Sarah Mennella, 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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Dr. Marla Richard is a Stanford-trained board-certified psychiatrist and is board-eligible for geriatric psychiatry from UCSD. She has been practicing in a variety of settings for the last 30 years. Dr. Richard uses an integrated health paradigm with general and geriatric patients using traditional psychopharmacology, interpersonal neurobiology practices, and personality assessments to look at root motivations for behaviors to address core issues and with medication management as needed. Dr. Marla believes that you need to take a whole-person approach to both mental and physical health. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, and then attended medical school at Stanford Medical School to complete her MD. With visions of becoming a general surgeon, she went to the University Hospitals of Cleveland and completed two years of general surgery training before seeing the light and transferring to psychiatry. She completed her psychiatry training at Stanford University and geriatric training many years later at UCSD. Her focus includes an integrated approach to the consideration of mental and physical health while incorporating mindfulness tools to teach skills of stress and anxiety management in everyday life. In conjunction with medication management, she uses interpersonal neurobiology to help clients understand triggers as well as methods to calm overactive stress responses and reactivity.

Dr. Borad is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and has specialized in Addiction Psychiatry. She finished her residency at the WVU campus of Charleston, WV, and finished the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at UPMC/Western Psychiatry Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. She has previously worked as an Assistant Professor at WVU of Charleston, where she was involved in working with residents in inpatient and outpatient settings, provided psychiatric consult services to hospitalized patients, and was part of the Outpatient Comprehensive Opioid treatment program where she provided Medication Assisted Treatment for patients with substance use disorders. She has an interest in treating patients with mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. Dr. Borad has a special interest in treating individuals having a substance use history and struggling to quit, and has expertise in treating patients with a dual diagnosis of substance use with other psychiatric conditions. She primarily does medication management, in addition to providing some supportive therapy and motivational interviewing to her patients in her 30-minute follow-up appointments. In addition, she may suggest bringing in a therapist to add to your care if clinically necessary.

Dr. Ocean Workman, MD, has experience in outpatient, inpatient, and psychiatric emergency settings. They earned their medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed residency in psychiatry at the University of Washington, where they served as Outpatient Chief Resident and completed an area of distinction in psychotherapy. Dr. Workman also holds a Master of Science in Nutrition and Human Performance from Logan University and is a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher trained in Rishikesh, India. They have a special interest in serving LGBTQIA+, kink/sex-positive, and non-monogamous communities.

Dr. Workman’s style is warm, collaborative, and grounded in respect for each patient’s individuality. They combine evidence-based and personalized treatments that may include medication management, psychotherapy (ACT, DBT, CBT, psychodynamic, and supportive modalities), and holistic wellness approaches. Dr. Workman strives to create a safe, affirming space where patients can explore and grow in ways aligned with their values.

In the initial sessions, Dr. Workman conducts a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s goals, values, history, and concerns. Together, they develop a tailored treatment plan that reflects the patient’s unique needs, emphasizing shared decision-making and ongoing collaboration.

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.

Dr. Ye Kyung Song is a board-certified psychiatrist with both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in medical humanities and ethics from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She completed her residency at Duke University and has experience practicing in both outpatient and inpatient settings. In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Song has pursued advanced training in several therapeutic modalities, including the Collaborative Approach to Management of Suicidality (CAMS) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT).

Dr. Song takes a collaborative, values-driven approach to treatment, emphasizing partnership in decision-making and tailoring care to each individual’s needs. She uses medication thoughtfully and only when appropriate, considering the whole picture of a patient’s health and life. Her goal is to help patients understand the underlying reasons for their symptoms by examining patterns, conflicts, and meaning. She is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where patients can explore their experiences openly.

During the initial appointment, Dr. Song focuses on understanding a patient’s clinical history, current concerns, and personal goals. Together with the patient, she develops an individualized treatment plan that clearly outlines areas of focus and aligns with the patient’s values and objectives. Her process emphasizes getting to the root “why” behind symptoms, while using evidence-based medicine and therapy modalities best suited for the situation. Treatment plans and medications are adjusted collaboratively over time to ensure ongoing support and progress.