Ruben Mendez, MD

Dr. Mark Varela is a board-certified psychiatrist joining Talkiatry directly out of residency. He focuses primarily on medication management, often accompanied by brief cognitive, motivational, or supportive therapy. He may request that you also meet with a therapist regularly for your benefit. Dr. Varela received his medical degree and general psychiatric residency training both from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in West Texas. He treats young adults and adults with a wide variety of mental health concerns, including ADHD, mood disorders, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD.

Dr. Lindsay Legnon is board-certified in Psychiatry and has 15 years of experience in outpatient clinical psychiatry. Her focus is primarily on medication management, but she does incorporate brief cognitive behavioral therapy and supportive therapy when appropriate. If more extensive psychotherapy is felt to be beneficial, she will recommend a therapist and collaborate with them for optimal care. She completed her medical degree at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and her residency at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she served as Chief Resident. After completing her residency, she worked primarily in outpatient clinics treating a wide range of mental health disorders. She has extensive experience treating major depressive disorder, a variety of anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, among others. Medication is felt to be an important tool for many in achieving wellness, and she encourages a holistic approach to improve outcomes. Her hope is to provide relief and help people achieve their goals in their journey back to wellness.

Dr. Elaine Kwok is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist who has been practicing for 9 years. She specializes in depression and anxiety and believes in a holistic approach to the wellness of both the mind and body. Dr. Kwok conducts a comprehensive and individualized assessment for each patient utilizing a combination of medication management, lifestyle changes, and coping skills, creating a safe and therapeutic environment to facilitate healing and growth .Dr. Kwok received her undergraduate degree from New York University and her medical degree from St. George's University. She then completed her residency training at Seton Hall University. After training, she worked in the inpatient and outpatient units at Capital Health Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. She was a voluntary faculty member and trained residents and medical students from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She actively participates in her local community to provide education and training for mental health providers. Dr. Kwok strives to collaborate and address hindrances that may interfere with an individual's best self. She focuses on creating a strong therapeutic relationship to support and facilitate balance, lifestyle enhancement, and emotional well-being. She looks forward to getting to know you and embarking on this journey together.

Dr. Patricia Klaine is an attending physician working at Talkiatry. She is board certified in adult psychiatry. After completing her training in adult psychiatry, she continued her education by completing a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry, which enables her to treat patients with a variety of medical comorbidities confidently. Dr. Klaine focuses on medication management. She offers this in addition to supportive psychotherapy in 30-minute follow up visits. For some patients, it may be important to bring in additional psychotherapy for well-rounded care. Dr. Klaine received her medical degree from St. George's University in Grenada, and after that, she completed her training in general adult psychiatry at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She went on to complete a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. After completing her training, she worked on an inpatient psychiatric unit before deciding to transition into outpatient psychiatric care. She looks forward to a collaborative relationship with her patients.

Dr. Ritchie is trained in both adult and child & adolescent psychiatry, with a focus on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stressor-related disorders, and ADHD.  He received his bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in French, from The University of Central Florida. Dr. Ritchie completed medical school at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Following medical school, he completed General psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. His professional experiences include working in inpatient psychiatric hospitals, consult-liaison psychiatry, outpatient clinics, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), and emergency rooms. This broad range of experience allows him to provide comprehensive, individualized care to patients at all stages of life.

Dr. Ritchie emphasizes a holistic approach, combining medication management and psychotherapy. He utilizes principles from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and supportive psychotherapy This method is supported by research indicating improved patient outcomes.

Patients can anticipate a thorough initial evaluation during their first visit with Dr. Ritchie. He conducts a comprehensive assessment to understand the patient's symptoms, history, and personal circumstances. This session sets the foundation for collaboratively developing an individualized treatment plan focused on the patient's specific needs and goals.

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Background and credentials  

Dr. Alexandra Baluna, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of  Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from  LSUHC-Shreveport and completed her psychiatry residency training at  Montefiore/Albert-Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief of  the Consultation-Liaison (C/L) service. Following residency, Dr. Baluna  served as Senior Chief, during which she was honored with the Leo M. Davidoff  Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Medical Students. Her  professional experiences include roles at Fordham University, Albert Einstein  Student Mental Health Counseling Center, and most recently, as an outpatient  psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center, where she enjoyed teaching and  supervising residents.  

Treatment approach  

Dr. Baluna emphasizes creating a warm, empathic, and nonjudgmental  therapeutic environment. She collaborates closely with patients to develop  personalized treatment plans that consider cultural, biological,  psychological, and social factors. With a strong interest in psychotherapy,  she frequently employs ego-supportive and insight-oriented therapy techniques  during follow-up sessions.  

What you can expect in a first visit    

During an initial visit, patients can expect a welcoming and supportive  atmosphere where Dr. Baluna conducts a comprehensive assessment. This  involves exploring the patient's history, current challenges, and individual  circumstances. The goal of the first session is to collaboratively build an  individualized treatment plan tailored specifically to the patient's unique  needs.  

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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.