Stephen Byrd, MD

Dr. Leslie Davis became a psychotherapist because she believes that mental health shapes and influences various aspects of life. Mental health is considered vital! She has been a Doctor of Social Work since 2021 and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2019, with experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with concerns such as trauma, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, marital issues, and more. She has extensive experience in various settings including inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), school settings, community-based settings, and emergency departments.‍Dr. Leslie Davis does not see her role as a therapist as needing to "save the world” or "empower” clients. Instead, she believes in working alongside clients to help them identify tools within themselves and community resources to successfully achieve their goals. The types of therapy offered include, but are not limited to, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Culturally Sensitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Multicultural Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Alongside the use of evidenced-based practices and culturally informed care, Dr. Leslie Davis has developed a proven approach for helping clients (a) identify the root cause of their challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.

Dr. Scot McKay is board certified in Psychiatry and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. He graduated medical school from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC. He completed his residency and child/adolescent fellowship trainings at the University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Center in Denver, CO. Previously, he has worked on the inpatient and partial hospitalization child/adolescent psychiatric units at Children's Hospital Colorado as well as in the school-based health clinics through Denver Health in partnership with Denver Public Schools. He has also worked in community mental health at the Mental Health Cooperative clinics throughout the Middle Tennessee region. He most recently joined a private practice before joining Talkiatry. He has been named to the Nashville Lifestyles Magazine's Top Doctors list in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. McKay enjoys working with patients going through life transitions such as high school to college and college to adult life. He believes it is important to understand the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) when treating them. He treats people struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, and ADHD, as well as trouble with relationships and family conflict. Dr. McKay provides both medication management and therapy. He believes that medication is just one of the items in a psychiatrist's toolbox and that therapy is equally important as medication.

Diana Veliz, LCSW, obtained her MSW from Fordham University. Diana has over 3 years of experience providing client-centered therapy. Her practice is sensitive to race and culture, and trauma-informed. Diana has experience working with adults, and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. She has worked in outpatient/inpatient clinics and in an educational setting supporting children with social emotional learning. Diana believes that the best approach is to work collaboratively with the client while also considering that each person's experience is individual to them. The client is an expert in their lives, and as a clinician, she is there to meet the client where they are at and begin the healing journey through non-judgment and compassion. Diana uses cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused approach, and psycho-education. She also considers the client's place in society and how culture and race can contribute to challenges. Diana takes passion in working with clients to improve self-esteem, recognize schemas, regulate emotions, and develop self-awareness.

Dr. Tanvi Gupta, a native Marylander who recently finished her fellowship training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from the University of Maryland. She completed her residency in general psychiatry from San Antonio, Texas and is a Board Certified Psychiatrist. Prior to training, Dr. Gupta attended medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in in New York. She also holds a master's in biomedical science from Rutgers University in New Jersey and a bachelor's in public health from the University of Maryland. She is on the Early Career Psychiatrist Committee for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists of Greater Washington Area. Dr. Gupta has worked in various settings, ranging from academic centers, schools, state hospitals and residential treatment centers. She also provided medication management and therapy to Medicaid patients in an outpatient setting, delivering care to children and adolescents with various mental health disorders. Dr. Gupta has experience in Emergency Psychiatry as well.

Dr. Gupta greatly values connecting with her patients. She is gentle yet direct in her approach. She uses a shared decision-making process to design a treatment plan that align with her patient’s goals. Dr. Gupta provides psycho education for diagnoses and medication recommendations. She has a special interest in ADHD and trauma. She appreciates a family-based approach.

Dr. Gupta uses a comprehensive biopsychosocial evaluation, psychotherapy and medication management to treat a variety of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, as well as ADHD. Dr. Gupta promotes non-pharmaceutical interventions, when appropriate, with patient-oriented lifestyle and behavioral modifications.

Dr. Ankila S. Chandran is a board certified general psychiatrist at Talkiatry with over 20 years of experience treating a diverse population of patients. After graduating with her doctorate in Communication Theory and Research from the University of Southern California she attended the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Northern California and then completed her residency in Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and became board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry in 2006. Dr. Chandran has spent the past 20 years fulfilling her passion for practicing integrated and holistic care for adults suffering from mental illness. Her years of experience include working as a Clinical Psychiatrist and Assistant Professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, being an examiner for the oral boards for psychiatrists seeking board certification, engaging in longer term inpatient treatment for chronically ill patients and facilitating consultation-liaison psychiatry with other medical specialties as well as practicing general outpatient psychiatry. Dr. Chandran has an informal and approachable style when treating individuals who suffer from a variety of complex diagnoses, she explains conditions well and helps educate her patients about how to be actively engaged in living their best lives. Concurrent with medication management, Dr. Chandran provides supportive psychotherapy and she has psychodynamic therapy skills that help address the root causes of her patients' distress. If Dr. Chandran feels you would benefit from working separately with a weekly to every other week therapist in conjunction with getting medication management, she welcomes collaboration with your therapist to achieve optimal results. Dr. Chandran strives to empower her patients in advocating for themselves and in achieving an optimal integration of their mental and physical health.

Dr. Desir is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist who completed her undergraduate training at The University of Scranton followed by medical school at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed psychiatry residency at Nassau University Medical Center where she served as the Administrative Chief Resident in her final year. Dr. Desir has been in practice for 4 years and has provided patients with compassionate psychiatric care. She has worked in community mental health settings throughout her career, in which she served a wide variety of patient populations. Dr. Desir is experienced in treating various psychiatric illnesses including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD, PTSD, and ADHD. At the heart of Dr. Desir's clinical approach is a strong emphasis on establishing trust and building a therapeutic relationship. She also provides psychoeducation to help patients make informed decisions regarding their care. She works collaboratively with patients to develop individualized treatment plans to help them achieve their goals. Dr. Desir's practice focuses on medication management. Typically, she offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Occasionally, Dr. Desir may believe that additional therapy is also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Talkiatry takes medication management seriously. All state-controlled substance databases are reviewed and taken into consideration during your initial evaluation.