Sarah Flatin, LCSW

More Clinicians

Eva Sleczka LCSW has a wealth of experience and a passion for integrated patient care. Eva Sleczka, LCSW brings a unique blend of expertise and compassion that is sure to benefit psychotherapy patients. Eva Sleczka, LCSW is a broadly accomplished social worker with years of experience in hospital health-based and community-based human services environments. Eva Sleczka LCSW has an impressive background in the behavioral health field, holding an MSW, LCSW from New York University and specializing in behavioral health psychotherapy with adults, children and families. They have spent 30 years working in various healthcare settings, including health and hospital systems, emergency room and screening center for psychiatric emergency services, school-based and community-based outpatient treatment settings, where they have honed their skills and gained valuable experience in patient care. Their commitment to staying abreast of the latest advancements in behavioral health science ensures that our patients receive the highest quality of psychotherapy care. One of the key strengths Eva Sleczka, LCSW, brings to our team is their expertise in integrative care and trauma-informed psychotherapy, skilled with adults and families with mental health needs. They have a proven track record of clinical supervision of social work students in the field, experience as a Clinical Director of a community mental health setting, psychotherapist for adults, children, and families with mental health needs, making them a valuable resource for both our patients and our staff. Whether it's managing complex cases, providing preventive care, or offering specialized treatments, supervision of social work students Eva Sleczka, LCSW is dedicated to delivering comprehensive and personalized care to each patient. At the core of Eva Sleczka, LCSW's practice is a patient-centered approach that prioritizes the individual needs and preferences of each patient. They believe in fostering strong clinician-patient relationships built on trust, empathy, and open communication. By involving patients in their own care decisions and providing education about their health, Eva Sleczka, LCSW, empowers patients to take an active role in their well-being. Eva Sleczka, LCSW utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focusing mainly on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and incorporating mindfulness into a wellness-based approach.

Robin Lawson, LCSW

Staff Therapist

Robin Lawson is a LCSW with 14 years of clinical experience, who has extensive experience with adults ages 18 and older who are experiencing anxiety, depression, and grief/loss. Robin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina and her Master’s degree from the University of South Florida. Robin has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings and has specialized experience with those facing chronic or serious medical illnesses. Robin finds joy in connecting with her clients and creating a safe space for them to gain insight on themselves, their strengths and their opportunities for growth.

Robin has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 14 years, with an emphasis on Depression, Anxiety Disorders and Grief/Loss. Robin primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in her practice as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Kevin White, LMHC

Staff Therapist

Kevin K. White is a licensed Mental Health Therapist, who has been working in the counseling field for over 20 years. He has continually worked with individuals and couples from all demographics and ethnic backgrounds, living with a variety of mental health conditions. Kevin attended Medaille University in Buffalo, New York for his undergraduate and graduate studies. Kevin has been practicing as a Mental Health Therapist, focusing on stress and anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, anger management, trauma, and depression. Treatment with Kevin is tailored to building the therapeutic relationship and is customized to the individual, using person-centered treatment with the purpose of making the patient feel whole. He also focuses on issues related to abuse, intimacy, career difficulties, codependency, divorce and separation, family problems, forgiveness, infidelity, jealousy, life purpose, and men's issues, midlife crisis, and self-love. Kevin employs several therapeutic methods such as: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

Christa DeFries, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Christa DeFries is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, and completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at Baylor Scott & White in Temple, Texas. Following residency, Dr. DeFries gained additional experience treating homeless and formerly homeless populations in New York City, particularly focusing on individuals with histories of trauma and substance addiction, prior to joining Talkiatry.

‍

Treatment approach

Dr. DeFries practices Adult Psychiatry, employing an integrative treatment approach combining medication management, psychotherapeutic methods, and lifestyle modifications. She recognizes that each patient benefits from a personalized mix of these three aspects of care. Dr. DeFries specializes in treating diverse psychiatric conditions, including those related to trauma, substance addictions, and various mental health disorders.

‍

What you can expect in a first visit

In a first visit with Dr. DeFries, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation aimed at understanding their individual mental health history, specific concerns, and overall treatment goals. Dr. DeFries emphasizes an individualized approach, carefully exploring the best combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle adjustments tailored specifically to each patient's needs. Patients can anticipate an empathetic and collaborative environment focused on their personal experiences and goals.

‍

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.

Lisha Jones, LCSW

Staff Therapist

Lisha Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with over 23 years of extensive experience working in the mental health field. Lisha has worked with clients facing a variety of life's challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as perinatal and postpartum mental health. She attended undergraduate school in Albany, GA, and graduate school in Valdosta, GA. Lisha is deeply committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Lisha's approach to therapy involves engaging each client with warmth and enthusiasm. She encourages them to be active participants on their journey of emotional growth, healing, and empowerment. Lisha uses therapeutic expertise and various inner-healing approaches to teach clients restorative self-care practices, exercises that cultivate emotional awareness, strategies to manage unhealthy thoughts, and methods to change undesirable behaviors. Working with Lisha, clients can expect to take away from each session a plan of action with detailed steps, easy to apply skills and practical strategies to help them manage stress, heal from hurtful experiences, improve their communication skills and strengthen boundaries in their relationships. They will gain a better understanding about how and why they feel uncomfortable emotions and why they experience strong reactions in response to those associated thoughts.

Jill Sinnott, LCSW

Staff Therapist

Jill Sinnott is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has practiced in Tennessee for over ten years, in a variety of roles including comprehensive child and family therapy, mobile crisis, and group-based Alcohol and Drug treatment. Most recently, she worked in community mental health for five and a half years. In this role, she focused on individual therapy with clients of all ages. Jill obtained her Bachelor's Degree from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC, and her Master's of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN before settling in Johnson City, TN with her family. Jill's areas of interest include working with the LGBTQIA+ community and incorporating play therapy techniques while working with children. She uses a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy to develop a treatment plan addressing the client's own goals using specific, obtainable steps and recognizing each individual's strengths.

Cory Alfers, DO

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Alfers is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult psychiatry. He has been practicing for over 11 years. He completed his undergraduate education at Virginia Tech, graduating Cum Laude with degrees in Biology and Chemistry. Following graduation, he attended a research internship at the National Institutes of Health where he received a Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award. Dr. Alfers completed his medical degree from the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. He completed his General Psychiatry Residency at Georgetown University, where he served as Chief Resident. After residency, he entered private practice in McLean, VA. Dr. Alfers takes a comprehensive approach to patient care. He integrates biological, psychological, and environmental factors into treatment planning. He focuses on developing a meaningful therapeutic relationship and providing medication interventions for specific treatment goals. Dr. Alfers provides interpersonal psychotherapy in conjunction with medication management services. Dr. Alfers has a special interest in the treatment of multiple mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD. Dr. Alfers treats adults ages 18 to 65 years old. For established patients of Dr. Alfers, please call 917-634-5311 to schedule an appointment and let the care coordinator know you are an established patient.

Holly Shiao, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Holly Shiao is a psychiatrist who has worked extensively with medically complex patients, including a special focus in psycho-oncology with cancer patients. She is double board-certified in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. She has been practicing for over 7 years. Before Talkiatry, Dr. Shiao worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She also worked as an Assistant Professor and was Director of Emergency Psychiatry at the University of Chicago. She has presented nationally at the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and written a book chapter about psycho-oncology. Dr. Shiao attended medical school at John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She then completed an Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, followed by a Consultation-Liaison fellowship at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Shiao is interested in the mind-body connection in overall emotional and mental well-being. She likes to integrate therapy modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, mindfulness and meditation with medication management to optimize a patient's mental health.

Vanessa Valdes, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Vanessa Valdes is an adult psychiatrist specializing in medication management and psychotherapy, with a strong focus on nutrition, wellness, and mindfulness. She earned her combined MD/MPH degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System, one of the nation's leading public healthcare systems.‍During her residency, Dr. Valdes gained broad experience in diverse areas of psychiatry, including inpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, outpatient care, psychotherapy, hypnosis, child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and addiction psychiatry.‍Dr. Valdes primarily provides supportive psychotherapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to help patients better understand and address their stressors. She takes a holistic approach to care, emphasizing the emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being of her patients. Her goal is to inspire meaningful, sustainable changes in patients' lives through compassionate, comprehensive treatment.

Duy Tran, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Duy Tran is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. He received his medical doctorate degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and completed his residency training in general psychiatry at the University of Michigan. Dr. Tran aims to provide mental health care that helps patients live more fulfilling lives. In his training, Dr. Tran gained extensive experience treating psychiatric disorders in diverse populations, including college students, LGBTQ+ individuals, perinatal women, veterans, and those with socioeconomic disadvantages. He has worked with experts on cases of treatment-resistant depression and provided consultations for patients considering procedural interventions, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and ketamine infusion therapy. Although Dr. Tran's practice primarily focuses on medication management, he uses a holistic approach in developing individualized treatment plans. He typically incorporates elements of various psychotherapy modalities, including supportive, cognitive behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavioral (DBT), and insight-oriented therapy, in 30- or 45-minute follow-up visits. Occasionally, Dr. Tran may believe that more intensive therapy is needed and recommend that you bring a dedicated therapist into your care team for an optimal outcome.

David Eiler, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

***Provider does not prescribe controlled substances*** Dr. David Eiler is a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board certified in adult psychiatry. Before joining Talkiatry, Dr. Eiler was a staff psychiatrist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), where he had an academic appointment and served as clinical director of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and intranasal esketamine services. In his practice, Dr. Eiler has focused on medication management and interventional techniques, including TMS, for the treatment of depression and other disorders. Dr. Eiler received his MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and completed his residency at DHMC.

Nicole Murphy, LMHC

Staff Therapist

Nicole Murphy, LMHC, earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University at Albany in 2018. She then went on to earn her Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling in 2019. Nicole has worked in various settings where she has gained experience working with adolescents and adults. Nicole has worked in an outpatient program for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. She has also worked in a school setting, teaching tools and healthy coping strategies to adolescents.

Nicole will always meet a client where they are at. She will always lend a compassionate ear and empower clients to make positive changes in their lives.

Nicole takes a person-centered approach to working with clients and believes in providing a safe space to process thoughts and emotions without fear of judgement. Nicole’s approach to therapy includes utilizing cognitive behavioral interventions and solution focused strategies to address symptoms and overcome obstacles.

‍

Sarah Flatin, LCSW

Education and training

Get to know