Triston Wong, MD

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.

Belinda received her undergraduate education at the University of Tulsa and completed her nurse practitioner training at the University of Texas–Arlington, earning a Master of Science in Nursing. She is nationally board-certified in psychiatry across the lifespan and has over a decade of experience working in outpatient, residential, and inpatient care settings. She is skilled in medication management and utilizes therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and psychodynamic approaches.

Belinda is a passionate psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to continual development and lifelong learning. With over ten years of experience, she spent more than five years working in a residential eating disorders facility. She has evaluated and treated individuals with a wide range of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Belinda believes in addressing the whole person and thrives on helping people find individualized solutions. While she specializes in using medication when necessary to alleviate symptoms, she also incorporates therapeutic techniques into her sessions to help clients discover what works best for them.

She prioritizes the therapeutic relationship and supports patient-centered goals. Belinda empowers her clients to choose options that align with their lives and encourages active engagement in self-care. She is deeply committed to helping individuals improve their quality of life by identifying and addressing areas of struggle, such as depression or grief. Additionally, she supports clients in recognizing and overcoming fears by identifying stressors and developing new coping strategies. Her approach inspires clients to reduce stress and prioritize rest and sleep to enhance overall wellness—body, mind, and soul.

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Dr. Samuel Russell is a psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board certified in Addiction Psychiatry and Adult Psychiatry. His particular clinical focus is on the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and behavior addictions, as well as trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders. Dr. Russell's practice focuses on evidence-based treatments for psychiatric illness that utilizes a combination of medications and psychotherapy modalities best suited for an individual patient and their needs. He offers this in conjunction with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Weekly hour-long psychotherapy may be available if indicated. However, occasionally, Dr. Russell may believe that different therapies are also needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. He received his medical education at the University of Washington in Seattle after completing undergraduate studies in psychology and later a post-baccalaureate at Boston University. After residency at the University of Chicago where he specialized in addiction psychiatry and psychotherapy, he completed an Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Washington in Seattle.

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.  

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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 speciualize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.

Dr. Sean Culver is an outpatient psychiatrist with experience treating a wide variety of disorders across multiple distinct age groups. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating summa cum laude while majoring in neuroscience. He attended medical school at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, where he was granted an annual merit scholarship. Dr. Culver then remained at the OSU Wexner Medical Center for residency training. Outside of psychiatry, he enjoys numerous interests including soccer, hockey, music, photography, and video games.

During residency, Dr. Culver developed particular interest in working with young adults, college students, and athletes, but is comfortable with patients of all ages. He strongly believes in the practice of evidence-based medicine, utilizing the most current research to guide recommendations. He is a strong advocate for patient autonomy and therefore provides psychoeducation on diagnoses and medications so that each patient can make informed decisions which align with their own values.

Dr. Culver approaches each patient in the context of their individual interests, family dynamics, and life goals. He understands that not every patient requires or desires medication and is comfortable in a number of psychotherapy techniques including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and supportive therapy. He emphasizes a trusting and honest therapeutic relationship with his patients.

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Dr. Amanda Kerr is a board-certified Psychiatrist. Her practice focuses on medication management, though she passionately believes in a holistic approach. She attended Boston University for her undergraduate studies and Loyola Marymount University for graduate school. She then completed her training at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine for residency, where she was selected to serve as Chief Resident during her final year. After completion of her residency in 2016, she dedicated seven years to serving a wide range of patients in a community mental health setting, both in-person and via telepsychiatry. She also serves as a provider at an Intensive Outpatient Program. She has experience treating patients with depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and OCD. She also has extensive teaching experience in various settings. Dr. Kerr has a gentle and approachable style when providing medication management in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, and at times Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to more fully address each individual's needs. She utilizes mindfulness approaches as well, which she finds personally meaningful in her practices of meditation and yoga. If Dr. Kerr feels you would benefit from working with a therapist as well, she may recommend and values a collaborative approach.