Sameerah Akhtar, MD

Dr. Jabari Jones is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist and an Emotional Health Consultant who has worked extensively with individuals and groups in both the public and private sectors for over a decade. His areas of focus are anxiety, depression, lifecycle-issues, and trauma. Dr. Jones has an interest in Positive Psychology -- a field of study dedicated to human well-being and flourishing. In addition to offering traditional care (Medication and psychotherapy), he also helps patients implement evidence-based interventions such as physical exercise, journaling, and meditation into their lifestyle to help them achieve their unique goals.

Dr. Ismail is double board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both Adult Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from Cairo University, where she also completed her neurology residency at Cairo University Hospitals. Following this, she pursued psychiatric training at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s Hospitals, where she was appointed Chief Resident and recognized as Resident of the Year.

Dr. Ismail further specialized with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UMDNJ/Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Her career includes multiple leadership roles, notably serving as Chief of the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospital Programs (PHP) at Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, where she provided direct care to young patients. She has also held Medical Director positions across various clinical settings, including child and adolescent inpatient units, outpatient programs, and intensive outpatient services for both adolescents and adults with mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders.

An active educator, Dr. Ismail has been a teaching faculty member, delivering lectures and providing supervision and evaluations for medical residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. Her academic contributions extend to research, where she has served as a principal investigator on multiple studies.

Throughout her career in leadership and teaching, Dr. Ismail maintained an integrative private practice in New Jersey, serving residents of the NJ and NY metropolitan areas before relocating to North Carolina.

Dr. Ismail is passionate about integrative medicine, which combines evidence-based alternative therapies with conventional treatments to optimize outcomes. Her approach focuses on promoting overall wellness, keeping both the body and mind in harmony.

During the diagnostic evaluation, Dr. Ismail will review your medical history and past treatments to develop a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan that prioritizes your overall wellness. In addition to medication management, she incorporates supportive, cognitive, or psychodynamic psychotherapy during follow-up visits, as time allows. When appropriate, she may also recommend referrals to specialized psychotherapists to address your individual needs as part of a holistic treatment approach.

Background and credentials

Dr. Schaefer is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 16 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, and completed her adult psychiatry residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She then specialized further by completing a forensic psychiatry fellowship at Yale University. She has worked as a staff psychiatrist at Atrium Health System for over 16 years.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Schaefer’s practice primarily focuses on medication management, which she offers in conjunction with supportive therapy and elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). She takes a patient-centered and collaborative approach, ensuring that treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs. If additional therapy is required, she may recommend working with a therapist as part of a comprehensive care plan. Her primary focus areas include depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Schaefer carefully assesses their symptoms, treatment history, and mental health goals. She works collaboratively with patients to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication management and therapy recommendations. Follow-up visits are typically 30 minutes and focus on monitoring progress, adjusting treatment as needed, and ensuring the best possible patient outcomes.

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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 specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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Lindsey Stewart, PMHNP, holds three Bachelor’s degrees in Biology, Medical Technology, and Nursing, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing. She began her nursing career in 2011, working in inpatient psychiatry, and later expanded her experience to community mental health and home health for patients with behavioral health needs. In 2018, she earned her PMHNP certification from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and has since spent six years providing behavioral health medication management at an FQHC, treating patients across the lifespan.

Lindsey is passionate about her work and values each patient’s unique life story. She focuses on meeting patients where they are and creating customized treatment plans that align with their goals. Her care is rooted in a patient-centered approach, ensuring collaboration and respect throughout the treatment process.

Lindsey’s process blends structure with flexibility, tailoring care to each patient’s needs. She begins by establishing a diagnosis and treatment plan, integrating medication management, therapy, collaborative goal-setting, and ongoing progress monitoring. This holistic approach supports both mental health and overall well-being.

Dr. Parrish is a board-certified General Psychiatrist and board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. In addition to medication management, Dr. Parrish also provides supportive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques during appointments. When appropriate, she will refer patients for additional psychotherapy and will work to collaborate with therapists to help patients achieve the best outcomes. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia/VCU in Richmond, Virginia. She then traveled to Greenville, South Carolina where she completed a General Psychiatry residency at Greenville Health System/PRISMA Health and then returned to Virginia to complete a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at The Virginia Treatment Center for Children/VCU Health System. Dr. Parrish is a strong advocate of an integrated approach to treating children and their families. She completed undergraduate training at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, where she studied psychology and elementary education. Prior to entering medical school, she was a licensed elementary school teacher in Virginia where she served children of various learning styles and needs. She continues to have an interest in learning disabilities, other neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, mood disorders, as well as many other areas of psychiatry.‍

Dr. La Haie is board certified in adult psychiatry and has been in practice for over 15 years.  She completed her residency at Banner Good Samaritan (now Banner University) Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.  After completing her residency training, Dr. La Haie worked with the severely mentally ill population for several years, then transitioned to a private practice setting that offered the interventional options of transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine infusion.  Most recently, Dr. La Haie has worked at the Phoenix VA treating veterans, with focus on PTSD, depression and anxiety.  Dr. La Haie has held an academic appointment at the University of Arizona Medical School and has spent her professional career supervising/teaching medical students and psychiatry residents.

Dr. La Haie's practice focuses on medication management and providing psychoeducation to her patients. However, if indicated, Dr. La Haie may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome.

Dr. La Haie has experience treating a large variety of mental health conditions across a variety of populations. She strongly believes in tailoring treatments through a holistic and patient-centered approach based on individual and multi-faceted histories. Dr. La Haie looks forward to working with you.

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