Rita Shaughnessy, MD

Dr. Sarah Benito Figueroa is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist and a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus.  She completed her Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Connecticut. Following this, she sub-specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University. Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Benito Figueroa served as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at a busy academic outpatient clinic and on an inpatient basis, providing care to children with complex medical needs.

Dr. Benito Figueroa strives to provide a patient-centered and collaborative approach when developing treatment plans. She specializes in medication management and supportive psychotherapy. When appropriate, she may make a referral for more specialized therapeutic interventions. For child and adolescent patients, Dr. Benito Figueroa encourages parental involvement at each visit to ensure a family centered approach is being followed to best support the child's needs.

During the first visit, Dr. Benito Figueroa will conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation with a goal of understanding a patient's treatment history, current symptomatology and personal goals. She will work together with her patients to foster a collaborative environment, personalize treatment plans and support patients in achieving an improved quality of life.

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Dr. Kristina Eipl is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She completed her undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor’s in neuroscience. Dr. Eipl later attended medical school at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Her interest in neuroscience, combined with a passion for the humanistic side of medicine, led her to pursue a psychiatry residency at NYU. There, she gained experience working with a diverse patient population. After completing residency in 2018, Dr. Eipl chose to pursue private practice to allow her to spend more time with patients and build on her interest in psychotherapy. She spent over 6 years in solo and group private practice in Los Angeles. She is committed to working with insurance-based practices as she is passionate about providing affordable access to quality healthcare.
 
Dr. Eipl takes a collaborative and compassionate approach to both medication management and psychotherapy. She enjoys utilizing various forms of psychotherapy to empower individuals to lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. She has experience with many types of psychotherapy and particularly enjoys incorporating elements of supportive, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral therapies in all visits. She practices thoughtful and evidence-based medication management.
 
Dr. Eipl enjoys working with students and adults with anxiety, OCD, PTSD and mood disorders. She also has a special interest in women’s mental health.

Trudy Warner-Phillips, PMHNP, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 25 years in nursing and 7+ years in psychiatric care. Her experience spans outpatient, inpatient, and telehealth settings, where she treats conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, mood disorders, and ADHD. She is passionate about delivering thoughtful, evidence-based care in a supportive and accessible virtual environment.

Trudy’s approach is grounded in trust, respect, and collaboration. She values open, honest communication and aims to create a space where clients feel heard, safe, and empowered. By understanding each person beyond their symptoms, she tailors care to support individual challenges, strengths, and goals.

Initial sessions involve a thorough assessment of medical and psychiatric history, current concerns, and past treatments. Trudy then works with clients to develop a personalized care plan focused on their most pressing symptoms. Her treatment may include medication management, supportive therapy, and lifestyle recommendations to promote lasting emotional well-being.

Dr. Rabia Choudhry, DO, became a psychiatrist with one mission: to provide compassionate, high-quality mental health care accessible to anyone, anywhere. Originally from Pakistan, she pursued her undergraduate degree at Benedictine University in Illinois, medical school at Des Moines University in Iowa, and psychiatry residency at Trinity Health Livonia Hospital/Wayne State University in Michigan. She has experience in inpatient, outpatient, forensic, and community mental health settings.

Dr. Choudhry is committed to meeting patients where they feel most comfortable, whether at home, work, or elsewhere. She offers the same compassion, attentiveness, and expertise as in-person care while removing barriers like travel, time constraints, and distance. Her approach emphasizes that patients are more than a diagnosis, focusing on the whole person—their story, struggles, and strengths.

Dr. Choudhry partners with patients to create individualized therapeutic plans that may include medication management and holistic strategies. Her goal is to promote mood stability, balance emotions, reduce anxiety, quiet overwhelming thoughts, resolve interpersonal conflicts, and strengthen resilience. She believes healing is best achieved through collaboration, open dialogue, and empowering patients to make informed choices about their care.

Dr. Kethini is a board-certified psychiatrist in General psychiatry. She completed her medical degree at St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada. After completing her residency at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, she transitioned to an attending psychiatrist at the same place where she completed her residency. During her initial years as an attending, she took care of her own patients and supervised third year residents in the outpatient setting. After a few years, she transitioned to an inpatient setting, where she treated both voluntary and involuntary patients. She also continued to evaluate patients in the emergency room as part of the call group for the last 8 years. ‍Dr. Kethini is passionate about and very experienced in providing a holistic approach along with evidence-based care for patients battling depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. She integrates supportive psychotherapy along with medication management and lifestyle changes such as nutrition, exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management. She is focused on having a collaborative approach to treatment and forming a therapeutic alliance with every single patient under her care.

Melissa Sims, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who is passionate about delivering high-quality, compassionate, and comprehensive mental health care. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2022 and has since worked in both community mental health and correctional settings.

Melissa takes a collaborative approach to care, working closely with other mental health professionals, medical providers, families, and relevant support systems to ensure well-rounded treatment. She emphasizes a patient-centered, individualized approach, combining medication management with psychotherapy to meet each person’s unique needs.

Patients working with Melissa can expect a thorough evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and a personalized treatment plan tailored to their mental health goals. One of her core priorities is to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their care by providing education grounded in research, evidence-based practices, and clinical experience.

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