Anantharam Peesapati, MD

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Nirupama Natarajan, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Natarajan is a Psychiatrist at Talkiatry providing psychiatric services to adults ages 18 and older. In her practice, Dr. Natarajan focuses on medication management and psychoeducation, often along with supportive therapy. She is committed to providing evidence-based and patient-centered quality care for her patients. She is dedicated to working collaboratively with patients as a team in order to help patients to the best of her ability. Dr. Natarajan received her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson in NJ. She then completed her psychiatry residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson as well, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Natarajan has a vast array of clinical interests in psychiatry and behavioral health, including anxiety and mood disorders as well as wellness. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places, and spending time with her family and friends.

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Andrew Li, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Li is a board-certified adult psychiatrist based in Florida. He has a particular focus on combining supportive psychotherapy techniques with medication management in the treatment of psychiatric conditions. Some conditions he has particular experience in managing include attention/focus difficulties, anxiety, depression and bipolar mood issues, but he is well-versed in addressing a wide variety of diagnoses.

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Seth Sherman, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Seth Sherman is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who has been in practice for over ten years. At the heart of Dr. Sherman's clinical approach is a strong emphasis on establishing trust, rapport, and therapeutic alliance to help persons to feel and live well and to progress toward their goals, both in treatment and in life. Dr. Sherman begins with consultation, a compassionate, collaborative process of discovery that culminates in a working diagnostic impression and, in turn, treatment recommendations. For those with whom he engages in a treatment relationship, Dr. Sherman provides psychoeducation, medication management, and individual psychotherapy, this last modality predominantly drawing from both psychodynamic and behavioral psychological models to tailor treatment to each patient. On some occasions, Dr. Sherman may believe that additional therapy is needed and ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr. Sherman received his medical degree from Stanford University and went on to complete his residency in psychiatry at Harvard University. After completing training, he cultivated a private practice of psychiatry in San Francisco, California, treating persons with a variety of psychiatric illnesses, while also providing consultation and clinical supervision to psychotherapists in day-treatment and office-based practices. Next, Dr. Sherman served as a psychiatry professor at the Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine in Florida, where, as Associate Director of the Psychiatry Residency Training Program, he provided psychiatric inpatient treatment while bringing leadership, scholarship, teaching, supervision, and mentoring to psychiatry residents and medical students. Most recently, Dr. Sherman worked as a senior medical officer/consultant psychiatrist in New Zealand's public health system, serving local communities with expert diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions. He also continued to supervise U.S.-based psychiatrists, along with New Zealand psychotherapists, in advanced and complex clinical psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

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Emily Komarczyk, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Komarczyk is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who takes a special interest in developing a therapeutic alliance with each patient by providing an informative, encouraging, and holistic approach to mental health. At the heart of her practice is creating a warm, empathetic, and nonjudgmental space that allows her to work collaboratively with her patients to help them achieve their goals. Her treatment plans include evidence-based medication management, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy.

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Elaine Kwok, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Elaine Kwok is a board-certified Adult Psychiatrist who has been practicing for 9 years. She specializes in depression and anxiety and believes in a holistic approach to the wellness of both the mind and body. Dr. Kwok conducts a comprehensive and individualized assessment for each patient utilizing a combination of medication management, lifestyle changes, and coping skills, creating a safe and therapeutic environment to facilitate healing and growth .Dr. Kwok received her undergraduate degree from New York University and her medical degree from St. George's University. She then completed her residency training at Seton Hall University. After training, she worked in the inpatient and outpatient units at Capital Health Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. She was a voluntary faculty member and trained residents and medical students from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She actively participates in her local community to provide education and training for mental health providers. Dr. Kwok strives to collaborate and address hindrances that may interfere with an individual's best self. She focuses on creating a strong therapeutic relationship to support and facilitate balance, lifestyle enhancement, and emotional well-being. She looks forward to getting to know you and embarking on this journey together.

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Valentina Doumanian, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Valentina Doumanian is a board-certified psychiatrist. She completed her psychiatry residency training at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She has practiced in various settings over her career, including in-patient and community mental health as well as Veteran Affairs out-patient clinics. Dr. Doumanian has held leadership and teaching positions where she instructed medical students, residents & and fellows. Dr. Doumanian has more than 17 years of experience treating patients with anxiety, depression, OCD, grief, PTSD, adjustment disorders, and other mental health issues. She uses pharmacotherapy along with cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and supportive therapy as needed. The philosophy of her practice is to collaborate with patients to meet their specific needs and make an impact in various stages of their lives.‍

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Other Clinicians

Tobias Murphy, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Tobias Murphy is a psychiatrist with Talkiatry who is licensed to provide care in the states of Ohio, West Virginia, and New York. He completed medical school and psychiatry residency at Marshall University's School of Medicine. He has additional training in neuropsychiatry and geriatric psychiatry. During his training, Dr. Murphy was actively involved in teaching medical students and residents. His most frequent lectures included LGBT and transgender mental health. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. He was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and given awards for Inclusion and Advocacy as well as Honors in Community Service during training. He has published papers, presented at conferences, and served as an ad-hoc reviewer for medical journals. Dr. Murphy approaches medication management through the lens of compassionate listening and psychotherapy, seeking to reduce the stigma of mental illness and put patients at ease during their visits. He has experience treating a variety of conditions, including bipolar disorder, depression, OCD, PTSD, ADHD, and anxiety. He enjoys working with a diverse population of patients providing culturally informed care. Follow-up patient visits will include both supportive therapy and medication management during 30-minute encounters.

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Anastasia Ruiz, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Ruiz is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment for anxiety disorders, mood disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, ADHD, and pregnancy-related psychiatric conditions. She received her bachelor's degree in chemistry, graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College. Dr. Ruiz completed medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, followed by four additional years of psychiatric residency training. Her diverse professional experience includes working in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization programs (PHP), emergency rooms, and academic teaching environments. Dr. Ruiz has authored research publications and received multiple awards, including the AWP International Fellowship Award and the ADMSEP Innovations Award.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Ruiz emphasizes an integrated approach, combining medication management and therapy. This method is supported by research indicating improved patient outcomes. She remains current with the latest literature and treatment guidelines to ensure evidence-based care.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can anticipate a thorough initial evaluation during their first visit with Dr. Ruiz. She conducts a comprehensive assessment to understand the patient's symptoms, history, and personal circumstances. This session sets the foundation for collaboratively developing an individualized treatment plan focused on the patient’s specific needs and goals.

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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.

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Phillip Azouz, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Phillip Azouz is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, where he was awarded the Albert M. Barret Award for Distinguished Performance in Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatric residency at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to medical school, he obtained his undergraduate degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His background includes research at the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Center and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, he worked as a Mental Health Specialist at McLean Psychiatric Hospital.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Azouz provides a relaxed, conversational, and non-judgmental space for patients to reflect on and integrate all aspects of their lives. He believes that vulnerability is key to healing and growth and works with individuals seeking to improve mood, reduce anxiety, enhance sleep, boost attention, or heal from trauma. His approach blends the latest research in medical treatment with insights from psychotherapy and coaching. He specializes in treating major depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, addiction, and personality disorders.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive and collaborative evaluation where Dr. Azouz takes the time to understand their symptoms, challenges, and goals. He fosters an open and supportive environment, ensuring that treatment plans are personalized and aligned with each patient’s unique needs. His approach integrates evidence-based medication management, psychotherapy techniques, and coaching strategies to help patients achieve their full potential.

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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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Jessica Vassallo, LCSW

Staff Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Jessica Vassallo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in the area of mental health. She has worked with patients of various demographics including World Trade Center responders, college students, patients with severe and persistent mental illness, dually diagnosed patients, patients who have or have had cancer, and patients with impoverished backgrounds. She received her Master's Degree at Adelphi University in 2003, became certified that year and received her license in clinical social work in 2008. Jessica has been practicing in social work for 20 years, focusing on anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She uses an eclectic approach in therapy with a foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness therapy, and supportive psychotherapy. She develops an individualized treatment plan for all patients to focus on their goals. She believes that the person is impacted by all the larger systems they are in (family, workplace, community, larger society) and is committed to providing a non-judgmental, warm, and empathetic space to help clients feel understood and comfortable exploring the roots of their issues.

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Christine Reyes, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Background and credentials

Dr. Christine Reyes is a bilingual Spanish-speaking adult psychiatrist with 25 years of experience. She completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at Saint Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City and subsequently completed a Child Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Reyes has extensive experience practicing in outpatient and community mental health settings.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Reyes provides compassionate psychiatric care using pharmacotherapy combined with supportive psychotherapy. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and numerous other psychiatric conditions. Additionally, Dr. Reyes emphasizes nutritional counseling, assisting patients in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight as part of their overall wellness plan.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect a compassionate and thorough initial assessment aimed at understanding their psychiatric symptoms, personal health goals, and lifestyle considerations. Dr. Reyes combines medication evaluation with supportive psychotherapy and may discuss nutritional guidance as part of a holistic treatment plan. She prioritizes creating a supportive environment for bilingual (English/Spanish) patients to openly discuss their mental health concerns.

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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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Surinderpal Kahlon, MD

Staff Psychiatrist

Dr. Kahlon is an experienced Psychiatrist who spent the last 24 years of his career working in Veterans Affairs, where he was able to treat a wide variety of patients. Dr. Kahlon provides medication management along with supportive therapy. In some cases Dr. Kahlon may refer you to a counselor or therapist for further care and collaboration. He has experience treating a wide range of conditions, including major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD. Dr. Kahlon utilizes a well-rounded approach to treat the whole person, through medication, active listening, and recommending talk-centered counseling programs. Dr. Kahlon was trained in the VA system associated with Chicago Medical School (Finch University), which is located in North Chicago, Illinois. At the conclusion of his training, he was hired at the VA in Danville, Illinois until 2021. He also had a part-time private practice, which enhanced his experience in adult psychiatry. Dr. Kahlon graduated from a prestigious medical school that has consistently held a high position (4th) among the top 100 medical schools in the world.‍

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Anantharam Peesapati, MD

Education and training

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