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Sahar Ali, MD

Staff Psychiatrist
Languages
English
SPECIALTIES
Medication Management
ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma

Education and training

  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

Get to know

Sahar Ali, MD

Dr. Ali is a lifelong New Yorker who has always been fascinated by the complexity of the human mind, behavior, and experience. Growing up in a vibrant and diverse city, she developed a deep appreciation for how culture, environment, and individual background shape a person’s psychological well-being. Driven by this passion, she pursued her medical degree at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, where she gained a strong foundation in both the biological and psychosocial aspects of medicine. She then completed her general psychiatry training at SUNY Stony Brook University Hospital, where she worked closely with a diverse patient population from varied religious, cultural, socioeconomic, and age groups.

Dr. Ali prioritizes open communication and mutual trust, creating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where patients feel respected and empowered to actively engage in their care. She integrates psychotherapy techniques and takes a holistic, person centered approach to treatment.

Dr. Ali believes in collaboration and shared understanding grounded in evidence-based therapies. Her typical process includes developing individualized treatment plans aimed at symptom relief, improved functioning, and overall quality of life. Beyond medication management, she incorporates psychotherapy techniques and psychoeducation to help patients build coping skills and insight.

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Neena Mathew, PMHNP

Staff Nurse Practitioner

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.

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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. Shehane will focus on two main approaches to mental health treatment: medication management and psychotherapy. Appointments will focus on a mix of interactions aimed at tailoring each patient’s specific medication needs as well as promoting mental health wellness through different types of evidence-based therapy techniques including mindfulness, CBT, CPT and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Dr. Shehane works together patients to develop a plan that fits each patient’s individual needs. Initial appointments will focus on identifying and treating primary concerns, and then later appointments will center on building upon the therapeutic relationship to increase self-awareness, promote emotional insight, and secure lasting positive mental health changes.

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Specialties
Medication Management
ADHD
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
PTSD/Trauma
States
New York
Languages
English
Takes insurance
Virtual visits
years experience