Alexandra Starmer, LMHC

KaShunda "Shun” Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. She received her Master of Science in Counseling at Amberton University and postgraduate studies in Professional Counseling and Development at Lamar University. Shun has worked in various settings in the mental health field including community-based counseling centers, private practice, and large group practices providing counseling services to adults, couples, and adolescents. Her professional experience has focused on mood disorders (depression, bipolar disorder, persistent affective disorder), anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, self-esteem and confidence, gender identity and LGBTQIA+ concerns; relationship concerns, and life transitions. Shun's integrative therapeutic style provides an emotionally safe space that supports self-exploration, empowerment, and authenticity. Specializing in cognitive behavior therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and mindfulness; she tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each individual. She is dedicated and passionate about assisting individuals to work through barriers to create the lives and relationships that they desire and to develop a sense of personal strength and self-acceptance. She celebrates and welcomes the diversity of all clients and strives to create an affirming, inclusive, and non-judgmental space to explore individual needs and therapeutic goals.

Dr. Alejandra Cattan is a bilingual psychiatrist who delivers care in English and Spanish. She went to medical school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and completed her psychiatry residency at Bronx Care Health system. She then completed additional training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy at NY Medical College Psychoanalytic Institute. After completing residency, she worked as an attending psychiatrist in New York and later transitioned to dedicated outpatient work. Dr. Cattan brings exceptional care to her patients. She provides supportive psychotherapy and applies psychodynamic psychotherapy skills to discover the root of their suffering, in conjunction with medication management resources. Dr. Cattan believes in a biopsychosocial model to address her patients' issues. Her areas of expertise include medication management, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance use disorders.

Background and credentials

Dr. Puja Kumar is trained in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry and is a board-certified pediatrician. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary and her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her pediatrics residency at Maimonides Medical Center in New York and practiced pediatrics with MedStar Shah Medical Group in Maryland before transitioning to psychiatry. She later trained in child and adult psychiatry at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Kumar provides medication management combined with supportive therapy, typically in 30-minute follow-up visits. She takes a holistic approach to treatment, considering the impact of lifestyle, parenting practices, and family dynamics on mental health. She emphasizes integrative care, ensuring that treatment plans are tailored to each patient’s unique needs and circumstances.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough and compassionate evaluation, where Dr. Kumar takes time to understand their symptoms, medical history, and environmental influences. She prioritizes collaborative decision-making, working closely with patients and, when applicable, their families, to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan. Follow-up visits typically focus on medication adjustments, supportive therapy, and lifestyle recommendations to optimize mental health outcomes.

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

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Lauren Mingle is an outpatient therapist at Talkiatry. She is dually licensed in Colorado as a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). Lauren earned her master's degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling/Therapy from the University of Northern Colorado. Before joining Talkiatry, Lauren held roles in a diverse array of settings including community mental health, crisis services, and outpatient therapy. Her previous specialty focuses included youth, adolescents, adults, and couples. Lauren uses a variety of evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to meet people where they are at and work with them to best reach their personalized therapy goals.

Barbara (Barb) Pack is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with the Supervision Endorsement and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, Clinical Supervisor Endorsement who has been providing mental health treatment for over 24 years and addiction treatment for over 27 years. Barb utilizes a combination of approaches in working with her clients, including person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution focused techniques, and a variety of other techniques. She has experience in several different types of treatment settings and treatment modalities in both Ohio and Florida. Barb enjoys working with individuals who also have co-occurring disorders, both mental health and substance use. Barb has experience working with a wide range of age groups and mental health issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, grief, relationship issues, and a wide range of substance use issues. She will assess individuals' needs in their first few visits and work with them to develop an individualized treatment plan. Barb works to provide the empathetic listening and emotional support that her clients need to reach their goals. Her dream has been to work herself out of a job, as she wants to help her clients find healing and happiness. Barb attended the University of Akron for graduate school in a Community Counseling Program and attended Malone College, now University, and majored in Psychology.

Dr. Caitlin Gardiner is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy. Dr. Caitlin Gardiner's practice is based on the biopsychosocial model and believes that the foundation of healing is in psychotherapy and human connection. She is known for incorporating therapy into her medication management practice. Typically she offers 30-minute follow-up visits for medication management with focused therapy based on individual needs. As a known helper, Dr. Gardiner started her career with a bachelor's degree in social work from Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, NY. After changing career paths, she received her medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. She stayed upstate to complete her general psychiatry residency, where she was chief resident at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this, she completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Upstate due to the high quality of training. Dr. Gardiner has completed 3 years of advanced training in Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy as well as specialized training in DBT. Dr. Gardiner is a well-rounded psychiatrist who enjoys treating youth and young adults during transitional phases of life while providing a safe and supportive environment. She believes strongly in reducing polypharmacy and providing high-quality medication management through a therapeutic and developmental lens.