Patricia Battles, LCSW

Kelvin is an experienced Licensed Independent Social Worker who has worked in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings. Kelvin's years of experience include work as a case manager, mental health therapist, substance use and mental health group facilitator, a lead clinician for a school-based services program and coordinator for adventure-based programming. This experience has allowed Kelvin to serve in a variety of settings, including: schools, homes, hospitals, and outpatient clinics, as well as working with individuals from nearly every age range; anywhere from kindergarten-aged school children to adults in a nursing home and almost everywhere in between. ‍Kelvin places great importance on making treatment a unique experience for every individual, strongly believing that there is no single uniform answer to an individual's problems and solutions should be tailored to that person's specific life circumstances. Kelvin has a foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, but utilizes practices as appropriate from a variety of treatment styles, including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, Behavioral Activation, Play Therapy and many more.

America Calderon is a bilingual, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of New York with experience providing services for children, adolescents, and adults. America specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, adjustment disorders, life transitions, stress management, and other comorbid disorders. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and a MSEd. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from St. John's University in New York. America provides patients with a genuine, nonjudgmental, and supportive environment to help empower them and recognize their potential. She utilizes various treatment modalities which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Relational-Cultural Therapy techniques. She practices from a person-centered and multicultural approach to build a meaningful, therapeutic relationship. Prior to becoming licensed as a psychotherapist, America was an educator in the state of Florida and New York with over 5 years of experience in the field. She is passionate about providing psychoeducation as it increases our insight into various mental health issues.

Kevin Seske is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who specializes in Sport and Health Psychology. His approach to therapy is collaborative, empowering, nonjudgmental, trauma informed, and goal-focused. He sees therapy as a method to find the individual's strengths to help overcome any hardships.‍Kevin integrates treatment modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused CBT, Existential Therapy, and mindfulness techniques. In addition, he incorporates Sports Psychology in sessions where appropriate as he believes physical activity can empower us and teach us life skills that boost self-esteem, promote team building, and aid in relaxation. These methods are proven to show reduction in anxiety and depression.‍Kevin specializes in treating PTSD among young adults, adults, and/or immigrant populations. He is also skilled in treating mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, grief, emotional abuse, and life transitions. Kevin has been told by clients and colleagues that he has a calming presence and is a good listener.‍Kevin's 10 years of experience as a counselor has included providing trauma-informed care for undocumented minors who arrived at the US border seeking refuge from their home countries, including ones experiencing Adjustment Disorder, PTSD, and ODD. Additionally, Kevin served in a FQHC on the Southwest side of Chicago, in their clinical setting and school-based health center.

Christy Caric-Ball, LPC, earned her undergraduate degree in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin and her MA in Clinical Psychology from The University of Texas Pan American. She has worked with underserved girls and women at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine and completed internships in diverse settings, including an intimate partner violence diversion court, a shelter for undocumented minors, and a behavioral health center. Her clinical interests include women’s health, LGBTQIA+ issues, teen adjustment counseling, and trauma-informed care.

Christy’s style is supportive and solution-focused, using evidence-based approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Interpersonal Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. She values empowering patients to focus on what they can change while letting go of what is beyond their control. Patients can expect to feel heard, supported, and encouraged as they work toward their wellness goals.

Christy begins by developing rapport and gaining a thorough understanding of each patient’s history. Together, they identify where the patient is now and where they want to be. She creates individualized treatment plans, revisiting and adjusting them as needed to align with evolving goals and promote lasting progress.

LaTreece Ross is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas who has been practicing for 4+ years in a variety of settings including mental health clinics, school settings, foster homes & resident treatment care centers (RTC). She also has 3 + years of trauma experience at the Children's Advocacy Center of Collin County (CACCC) for her practicum, internship, and post grad clinical hours.LaTreece is dedicated to helping clients find new ways to cope with everyday life as they reframe their thought patterns. During therapy, she incorporates multiple modalities of treatment into her practice to give each client a unique experience that meets their specific needs. LaTreece offers cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, and trauma-informed therapy. She specializes in working with clients dealing with depression, anxiety, life transitions, adolescent and peer issues, relationship and family distress, and grief and loss. During the initial sessions, LaTreece will collaborate with the client to create a treatment plan and set goals for therapy.

Meet Alex Starmer, LMHC, your friendly mental health counselor here at Talkiatry. She's not just a counselor; she's your partner on your mental health journey. Alex earned her Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Syracuse University in 2020 and has been in the field since January 2021, working closely with clients facing mental health and substance use challenges. Alex believes in the power of the mind-body connection, and she loves to share polyvagal exercises and mindfulness techniques to help you better understand yourself. She's always learning and growing, with ongoing training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Her go-to tools for therapy are Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). With her, you can expect a compassionate and comprehensive approach to your mental well-being. You're in good hands with Alex.‍