Wayne McIntosh, PMHNP

Dr. Adele Veksman is double board-certified in adult psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, with over 14 years of experience diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions. She approaches each patient as a unique individual, offering a non-judgmental space to help patients develop into their best selves. She focuses primarily on medication management to alleviate symptoms while working with patients on behavioral changes to address underlying issues. If additional therapy is needed, she may suggest adding a therapist to your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr. Veksman received her medical degree from St. George's University and then completed a residency in psychiatry and fellowship in psychosomatic medicine at Zucker Hillside Hospital at Northwell Health. Next, she was an attending and ER psychiatrist at North Shore University Hospital providing psychiatric care to medically ill patients. She then transitioned to adult outpatient care at Maimonides Medical Center, treating various psychiatric illnesses. Throughout her career, she taught and supervised residents and medical students.

Tamara Lazenby, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist with more than 20 years of clinical and academic experience in emergency mental health, disaster response, and trauma-focused care. She earned her undergraduate degree at George Mason University and completed her medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School. After the September 11th attacks, Dr. Lazenby trained in psychiatry at New York Medical College’s Saint Vincent’s Hospital, specializing in emergency and trauma psychiatry.

She previously served as Associate Director of Wellness & Emergency Response Services at New York University’s Student Health Center, leading a team that cared for more than 50,000 global NYU students. Dr. Lazenby also previously served as Staff Psychiatrist and Team Lead for the Combat PTSD Clinical Team at the Hampton VA Medical Center, providing care for veterans with service-related trauma and implementing National VA Standards of Care.

Dr. Lazenby believes healing happens when mind, body, and spirit are aligned. She creates a compassionate and collaborative environment where patients feel deeply heard and empowered in their own care. Her approach blends conventional psychiatric treatment with nutrition, mindfulness, movement, and stress-reduction strategies to support long-term mental wellness.  She values authenticity, open communication, and shared decision-making, empowering patients to build resilience and restore balance in their lives.

She begins with a comprehensive assessment exploring medical, psychological, and lifestyle factors that influence mental health. Treatment plans are personalized and may include psychotherapy, targeted laboratory testing, lifestyle modifications, supplements, and medication when appropriate. Dr. Lazenby works closely with patients to restore balance, resilience, and overall well-being through a truly integrative approach. Regular collaboration and feedback, helping patients heal, grow, and thrive.

Dr. Ioana Horotan-Enescu is a board-certified Psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she was an Active-Duty staff psychiatrist at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY. Her military service also included roles such as Medical Director of Behavioral Health and Interim Clinic Chief for Embedded Behavioral Health Clinic. She completed her internship and residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and earned her Doctor of Osteopathy Degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her clinical experience spanned from the inpatient to the outpatient setting and afforded her the opportunity to develop comprehensive skills in the treatment of PTSD, mood disorders, thought disorders, addiction and perinatal mood disorders. Her teaching experience spanned multiple institutions, where she has served as a preceptor and mentor for medical students, nurse practitioner and physician assistant students. In addition to medication management, she augments her practice by implementing mindfulness, psychodynamic and supportive therapy techniques in her everyday practice to enhance treatment and improve treatment response. Dr. Horotan-Enescu holds several certifications, including in Cognitive Behavioral Health Therapy for Suicide Prevention, Motivational Interviewing and Battlefield Acupuncture. She has delivered presentations at national and international conferences on various topics, reinforcing her commitment to advancing the field of psychiatry.

Mary Poupon is an experienced board certified psychiatric APRN/psychiatric nurse practitioner with over 30 years' experience in her field. She completed her graduate work at Columbia University and is published in her field. Her practice sites have included inpatient hospital treatment, partial hospital programs, in-home programs, outpatient clinics and alternative therapy including equine assisted therapy.  She was the program director and clinician with the Ryan White Mental Health Program in New York providing innovative mental health treatment for adolescents and adults living with HIV/AIDS in the boroughs of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.  In 2013 she became certified as an equine assisted psychotherapist and served as the Director of Mental Health at Embrace Hope in Sandy Hook, CT. She was appointed as the Executive Director of Embrace Hope in 2017. Embrace Hope provided treatment to children, adolescents and adults who were victims of trauma related to the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. She presented a TED x talk in 2018 regarding her work with victims of trauma. She has provided treatment in the outpatient setting for children, teens, and adults. She has provided treatment to young adults at the Covenant House New York shelter program for homeless young adults.

Mary believes the human spirit is resilient. There are many challenges in the lifespan and self-care is paramount to success.

Mary provides psychiatric consultation and assessment and provides a pathway to change. Treatment may include medication management, therapy, and coping skills to assist with life challenges. Mary believes treatment is a partnership and believes in establishing mutually agreed upon goals.

Mary's process for working with patients begins with active listening. The assessment begins with the patient describing why they are seeking engagement in behavioral health treatment at this time. She will complete a psychiatric assessment and evaluation and establish mutually agreed upon goals for treatment. She offers medication management in conjunction with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. Mary believes therapy and medication management if indicated together provides the best treatment outcomes.

Dr. Alexis Kropf is a board-certified adult psychiatrist beginning her practice at Talkiatry after four years of clinical experience in residency. Dr. Kropf primarily focuses on providing medication management during 30-minute follow-up visits, weaving in elements of supportive therapy according to the needs of her clients. When additional therapy is indicated to promote recovery, Dr. Kropf may recommend that her clients work with a therapist as part of the treatment team. Dr. Kropf credits her undergraduate education at Southwestern University, a small liberal arts college, for strengthening her curiosity about and dedication to serving others. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where she also completed her psychiatry residency training. During residency, she was involved in medical student education and resident leadership, serving as a chief resident during her final year of training. She also utilized her fluency in Spanish and medical Spanish interpreter training to serve Spanish-speaking patients and to lead Spanish-language group therapy sessions. In addition to psychopharmacology, Dr. Kropf studied psychotherapeutic interventions, including psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies. She has experience working with clients experiencing many different mental health challenges, with a primary clinical focus including the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Dr. Rania Elkhatib is a board-certified general psychiatrist with extensive experience in clinical care, teaching, and research. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and completed her psychiatry residency at UTHealth Science Center in Houston, where she later served as an Assistant Clinical Professor. During that appointment, Dr. Elkhatib was heavily involved in medical education and has developed courses in cultural psychiatry and psychiatry boot camps for medical students.

Dr. Elkhatib specializes in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. Dr. Elkhatib focuses on evidence-based medication management but will also incorporate supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize treatment management and patient’s wellness. She is fluent in Arabic and English and has a strong interest in working with diverse patient populations.

Dr. Elkhatib has a holistic approach with focus on medication management while incorporating supportive therapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques to optimize patient wellness.