Sumbal Akhter, DO

Dr. Bernard is a board-certified Psychiatrist from New Orleans, LA, with fellowship training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at Stanford University. His career has spanned both academic medicine and clinical leadership, including serving as Medical Director of a hospital-based C-L Psychiatry service and teaching medical students and residents. His background in academics, leadership and subspecialty training allows him to bridge all aspects of his patient's health. His hobbies include yoga, meditation, martial arts, snowboarding and inline hockey.

Patients can expect a thoughtful, respectful, and collaborative approach. He works to understand both the biological and psychological aspects of each person’s experience, and he believes in creating individualized treatment plans that are practical and evidence-based. His style emphasizes open communication, setting clear goals together, and making sure patients feel heard and supported throughout their care.

He begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand each patient’s medical, psychological, and social background. From there, he partners with patients to identify their goals and tailor a treatment plan that may include psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle modifications or coordination with other healthcare providers. He regularly checks in on progress, adjusts as needed, and strives to create a therapeutic relationship that feels safe, structured, and effective.

Dr. Mirica Sanders is a board-certified adult psychiatrist. She graduated from Tennessee State University and earned her medical degree from Ohio University College of Medicine. She completed her Psychiatry Residency as Chief Resident at The Cleveland Clinic and pursued advanced training in community and public psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Sanders has experience practicing in both outpatient and inpatient settings and holds a special interest in women’s mental health.

Dr. Sanders values creating a warm and inviting atmosphere where patients feel comfortable and heard. She encourages openness and authenticity, aiming for each patient to leave with a clear understanding of their treatment plan. She also welcomes questions to ensure patients feel fully informed and supported throughout their care.

Patients can expect a conversational interview in which Dr. Sanders gathers medical, social, family, and psychiatric history to inform a personalized treatment plan. Each session involves collaboration, with patients actively participating in shaping their care. Following appointments, patients receive an after-visit summary and instructions to guide them between sessions.

Dr. Saisha Jackson is a board-certified psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. She completed her undergraduate training at Hampton University followed by medical school at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She has completed a Residency in Psychiatry at Howard University.

She has a genuine interest in treating a vast array of psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders and obsessive compulsive and related disorders. She specializes in psychopharmacology. Her practice focuses on medication management, and typically offers this in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits.

Thomas Ittoop, MD has experience practicing in both academic and community settings. He earned his medical degree from Central Michigan University and completed his psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine. His background reflects a commitment to comprehensive, patient-centered care grounded in clinical rigor and human understanding.

Dr. Ittoop fosters a warm, collaborative environment rooted in genuine human connection. He values uncovering core patterns, meaning, and the story beneath symptoms. His approach emphasizes curiosity, emotional insight, and self-understanding. Patients can expect transparency, clear communication, and shared goal-setting that honors their strengths, long-term vision, and capacity for resilience and wholeness.

He begins with a thorough initial evaluation exploring symptoms, personal and family history, personality patterns, and desired life changes. Together, he and his patients identify core goals and develop a personalized treatment plan. His integrative therapeutic style includes thoughtful medication management, regular check-ins, and a focus on long-term transformation—building clarity, resilience, and a grounded sense of self that extends beyond treatment.

Dr. Alexandre Cupler is a board-certified psychiatrist who began his career in community mental health in 2014, working as a counselor in psychiatric rehabilitation facilities. Since then, he has gained experience across inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and residential treatment settings. Dr. Cupler earned his medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed his psychiatry residency at Chicago Medical School.

Dr. Cupler takes a patient-centered approach to care, making it a priority to ensure that each patient’s concerns are genuinely heard. He strives to create a culturally sensitive, non-judgmental, and safe environment where patients feel comfortable discussing difficult topics and working collaboratively toward their goals.

Initial sessions with Dr. Cupler focus on understanding the patient’s primary concerns, history, and treatment goals. He tailors care to each individual's preferred treatment style and ensures patients are informed about their treatment plan so they know what to expect and can take an active role in their care.

Dr. Routhier was born in Quebec, Canada. She attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine and graduated in three years with high honors. She trained as a psychiatry resident at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH where she served as a junior attending and the medical student coordinator. She then was recruited by Monterey County Behavioral Health, CA as a clinical psychiatrist where she provided medication management and psychotherapy services to over 400 patients over the course of five years. She also created and led two dialectical behavior therapy groups for teens and young adults while training therapists and social workers to become group facilitators.

Dr. Routhier firmly believes in the mind-body connection. She feels that when the mind suffers, the body hurts as well and vice versa. As a result, she has developed a holistic approach to psychiatry and is comfortable offering a wide array of treatment modalities such as breathwork, dialectical behavior therapy, guided meditation, supportive psychotherapy, behavioral activation and medication management. She maintains that autonomy and a thorough understanding of one’s diagnosis and prognosis are critical for progress and healing. Her broad range of worldly experiences gives her the ability to work in a non judgemental, open-minded and authentic fashion. She connects with clients with ease and is passionate about self-awareness, constant evolution and empowering people so they can find their own way to happiness and health. She pushes her clients to find ways to build a life worth living, way beyond the goal of symptom resolution typical to psychiatry.

1. Getting to know you/understanding your “why”. Why are you seeking mental health treatment and why now? 2. Establish a list of issues and improvement zones. 3. Creating therapeutic goals. What do you want to work on? 4. Choosing treatment modalities to directly address these goals within a specific time frame. I provide updated and evidence-based information, and YOU choose what we do. 5. Figuring out the root causes to problems, symptoms and maladaptive behaviors/habits. How did this all start? Where does it come from? 6. Regular check-ins on how the treatment plan and therapeutic relationship are working for you. Are we a good fit? Are we meeting your goals/expectations? If not, back to the drawing board!