Richard States, LPC

Jennifer Young-Cott is a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who brings compassion, warmth, and a strong commitment to patient well-being into her work. With a deep respect for each individual’s story, she values creating a safe, supportive, and healing environment. Outside of clinical practice, Jennifer enjoys learning Spanish and spending time hiking with her dog, Mavis—interests that help her maintain balance and bring a holistic perspective to care.

Jennifer approaches care through a collaborative, patient-centered lens. She believes trust, confidentiality, and open communication are essential to effective treatment. With extensive experience in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, she brings expertise in trauma, mood disorders, anxiety, and thought disorders while remaining attentive to each patient’s unique needs and goals.

Jennifer begins by listening carefully and gathering a thorough history to understand each patient’s challenges and strengths. She partners with patients to develop individualized treatment plans using current, evidence-based interventions. Her process emphasizes empathy, collaboration, and ongoing support to promote long-term mental health and overall well-being.

Avril Dennis is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in outpatient and residential settings. She earned her MSW from Fordham University and holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Interpersonal Trauma. Licensed in Florida and New York, she has spent over 25 years practicing in the New York area and the last decade in Florida. She has wanted to be a clinical social worker for as long as she can remember.

Avril believes in starting where each client is and moving at a pace that feels right. She is open, understanding, and supportive, while also willing to gently challenge unhelpful thinking when appropriate. She has worked with trauma, LGBTQAI+ clients, chronic health concerns, anxiety, stress, sobriety from alcohol, self-esteem issues, and life transitions such as marriage, divorce, career changes, relocation, and caring for aging parents.

Avril begins by exploring what brings a patient to therapy and understanding their current circumstances. Through a collaborative, humanistic approach, she examines both present concerns and relevant life experiences that shape today’s challenges. She integrates a range of therapeutic tools and practical strategies so clients can begin building skills and finding relief right away.

Dr. Carder has been practicing for over 20 years in general adult psychiatry. She is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has a certification in Elder Law. She has advanced training in psychopharmacology, which she earned with distinction. Dr. Carder's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, she offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. However, occasionally Dr. Carder may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. She received her medical degree from the University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, where she was given the outstanding medical student award by the Department of Head and Neck Surgery. She completed her internship with the Department of Family Medicine and completed her residency with the Department of Psychiatry both at the University of Toledo, College of Medicine and Life Sciences. Throughout her career, she has been the Medical Director of two Community Mental Health Centers and is also the Corporate Medical Director for a company providing neuropsychiatric and general psychiatric care to patients residing in nursing facilities. She received her certification in Elder Law through the Mitchell Hamline School of Law. She has also been a preceptor for numerous universities and has trained advanced practice providers in psychiatry. In addition to general adult and geriatric psychiatry, Dr. Carder's areas of interest include complex psychiatric and medical conditions, neuropsychiatric issues, and treatment-resistant cases. She enjoys using her medical expertise to solve difficult cases. She has an interest in exploring combined traditional psychiatric practice with complementary and holistic approaches to treatment and believes in keeping her patients healthy rather than only addressing illness.

Dr. Shafi completed his undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He then earned his medical degree from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. He went on to complete his psychiatry residency at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, where he was awarded “Master of the PRITE” for achieving the highest score on the Psychiatry Resident In-Training Examination.

Dr. Shafi specializes in the treatment of various psychiatric conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and PTSD. He has practiced in multiple settings including inpatient psychiatric facilities, outpatient mental health clinics, and the VA system.  

Dr. Shafi primarily focuses on medication management in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy. Using a collaborative and patient-centered approach, he provides personalized care by tailoring treatment to his patients’ unique needs. Dr. Shafi’s curiosity and compassionate nature allow him to connect with patients from all walks of life. He is committed to creating a supportive environment where patients feel comfortable expressing their mental health concerns.

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Erika Paz, LPC, LCDC, is a licensed psychotherapist with over a decade of experience providing compassionate, practical therapy to individuals and families. She offers telehealth services in Texas, Maine, and Ohio, supporting adults, teens, and families facing anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral concerns, and life transitions.

Erika’s approach is warm, collaborative, and solution-focused. She values creating a safe, inclusive space where clients feel heard and supported, emphasizing partnership in therapy. She empowers clients with tools, strategies, and guidance to apply new skills in daily life.

Erika integrates evidence-based practices and behavioral approaches, often sharing worksheets, apps, and readings to support progress between sessions. Fluent in multiple languages, she tailors therapy to diverse backgrounds, helping clients build resilience and work toward meaningful, lasting change.

Dr. Boski Patel holds the position of psychiatrist at Talkiatry. She is double board-certified in geriatric and adult psychiatry and she has been practicing for over 3 years. Dr. Patel's practice focuses on medication management and she typically in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. On occasion, Dr. Patel may believe that additional therapy is also needed and asks that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and then went on to receive her medical degree from Penn State University. Following medical school, she completed general psychiatry residency training at the University of Connecticut where she was Chief resident of outpatient psychiatric services. During that time, she was also chosen as an Honors scholar by the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry. After training, she moved to California to do her geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Stanford. Following her fellowship, she worked at Kaiser Permanente in clinical roles of outpatient, geriatric, and C/L.