Anastasia Ruiz, MD

Background  and credentials    

Dr. Andrew Lelin is a board-certified Psychiatrist in Adult Psychiatry. He  received his bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University and a master's  in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics from Stony Brook  University. Dr. Lelin earned his medical degree from Hofstra-Northwell School  of Medicine and completed his residency at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson School  of Medicine, where he specialized in advanced psychopharmacology with diverse  patient populations. He also has extensive training and experience in  psychotherapeutic modalities, including psychodynamic therapy,  cognitive-behavioral therapy, habit-reversal therapy, and cognitive  processing therapy. Following his training, Dr. Lelin provided inpatient  consultation and crisis intervention services in New York City.    

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Treatment approach    

Dr. Lelin employs a compassionate, humanistic approach designed to align  closely with his patients' personal goals and values. His method integrates  advanced psychopharmacology with psychotherapeutic techniques such as  psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, habit-reversal, and cognitive processing  therapies. He aims to carefully balance diagnosis, avoiding both  overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, to ensure precise and tailored care. Dr.  Lelin’s approach is particularly effective in addressing conditions like  anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, trauma-related issues, and other  psychiatric conditions.    

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What you can expect in a first visit    

During the initial visit, patients can expect a comprehensive, detailed  evaluation designed to thoroughly understand their individual experiences and  needs. Dr. Lelin prioritizes establishing a compassionate and comfortable  environment where patients can openly discuss their concerns and goals. This  initial assessment is followed by meticulous and thoughtful follow-ups,  providing clarity and direction in the treatment process.    

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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. David Gomez is a board-certified psychiatrist who is bilingual and fluent in English and Spanish. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Florida International University and completed a residency in Psychiatry at the University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Hospital. During his training, he worked closely with a diverse array of patients, including minority and underserved communities, military veterans, trauma survivors, medically complex individuals with HIV and cancer, geriatric patients, and individuals with severe mental illness in both outpatient and inpatient settings. He received additional training through his participation in specialty clinics focused on mood and anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, and geriatric / memory disorders.

Dr. Gomez specializes in providing comprehensive mental health care to diverse patient populations. He combines psychotropic medications with supportive therapy using a psychodynamic listening approach to understand his patients and achieve their treatment goals.

He believes in tailoring treatment plans to meet individual needs, fostering a collaborative environment that empowers patients in their recovery. Known for his warm demeanor and attentive listening skills, Dr. Gomez creates a safe space for patients to express themselves safely. He emphasizes the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance and integrates psychodynamic principles, mindfulness techniques, and lifestyle modifications into his practice.

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Dr. Niles Drake is a board certified psychiatrist skilled in prescribing medications and working in psychotherapy. He combines a warm demeanor with excellent clinical skills, and has over 15 years' experience working with adult patients of all ages and many walks of life. He has special expertise combining medication and psychotherapy to help patients reduce symptoms and grow as individuals. Dr. Drake's additional training and experience in psychological modes of treatment enhance the quality of care he provides to all his patients, to meet them where they are and prioritize their individual needs and goals. He also provides medication management-only treatments for people who aren't looking for psychotherapy or who already have therapists. Dr. Drake completed his psychiatric residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. He also completed psychoanalytic training at the Columbia Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research. He went on to teach classes at the Center, educating candidates about the nuances of combining psychotherapy with other treatment modalities. In addition to providing outpatient psychiatric treatment for over 10 years in private practice, he has worked extensively in psychiatric emergency settings, supervising residents as attending physician at Columbia-New York Presbyterian Hospital and Long Island Jewish Hospital psychiatric emergency rooms. He also has special expertise treating college-aged and young adult patients, having served as staff psychiatrist at Barnard College's Furman Counseling Center and worked with many students from Barnard and Columbia in his private practice. Dr. Drake offers treatment for many psychiatric conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and personality disorders. He identifies helping people ease and overcome their psychiatric conditions as his calling, and approaches each patient with humility, diligence, and a collaborative spirit.

Dr. Steve Paschos is a board-certified Psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He attended Loyola University Chicago on the Lake Shore campus, completing a bachelor's degree in science and a Degree in Classical Studies. He then attended Medical School at Rush Medical College in Chicago and completed a 5-year combined Internal Medicine & Psychiatry residency in 2011. Dr. Paschos subsequently completed a 1-year fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at Rush University Medical Center. He has spent the last 12 years fulfilling his passion for integrating Internal Medicine & Psychiatry, working with a diverse range of patients suffering from severe mental illnesses. ‍Dr. Paschos' years of experience have included working at Cook County Health Services � Cermak Health Services at Cook County Department of Corrections with an extremely diverse patient population with varying psychiatric illnesses. He has also worked as an inpatient psychiatric hospitalist and as the director of the Intensive Care Unit at Chicago Behavioral Hospital in Illinois. Dr. Paschos also acted as a medical director of an IOP and established an outpatient psychiatric practice in conjunction with the Intensive Outpatient Program. He has had the opportunity and privilege of treating individuals who suffer from various diagnoses, especially challenging patients who have suffered from integrated or Med-Psych concerns involving primary mood disorders, Bipolar Affective disorders, prior trauma, severe medical problems/diagnoses along with concurrent personality pathology. ‍Dr. Paschos utilizes supportive psychotherapy, brief cognitive behavioral therapy, and at times psychodynamic therapy to address his patients' current complaints and to identify the locus of their symptoms. He believes in utilizing an all-encompassed approach using mindfulness and various psychotherapies along with comprehensive medication management. To quote Hippocrates "Where there is love for the art of medicine there is a love of humanity.”

Dr. Marcia Morris is a psychiatrist with over thirty years of experience providing medication management as well as supportive psychotherapy to adult patients. She takes a positive psychiatry approach to treatment, prescribing medication while supporting patient strengths, social connections, and healthy habits. She has worked with university students as well as employees in an employee assistance program. She provides care for patients with depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, and ADHD. In her previous role as an Associate Professor at the University of Florida, she has done research on the increase in depression and anxiety as well as the increased use of psychiatric medications among university students. She has published academic papers and given national talks in these topics with the goal of decreasing stigma and improving mental health care for young adults. She is a founding member of the Association for College Psychiatry and a member of the American Psychiatric Association college mental health caucus. Dr. Morris provides education to the public about mental health as a writer and public speaker. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Tampa Bay Times, and the Huffington Post. She also has been interviewed on NPR and several podcasts. She currently writes a Psychology Today parenting blog "College Wellness: Promoting Happiness & Health in the College Years.” Her book, "The Campus Cure: A Parent's Guide to Mental Health & Wellness for College Students,” was published January 2018. Dr. Morris has an undergraduate degree from Harvard, a medical degree from Yale, and psychiatry residency training at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center. She is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Ye Kyung Song is a board-certified psychiatrist with both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in medical humanities and ethics from the University of Texas Medical Branch. She completed her residency at Duke University and has experience practicing in both outpatient and inpatient settings. In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Song has pursued advanced training in several therapeutic modalities, including the Collaborative Approach to Management of Suicidality (CAMS) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT).

Dr. Song takes a collaborative, values-driven approach to treatment, emphasizing partnership in decision-making and tailoring care to each individual’s needs. She uses medication thoughtfully and only when appropriate, considering the whole picture of a patient’s health and life. Her goal is to help patients understand the underlying reasons for their symptoms by examining patterns, conflicts, and meaning. She is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where patients can explore their experiences openly.

During the initial appointment, Dr. Song focuses on understanding a patient’s clinical history, current concerns, and personal goals. Together with the patient, she develops an individualized treatment plan that clearly outlines areas of focus and aligns with the patient’s values and objectives. Her process emphasizes getting to the root “why” behind symptoms, while using evidence-based medicine and therapy modalities best suited for the situation. Treatment plans and medications are adjusted collaboratively over time to ensure ongoing support and progress.