had varied clinical experiences in specialty inpatient psychiatry units, emergency psychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and outpatient clinics via telemedicine and face to face interactions. Dr. Valerstain has experience working with patients of all ages, particularly those with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tic disorders, substance use disorders, and more. Dr. Valerstain's practice focuses on medication management and also employs empathic listening, supportive psychotherapy techniques, and a comprehensive and methodological approach to his visits. Given his broad and diverse training experiences, he enjoys problem solving and working collaboratively with patients (and their families) to navigate their complex issues and jointly focusing on simple solutions to work towards improving their mental health.