Tara Merchant, LMHC

Joseph Smith, LMHC, earned his Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University in 2015 and has worked with patients in a clinical capacity for the past six years. While in graduate school, he was exposed to various clinical and research experiences, where he found his passion in examining the motivational factors of human behavior. Joseph's academic work strengthened his interest to work with individuals in a therapeutic capacity, which ultimately led to advanced experiential training in crisis interventions and the treatment of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Before relocating to New York City, he worked with individuals in under-served communities in the Appalachian region. Joseph subscribes to a humanistic, motivational enhancement, and cognitive behavioral framework. Understanding the benefit of therapeutic rapport, Joseph fosters an environment of self-acceptance and self-awareness while promoting intrinsic motivation for patients to act as their own catalyst of change. In addition, Joseph has a passion for working with individuals from diverse backgrounds, the LGBTQIA+ community, women with reproductive challenges, and victims of domestic violence.

Hunada Zein-Eddin is a bilingual (English/Arabic) Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas and Virginia. She earned her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lancaster Bible College in 2022 and completed her residency at Northern Virginia Family Service and Youth For Tomorrow. She specializes in supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults with challenges related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, adjustment issues, and mood disorders. Hunada also helps clients navigate stress, grief, workplace relationships, anger, and life transitions. She has experience working with individuals, families, and couples and is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) as well as ADHD Clinical Services. Her trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approach draws on Attachment Theory, TF-CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Polyvagal Theory.

Hunada understands that life often brings challenges that can feel overwhelming. She partners with clients on their journey toward healing, peace, and resilience by creating a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space. Clients can expect empathy, compassion, and professionalism throughout their care. Her therapeutic style emphasizes collaboration, open communication, and a strong belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality mental health services that foster healing and growth.

Hunada begins therapy by building trust and gaining a thorough understanding of each client’s unique history, concerns, and goals. Initial sessions focus on creating a comprehensive biopsychosocial picture that informs the development of individualized treatment plans aligned with the client’s desired outcomes. Throughout treatment, Hunada ensures clients feel heard, valued, and supported as they work toward achieving their therapeutic goals and long-term emotional well-being.

Shannon McElhone is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and Massachusetts. She has over ten years' experience working in the mental health field. Shannon has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults seeking assistance in managing their experiences with depression/mood challenges, anxiety, life transitions, self-esteem, trauma, attention focus, and relationship issues. Shannon utilizes humanistic, person-centered, collaborative, strength based, cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, solution focused and emotionally focused approaches to therapy while maintaining an open, flexible, creative atmosphere to remain aware of the unique and individual needs of each client. Shannon seeks to create a non-judgmental and safe environment where a caring relationship can be built with her clients to utilize and add to their strengths. Through her practice, a collaboration can bring her clients towards achieving their goals and living the life they desire. Shannon completed her Bachelor of Arts in Human Relations from St. Joseph's College and received her Master of Science in School Counseling and Extended Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Long Island University. Shannon's years of experience include working as a Rehabilitation specialist/therapist at a Pros program, a psychotherapist at an outpatient clinic, a Child and Youth Behavioral Military Family Life counselor working with children and families on a Military base in New York. More recently, Shannon has held a role as a psychotherapist on an online platform that provides virtual therapy and continues to engage in this role at Talkiatry. Shannon's specialties include: Depression, Anxiety, OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, ADHD, Trauma, Grief & Loss, Stress management, Life transitions, Self-esteem issues and Relationship issues.

Jannise McKamey-Bruell began her career working in the field of education after she completed both a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and a Master of Liberal Arts at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with an emphasis on Psychology, Women's Studies, and Child and Family Studies. After relocating to Georgia, Ms. McKamey-Bruell attended Argosy University where she completed an additional Master of Arts Degree, with honors, in Community Counseling in addition to receiving a Marriage and Family Therapy Certification. Ms. McKamey-Bruell is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Distance Certified Counselor (DCC), a Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider (BC-TMH), and holds a Crisis Worker Certification from the American Association of Suicidology. Ms. McKamey-Bruell is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Cobb County Juvenile Court. Prior to private practice, her clinical experience included working as a therapist at the YWCA, providing domestic violence and sexual assault counseling, facilitating domestic violence support and therapy groups, working with children and families at several community mental health agencies, and working at a mental health crisis line. In addition to her private practice, Ms. McKamey-Bruell also provides online therapy to clients through a secure website and texting platform. Ms. McKamey-Bruell believes in helping others to help themselves. She provides therapy to individuals with an emphasis on crisis intervention, skill-building, self-esteem, attachment issues, relationship problems, and communication repair. She creates a close, supportive relationship in the counseling setting to assist each person in moving forward through open discussion, developing personal insight, and offering workable suggestions. Her specialties include working with those who are experiencing anxiety or depression. When not working, Ms. McKamey-Bruell regularly participates in professional training, enjoys volunteering and participating in community and sorority events, collecting Disney paraphernalia, traveling, sewing, attending sci-fi conventions, and spoiling her nieces and nephews.

Monique Randle, LCSW, has been a licensed mental health therapist since 2009. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and holds a certification in sex therapy from the Sexual Health Alliance. Monique has training in trauma and couples therapy, including EMDR, TFCBT, PACT, Gottman, Prepare/Enrich, and SYMBIS. She has experience in outpatient and private practice settings, as well as supervising MSW interns and LCSW candidates.

Monique creates a warm, supportive, and non-judgmental space for clients to be their whole selves. She values honesty, collaboration, and open communication, blending evidence-based approaches like CBT, ACT, and narrative therapy with relational and mindfulness techniques. Her work is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, sex-positive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming. She helps clients build emotional awareness, set healthy boundaries, and cultivate self-compassion, addressing both the “why” behind patterns and practical tools for change.

Monique begins by exploring each client’s story, history, and goals. Together, they create individualized, evidence-based treatment plans, regularly adjusting as needed. Sessions are collaborative, providing insight, practical tools, and emotional support to apply in real life. Progress is measured not only by symptom reduction but by increased self-awareness, emotional stability, and confidence in navigating challenges.

Veronica McKnight received her Master's degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. She holds clinical social work licenses in Florida, Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. Ms.McKnight's key areas of practice include depression, anxiety, trauma, communication in relationships, parenting challenges, compassion fatigue and grief and bereavement. Ms. McKnight specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a strength based, solution focused approach. Ms. McKnight integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques.  Ms. McKnight has been certified as a Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ms. McKnight has held leadership and clinical roles in community mental health centers, housing programs, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

I am proficient in assisting clients to navigate transitions in all aspects of the life span. Over the past 30 years, my experience has taught me that the most important aspect of therapy is the connection and comfort you feel with the person with whom you choose to share your personal struggles.

I like to listen to what patients are telling me about what is important to them and what they would like to address in therapy.  We can then start to set goals together and work towards the outcomes they want.  We always go at a pace that is comfortable to the client.