Saria El Haddad, MD

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.

Background and credentials

Dr. Vansickle is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 25 years of clinical experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio and completed her internship at UAB. She then completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Louisville Hospital, where she served as chief resident and received a national award in community psychiatry. Throughout her career, she has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings as a staff psychiatrist, primarily in Texas and Alabama.

‍

Treatment approach

Dr. Vansickle places a strong emphasis on establishing trust and building therapeutic relationships to help patients achieve their goals. Her practice focuses on medication management, often combined with supportive or emotionally focused therapy during 30-minute follow-up visits. If she believes additional therapy would be beneficial, she may recommend that patients work with a therapist as part of their care team. She has extensive experience treating patients in various settings, including community mental health centers, VAMC-affiliated clinics, and hospital-based psychiatric units. She also has expertise in psychiatric consultations for medically ill patients, as well as guardianship and competency evaluations.

‍

What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect a thorough initial evaluation, where Dr. Vansickle takes the time to understand their symptoms, history, and treatment goals. She provides a structured yet compassionate approach to care, ensuring that each patient feels heard and supported. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she monitors progress and adjusts treatment as necessary. If additional therapy is needed, she collaborates with therapists to ensure comprehensive care tailored to each patient’s needs.

‍

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.

‍

Dr. Stephen Geisler is a board-certified adult psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 37 years. His practice focuses on medication management, and typically offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. If Dr. Geisler feels you would benefit from working with a therapist in conjunction with medication management, he welcomes collaboration with your therapist to make for the best outcome. Dr. Geisler is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at the Zucker Hillside Hospital of Northwell Health after finishing his residency training there. He is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Over the years Dr. Geisler has received a number of awards including NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist Award, The APA Irma Bland Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents, the Zucker Hillside Hospital Department of Psychiatry Recognition Award for Education, and twice received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from the graduating residents' class. Dr. Geisler is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the Nassau Suffolk District Branch of the APA and the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Through the years, Dr. Geisler has participated in many clinical research projects, has been the co-author of many papers, and has made many presentations. Dr. Geisler specializes in psychopharmacology, especially tailoring individualized treatment to serve the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. He has a lot of experience in treating patients with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, ADHD, and OCD.

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.  

‍

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.

Background and credentials

Dr. Munoz is a board-eligible adult psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School and completed his psychiatric residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. Throughout his training, he gained experience in a variety of clinical settings, including outpatient and inpatient care, as well as psychiatric emergency services.

‍

Treatment approach

Dr. Munoz provides compassionate psychiatric care through a combination of pharmacotherapy and supportive therapy. He specializes in treating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorders. He has extensive experience working with LGBTQ+ and Spanish-speaking communities. His treatment philosophy is holistic, viewing patients as whole individuals and addressing their specific needs at different stages of life. He also emphasizes the importance of exercise, relationships, and overall well-being in his approach to mental health care.

‍

What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive and patient-centered evaluation. Dr. Munoz takes the time to understand each patient’s symptoms, background, and personal goals. He collaborates with patients to develop an individualized treatment plan that may include medication management, supportive therapy, and lifestyle modifications to support their overall well-being.

‍

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.

‍

Dr. Clark is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She is fellowship-trained in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and has been in practice for 11 years. She received her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Clark then completed her residency training and continued her training in child and adolescent fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia. Dr. Clark works with patients to create an environment where they feel comfortable and supported. She focuses on medication management along with supportive therapy. Normally visits are 30-minute follow-ups that allow time to focus on areas of support needed. If additional therapy is recommended, she will request a therapist be added to your care team to meet all your needs. Dr. Clark has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings with adult, child, and adolescent populations. She has worked in private practice as well as community mental health, where she worked with reaching under-served communities. Dr Clark has a passion for treating both adult and child and adolescent patients with anxiety and depression.