Paul Pennington, LPC

Roberta Gelfand is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over eight years of experience providing compassionate outpatient mental health care in New York and New Jersey. She works with children, adolescents, and adults across diverse settings, including private practice, outpatient programs, community mental health centers, and non-profit organizations. Roberta supports individuals facing depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, self-esteem concerns, attention challenges, and relationship issues. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MSW from Hunter College, CUNY, and is trained in CBT, DBT, ACT, MI, SFBT, IFS, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, emotionally focused therapy, and strengths-based approaches. She also holds certifications in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Integrative Mental Health, and DBT, and has experience supporting neurodivergent individuals and the LGBTQIA+ community.

Roberta creates a warm, judgment-free, and collaborative space where clients feel safe, respected, and understood. Her humanistic, person-centered approach honors each individual’s identity, strengths, and lived experiences. She offers inclusive, affirming care for diverse identities, relationships, and family systems, blending emotional insight with practical tools. Therapy is flexible, personalized, and paced to meet each client’s unique goals and needs.

Roberta begins by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s history, concerns, strengths, and goals. Treatment planning is collaborative, individualized, and evidence-based. Sessions focus on increasing self-awareness, improving emotional regulation, and building effective coping strategies. She regularly revisits goals and approaches to ensure therapy remains supportive, relevant, and responsive to change.

Dr. Mark Sundahl is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He was born and raised in the suburbs of Kansas City, Kansas. He has always been fascinated by the natural world and received a bachelor’s degree in biology at Kansas State University where he was active in a research lab investigating protein function in the human body. He completed medical school training and residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas along with Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Sundahl has experience working with a broad range of mental health symptoms and a diverse patient population

Dr. Mark Sundahl is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He was born and raised in the suburbs of Kansas City, Kansas. He has always been fascinated by the natural world and received a bachelor’s degree in biology at Kansas State University where he was active in a research lab investigating protein function in the human body. He completed medical school training and residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kansas along with Wichita, Kansas. Dr. Sundahl has experience working with a broad range of mental health symptoms and a diverse patient population

Dr. Sundahl understands the importance of collaboration and the therapeutic alliance when working with patients. He will clearly explain his findings and discuss treatment options he feels are reasonable. Dr. Sundahl thinks it is important for patients to have all the necessary information to make informed decisions when it comes to their psychiatric treatment.

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Dr. Travis Downey has experience in outpatient and medical hospital settings, providing care for patients with co-occurring medical conditions. He earned his undergraduate degree in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University, his DO from Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed psychiatry residency at Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson. Dr. Downey enjoys teaching and has received the Excellence in Medical Education Award from Sidney Kimmel Medical College.

Dr. Downey creates a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard and respected. He is highly collaborative, offering treatment options rather than a single path, and values inclusivity, working with patients from diverse backgrounds. His experience spans diagnoses such as depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, trauma, and ADHD, among others.

Dr. Downey begins with a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, considering past treatments, family history, social and cultural context, and unique patient factors. He prioritizes understanding each individual, developing accurate diagnoses, and creating treatment plans that align with patient goals. Follow-up appointments integrate therapeutic interventions alongside medication management, ensuring thoughtful, ongoing care.

Diamond Junior received her bachelor’s degree in arts & psychology 2007 & two master’s degrees in science, one in Community Mental Health Counseling and the second one in School Counseling Education, in 2011 and 2018. Diamond Junior now has her License in Mental Health Counseling, her Credentialed Alcoholic & Substance Abuse Counseling Certification-Trainee, and her Permanent Certification in School Counseling. Diamond is also currently in doctoral school for her School Psychology degree. Diamond is a former Alcohol and Substance Abuse Preventive Worker & Treatment and Therapeutic Foster Care Family Specialist. Diamond is now currently, an on-line therapist and has her own Mental Health Counseling Private Practice in Buffalo. Diamond's treatment styles & modalities include Trauma-Informed Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Grief Therapy.

When working with Diamond, a new patient should know that she is very down to earth and professionally direct. Diamond practices individualism and treat each patient as their own person. Diamond develops treatment plans with the patient, that tailors to each of their individual needs. Diamond is also the co-founder of an All-girls mentoring & educational program called, "Unique Sisters. Unique Sister was started in 2014 and is owned by my mother, Rhodesia Jackson.

Diamond's typical process when working with patients is to first establish a therapeutic rapport by asking open-ended questions. Diamond asks questions such as, "Have you been in therapy before, including as a  child or teen (if the patient is over 18)"? This helps Diamond starting point to build a trusting & individualized relationship with the patient. Diamond's next question would be, "Why did you first enter therapy & we're you diagnosed with any mental health disorders"? Diamond continues to go on and ask if the client is or has been on psychotropic medications and what brings them back to therapy. Diamond gathers all of this information during the first two session and then ask the patient if any skills were built during their therapy journey & if they still utilize the skills. Finally, Diamond would administer the ACE Questionnaire to assess for childhood trauma, if the patient is over 18 years of age.

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Background and credentials    

Dr. Abernethy is a board-certified psychiatrist who received his medical  degree from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. He completed  his internship at UT Southwestern in Dallas and earned a Master's of Public  Health in Epidemiology and Occupational and Environmental Health from Texas  A&M. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the University of  Oklahoma Health Science Center. Dr. Abernethy has over 12 years of experience  practicing psychiatry in various outpatient settings, including private  practice and community mental health centers in Texas and Oklahoma,  specifically reaching underserved communities. He has treated a broad  spectrum of mental health symptoms among diverse populations, addressing  issues ranging from mood and anxiety disorders to behavioral manifestations  of Autism and other developmental disorders.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Abernethy utilizes a collaborative and patient-centered approach to  psychiatry, focusing primarily on medication interventions that align with  each patient's unique treatment goals and clinical needs. He emphasizes  cooperation with patients to effectively treat and reduce mental  health-related symptoms. His practice centers around medication management,  supplemented by supportive treatments tailored to individual needs. Depending  on each patient’s circumstances, he may recommend additional support from  individual, family, or group counselors and therapists to achieve optimal outcomes.    

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What you can expect in a first visit

In an initial visit, patients can expect a thorough, collaborative  discussion focused on understanding their symptoms, goals, and clinical  needs. Dr. Abernethy will evaluate the patient's condition to determine  appropriate medication interventions and discuss personalized treatment  recommendations. Typical follow-up visits are approximately 20-30 minutes in  length. Depending on the severity and complexity of a patient's situation,  referrals to additional counseling or therapy may also be suggested.    

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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. Kimberly Ford completed her psychiatry residency training at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. She has enjoyed treating patients for over 25 years in a variety of settings such as inpatient, outpatient mental health clinics, emergency room, and multidisciplinary clinics. She is talented in her ability to connect, understand, and empathize with her patients.‍She has expertise in treating patients with mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, and incorporates psychopharmacology when needed, psychodynamic and supportive psychotherapy. She wholeheartedly believes that treating her patients holistically is of high importance, with a focus on their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.