Paula Wilt, MD

Neena Tressa Mathew has built an impressive career in the medical field, with a strong focus on mental health. She is dually board-certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC), providing care across all age groups. Fluent in English, Hindi, and Malayalam, she is licensed to practice in Florida, New York, Texas, and Georgia. Neena offers a patient-centered approach that integrates her diverse experience and certifications.

Her dedication to mental health is evident through her extensive hands-on experience in assessing, treating, and evaluating patients with a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. She has delivered exceptional care at institutions such as Mindful Behavioral Healthcare, AdventHealth Hospital, and Park Place Behavioral Health Care. Her international experience includes roles in Canada, where she further developed her expertise in geriatric psychiatry. Neena has also worked in various practice areas, including addiction medicine, grief counseling, and primary care.

Her academic background includes a Post-Master’s Certification from Florida State University and a Master of Science from D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Delhi University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Delhi School of Social Work. Her professional affiliations, including membership in the American Nurses Association, reflect her commitment to the field. Recognized for her academic, leadership, and research capabilities, Neena was invited to join Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) as a graduate nursing student for her excellence in scholarship and outstanding achievements in nursing.

Neena has contributed to several U.S. nursing journals and magazines and has published and presented research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. She maintains an active academic presence through platforms like Google Scholar and ResearchGate.

Her approach to care is both traditional—prescribing evidence-based psychiatric medications—and holistic, incorporating natural treatments such as vitamins, supplements, lifestyle modifications, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. She believes in the mind-body-spirit connection, viewing individuals as whole beings rather than a collection of symptoms, echoing the philosophy of Hippocrates, the "Father of Medicine." Her holistic philosophy is evident in her skillful management of psychotropic medications and her integration of psychotherapy, including supportive therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and psychodynamic therapy.

Neena’s primary interest lies in exploring the relationship between mental, physical, and spiritual health. She finds great fulfillment in helping others and goes beyond diagnosis and treatment by conducting thorough mental health assessments to ensure accurate identification of psychiatric conditions. What sets her apart is her commitment to patient education—empowering individuals and their families with a deep understanding of their conditions and treatment plans, including medication as part of a comprehensive care strategy.

In addition to her clinical work, Neena serves as a clinical instructor, sharing her knowledge and insights with future healthcare professionals. This dual role highlights her multifaceted contribution to healthcare, emphasizing both treatment and education in supporting individuals on their mental health journeys.

Outside of her professional life, Neena enjoys reading, writing, beach activities, hiking, and traveling with her family. She is also actively involved in charitable work through the Lions Club. She lives by the principle:

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

Indeed, she believes that it is in giving that we truly receive.

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Dr. Sallie Jo Hadley holds the position of Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is board-certified in psychiatry and pediatrics and is board-eligible in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has been practicing for 22 years. Dr. Hadley's practice is focused on medication management with supportive therapy in follow-up sessions of 15 or 30 minutes. Dr. Hadley is experienced with collaborative treatment and encourages adding a therapist to your care team in those situations where additional therapy might be helpful. Dr. Hadley is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine's triple-board program (psychiatry, pediatrics, and child and adolescent psychiatry). She completed post-doctoral research fellowships at Mount Sinai's Seaver Center for Autism Research/Compulsive-Impulsive Anxiety Disorders and at Columbia University's New York State Psychiatric Institute, the latter focusing on metabolic and weight issues in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Dr. Hadley had an early background as a nurse, receiving her B.S. in Nursing from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her experience in neonatal, psychiatric, and hospice nursing led her to pursue her degree in medicine. Dr. Hadley has worked in pharmacologic research in both academic and industry settings. Prior to joining Talkiatry, she practiced in a multi-specialty clinic for individuals and families dealing with autism or intellectual disabilities and complex medical co-morbidities. Dr. Hadley enjoys working with motivated individuals of all ages who are seeking to better their life or better cope with life circumstances. She has particular expertise in working with individuals and their families suffering from anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

Kenneth Kavanagh is board certified as both a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and an Adult Nurse Practitioner.  His career has spanned 30 years with the last 17 years devoted exclusively to psychiatry.  He integrates his knowledge of psychiatry and primary care into evidence-based medication management strategies.  He also possesses a good working knowledge of alternative treatments and integrating alternative treatments into more traditional approaches.  When needed to enhance patient care outcomes, he frequently works collaboratively with psychotherapists, primary care providers, and/or medical specialists.  

Kenneth currently focuses on managing depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, ADHD, somatic disorders, OCD, and bipolar disorders.  Kenneth has significant experience in working with diverse groups, including urban and rural populations across socioeconomic spectrums, professionals and college students on all levels, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals confronting life stage transitions, and people living with chronic medical conditions.  

Kenneth’s psychotherapeutic methods are diverse and evolve to meet collaboratively developed treatment goals.  Kenneth’s interaction style is always empathic and respectful but can range from comforting and supportive to more directive and therapeutically confrontational strategies to maximize treatment goals, often with significant doses of humor throughout the therapeutic relationship.

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.

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Dr. Chhavi Chaudhary is a dual board-certified psychiatrist with subspecialty certification in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She completed her fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, where she also served as Chief Fellow, and her general psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. Over the past year, she has provided telehealth psychiatric consultations across emergency rooms and inpatient settings, gaining extensive experience across state hospitals, outpatient clinics, college mental health, preschool, mood disorder, and community health clinics.

Patients working with Dr. Chaudhary can expect a thoughtful and collaborative approach. She emphasizes understanding each individual in the context of their psychosocial development, life experiences, and cultural and societal stressors. She believes mental health cannot be separated from the challenges faced at school, work, within families, and in society at large.

Dr. Chaudhary’s style is warm, curious, and collaborative. She listens carefully, ensuring patients and families feel understood, and works together to create practical, personalized treatment plans. She integrates psychopharmacology with therapy, coping strategies, and resilience-building, aiming for patients to feel supported, empowered, and actively engaged in care that evolves with their needs.

Ashley is an ANCC board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of experience in Psychiatry. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, crisis centers, and psychiatric emergency rooms. Ashley is deeply committed to working collaboratively with individuals to enhance their well-being, creating a personalized care plan tailored to each person’s unique needs.

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Her approach integrates medication management, supportive psychotherapy, and lifestyle interventions. As a prescriber specializing in psychopharmacology, Ashley provides comprehensive medication management while utilizing a shared decision-making model. She actively involves clients in their treatment planning, discussing various options to determine the most effective path forward.

During the initial session, Ashley prioritizes establishing a comfortable, open environment where clients feel at ease. She will review medical and psychiatric history, discuss treatment goals, and explore different therapeutic options based on individual preferences. Ashley encourages questions throughout the process to ensure a collaborative and supportive treatment experience.