Saisha Saint-Cyr, MD

Dr. Ahmed Valdes is a board certified adult psychiatrist and burgeoning Geriatric Psychiatrist. After completing his undergraduate education at Florida State University, he attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine where he graduated with a combined M.D./M.S. in Genomic Medicine. He subsequently completed psychiatry residency at Jackson Health System/University of Miami and further subspecialized with a fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry. Dr. Valdes has had the opportunity of working with a diverse array of patients including veterans, inmates, the severely mentally ill, geriatric, and cancer patients across three distinct hospital systems. Dr. Valdes has had varied clinical experiences in specialty inpatient psychiatry units (detox, geriatric, mood disorder), emergency psychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and outpatient specialty clinics (HIV, dementia, integrative and collaborative care) via telemedicine and face to face interactions .Dr. Valdes has experience working with adults of all ages, particularly those with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, PTSD, and more. Dr. Valdes employs empathic listening, supportive psychotherapy techniques, and a comprehensive and methodological approach to his visits. Given his broad and diverse training experiences, he enjoys problem solving and working collaboratively with patients to navigate their complex issues and jointly focusing on simple solutions to work towards improving their mental health.

Leanne Booth is a board-certified Family Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who brings over two decades of experience in psychiatric nursing and advanced practice care. She offers a warm, collaborative approach grounded in empathy and whole-person care. Clients describe her as calm, attentive, and deeply compassionate, and she aims to create a safe, supportive environment where individuals feel heard, respected, and understood.

Leanne believes that trust and honesty are the foundation of effective treatment. She values open dialogue and strives to meet clients where they are, without judgment. Her approach is person-centered and trauma-informed, with a focus on empowering clients in their care decisions. She works closely with each patient to understand their goals, preferences, and challenges, while offering evidence-based treatment tailored to individual needs.

In sessions, Leanne blends medication management with supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and motivational interviewing. She takes a holistic view of each patient’s health, considering possible medical causes for psychiatric symptoms and coordinating with primary care providers when appropriate. Her goal is to provide thoughtful, integrated care that supports clients in achieving long-term wellness.

Dr. Dave Kopacz studied psychology, medicine, and psychiatry at the University of Illinois. He has over 25 years of clinical experience, most recently 11 years at the Seattle Veterans Affairs and as a national VA Whole Health Education Champion, teaching holistic self-care to staff and veterans. Prior to that, Dr. Kopacz was Clinical Director of a psychiatric rehabilitation center in New Zealand. He has worked in private practice, rural community mental health, and ran a VA tele-health program for Native American/Alaskan and Pasifika veterans.

Dr. Kopacz is board certified in Psychiatry & Integrative Medicine, a certified yoga instructor and a certified iRest (Integrative Restoration) meditation teacher. He is an author and international speaker on topics of burnout, well-being, medical humanities, creativity and health, and cross-cultural approaches to healing. His books include Caring for Self & Others: Transforming Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Soul Loss, and Re-humanizing Medicine. He has also co-authored four books with Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), including Walking the Medicine Wheel: Healing Trauma & PTSD.

"What is your typical process for working with patients?"

Dr. Kopacz combines psychiatric diagnosis with a collaborative and holistic focus on your strengths and personal growth. Combining a psychiatric and self-care assessment, he will help you find a plan for medication, psychotherapy, and well-being work that feels right for you.

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Dr. Daniel Azzopardi was born and raised in Malta where he attended medical school and worked in internal medicine for several years before moving to New York in 2017. He then completed a psychiatry residency at SUNY Downstate and stayed on for his Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship, which he completed in June 2024. Dr. Azzopardi is a dedicated adult and child and adolescent psychiatrist who treats individuals of all ages and uses his strong foundation in internal medicine to handle complex cases requiring intricate medication management. This combination of skills allows for comprehensive care that addresses both mental and physical health challenges. Dr. Azzopardi's holistic approach ensures that each patient receives tailored treatment, fostering improved outcomes and overall well-being.

Dr. Mitchell Laski earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2011 and completed his medical degree at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 2017. He completed his residency in psychiatry at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia, in 2021, where he was selected as Chief Resident. Dr. Laski has extensive experience in both outpatient and deployed settings, having completed two operational tours with the U.S. Navy. During these tours, he served in Embedded Mental Health Clinics and aboard deployed ships, working directly with Sailors.

Dr. Laski brings empathy, attentiveness, and a non-judgmental approach to every patient interaction. He is deeply committed to ensuring patients feel heard, respected, and understood. Patients can expect him to be thorough and dedicated, consistently advocating for their overall wellness throughout the course of treatment.

Understanding that beginning mental health care can be difficult, Dr. Laski starts with friendly, casual questions to build rapport—asking about patients’ background, interests, and current life situation. He then reviews their medical and psychiatric history before exploring current symptoms and stressors. Together, he and the patient collaborate to create a personalized treatment plan.

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Dr. Tahira Akbar specializes in adult psychiatry, she completed her four years of residency training at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus NJ and additional two years of geriatric psychiatry fellowship from SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. During her final year of the of residency training, she was appointed as the chief of research. She utilized her extensive research experience to guide and mentor her fellow residents. Under her supervision the program submitted maximum number of research papers and presented medical posters to various psychiatric platforms including American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Akbar was introduced to tele-psychiatry during the second year of her fellowship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She appreciated that tele-psychiatry allowed her to continue to serve her patients in the comfort of their own homes. During the challenging times of social distancing, she recognized the importance of collaborative care involving family members, social workers, medical team, and therapist to work together in the best interest of her patients while protecting their privacy and individuality.

Dr. Akbar has excellent communication skills, she believes that an open communication is essential for any relationship to prosper especially that of doctor-patient relationship. She provides a comforting environment for her patients to be able to express their needs and encourages feedback while preparing their individual treatment plan. She is experienced in providing psychiatric care to all age groups while her clinical interest focuses on taking care of adults and geriatric population. Dr. Akbar emphases on medication management utilizing a multidisciplinary methodology when treating each patient based on their requirements and tailoring treatment appropriately.