Siera Kirkland, MD

Dr. Govalla is an adult psychiatrist who completed her training at George Washington University and earned her medical degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. She is deeply passionate about global mental health and is dedicated to educating her community.

Dr. Govalla values professionalism, honesty, and shared decision-making, using these principles to guide her evidence-based approach to care.

Her process is rooted in understanding each patient as a whole person—not just a diagnosis. She considers a patient’s history, environment, relationships, and personal journey to provide practical, individualized support that empowers them to reach their goals.

Dr. Richard Rise has created a successful career as a psychiatrist over the past 30 years. He has participated in a variety of treatment settings and has developed a wealth of experience at both prescribing medications, providing therapy, counseling, and even coaching. He takes an individual approach to treating others, recognizing individuals as unique and worthy of love, respect, and acceptance. He is compassionate, non-judgmental, and truly enjoys helping others. He tends to gravitate towards a combination of medication management (if indicated) and psychotherapy where he treats all facets of the individual. Dr. Rise believes that we are all unique and should be treated as such. He spent most of his career in private practice until deciding to retire in 2014. After this he spent the next 3 1/2 years, reading, studying, traveling, and spending time with his loved ones. In 2018 he was offered a position as a consultant overseeing Ketamine infusion therapy for treating treatment-resistant depression. When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, Dr. Rise was asked to assist a local psychiatric hospital deal with the unique and often deadly consequences of the virus. This proved to be a wonderful opportunity for personal growth and to improve the quality of life of many others. After working at the hospital for the 2 years, Dr. Rise joined Talkiatry to continue providing high-quality psychiatric care to others in a very loving, supportive, creative, and collaborative environment.

Dr. Jaffarzad is a board eligible adult psychiatrist who completed her undergraduate training at the University of Texas at Austin and earned her medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean. She completed her psychiatry residency at Louisiana State University Our Lady of the Lake Psychiatry Residency Program. After completing residency, she worked in an outpatient setting and provided consultation liaison services at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital. Moreover, she held volunteer academic positions supervising and instructing residents and medical students. She has experience treating culturally diverse patient populations with a variety of mental health conditions. Dr. Jaffarzad primarily offers medication management in conjunction with supportive therapy during follow-up visits. She values the importance of open communication and a strong doctor-patient therapeutic alliance.

Dr. Sarah Ramos, MD, has experience practicing in a variety of outpatient settings, including community mental health and military care, serving active-duty service members, their families, and veterans. She earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt School of Medicine and completed psychiatry residency training at the University of California San Diego and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Dr. Ramos values open communication, privacy, and a collaborative approach with her patients. She creates a warm, supportive environment where individuals feel heard, respected, and empowered to participate in their care.

In initial sessions, Dr. Ramos thoroughly assesses patients’ history, concerns, and goals to ensure care is personalized and effective. She develops comprehensive treatment plans that align with each patient’s objectives, providing ongoing support to help them achieve meaningful outcomes.

Dr. Dhaliwal is an integrative psychiatrist with an MPH, a 1-year fellowship through Psychiatry Redefined, as well in intensive inpatient and outpatient training. A Boston University School of Medicine graduate and former Chief Resident at FAU, she blends research-based care, emotional insight, and life optimization. She treats depression, bipolar, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, substance use, and psychotic-spectrum disorders with a holistic, results-driven approach.

Dr. Dhaliwal works with individuals who feel stuck—functioning on the outside but "not like myself" inside. Her warm, structured, and research-driven approach combines medication when needed with integrative tools such as CBT, lifestyle changes, "24-hour approach", and a bio-psycho-social-spiritual lens. She focuses on root causes and helps individuals gain clarity, momentum, and purpose to function at their highest level across home, career, and life.

Dr. Dhaliwal begins with a 360-degree assessment exploring emotional patterns, routine, physical health, neurobiology, and values. Her 24-hour optimization model supports intentional living, clarity, and structure. She fine-tunes medications and augments with an integrative tools to enhance mood, resilience, and wellbeing. Her care is shaped by years in psychiatry and over a decade of coaching future physicians, researchers, and life coaches to reach their highest academic and career potential.

Background and credentials

Dr. Jessica Matthews is a board-certified general psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completed her psychiatry residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. After her training, she was stationed at Fort Hood, TX, where she worked as a staff physician in the inpatient unit at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and later became the inpatient medical director. She subsequently transitioned to outpatient care, serving as a staff physician and later as clinic chief in the outpatient embedded behavioral health clinics. She continued working as a staff physician after leaving the military.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Matthews specializes in medication management, often incorporating supportive and cognitive-behavioral-focused therapy into treatment. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she evaluates progress and adjusts treatment as needed. She takes a collaborative approach and may recommend additional therapy when she believes it will optimize patient outcomes. Her primary areas of focus include treating adults with depression, anxiety, and stress/trauma-related disorders.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation where Dr. Matthews takes the time to understand their symptoms, history, and treatment goals. She prioritizes a structured yet patient-centered approach, discussing medication management options while considering therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs. If necessary, she may recommend additional therapy as part of a well-rounded treatment plan.

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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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