Derek Miller, LCSW

*THIS PROVIDER CANNOT PRESCRIBE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES FOR NH PATIENTS* Doctor Phillip Sullivan is a staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. He is board certified in both adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. His interest in psychiatric treatment was originally triggered by the humanistic writings of Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Rollo May. As he earned his medical degree and started post-graduate psychiatric training, he went on to learn psycho-pharmacological, cognitive-behavioral, and psychodynamic treatment approaches. He combines these perspectives in diagnosing and treating psychiatric conditions including depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, anxiety, stress and trauma related disorders, adjustment problems, maternal mental health, OCD, ADHD and other disorders. His practice focuses on supportive pharmacological treatment, and he sees listening and empathy as essential elements of the treatment process. He strives to provide a comfortable experience in which doctor and patient work together to understand the presenting problems, develop a treatment plan, reduce symptoms, and optimize functioning. Doctor Sullivan supports and encourages concurrent psychotherapy and will work collaboratively with therapists to optimize the best treatment results. Doctor Sullivan received his MD degree from Brown University Alpert School of Medicine. After completing a medical-surgical internship, he went on to a residency in adult psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Harvard Medical School's Massachusetts Mental Health Center. He has held academic appointments at Harvard Medical School and the University of New England School of Osteopathic Medicine. In the 36 years following completion of his training, he has worked as the medical director of a mental health center on the under-served Eastern Shore of Maryland, as the medical director of a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit, as a staff psychiatrist at New Hampshire's Dartmouth Hitchcock Clinic, and as the medical director of child and adolescent psychiatric services at Concord New Hampshire's mental health center. Before joining Talkiatry, he served for 18 years as the chief of psychiatry at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center where he also spent three years as the hospital's chief of staff.

Dr. Leslie Davis became a psychotherapist because she believes that mental health shapes and influences various aspects of life. Mental health is considered vital! She has been a Doctor of Social Work since 2021 and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 2019, with experience supporting children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with concerns such as trauma, substance abuse, intimate partner violence, depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorders, marital issues, and more. She has extensive experience in various settings including inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), school settings, community-based settings, and emergency departments.‍Dr. Leslie Davis does not see her role as a therapist as needing to "save the world” or "empower” clients. Instead, she believes in working alongside clients to help them identify tools within themselves and community resources to successfully achieve their goals. The types of therapy offered include, but are not limited to, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Culturally Sensitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Multicultural Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Alongside the use of evidenced-based practices and culturally informed care, Dr. Leslie Davis has developed a proven approach for helping clients (a) identify the root cause of their challenges and (b) create a tailored plan that leads to measurable progress.

Leora Golan serves as a dedicated mental health professional with a Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University of Chicago, specializing in mental health. She completed her undergraduate studies at Stockton University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Social Work with a minor in Childhood Studies. Leora brings a rich and diverse clinical background, having worked with children, adolescents, adults, seniors, and active-duty service members/veterans.

Specializing in Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, low self-esteem, stress management, trauma, and addictions, Leora employs a trauma-informed lens, enhanced by her certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. This approach allows her to better understand and address each client’s unique needs through thorough assessment.

Believing in the importance of individualized care, Leora adopts an eclectic therapeutic method tailored to the specific requirements of her clients. She integrates various clinical orientations, including strength-based approaches, solution-focused therapy, mindfulness therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, narrative therapy, and exposure therapy.

Leora emphasizes the significance of building a strong therapeutic alliance, offering a safe, non-judgmental, and collaborative environment for clients to explore their emotions and navigate their challenges. Her compassionate approach fosters meaningful change, empowering clients to achieve their therapeutic goals.

Dr. Panchal is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who works with motivated adults to navigate and discover the root of their mental health struggles. Since working in private practice, Dr. Panchal knows that discovering the root of difficulties allows clients to find healthy perceptions of themselves and strengthen their relationships so they can know themselves as a whole. She is trained in multiple therapeutic modalities as well as medication management, implementing individually tailored treatment. Her educational background includes training in psychodynamic psychotherapy with the Psychoanalytic Association of New York. She has completed her psychiatry training at Delaware Psychiatry Residency Program in New Castle, Delaware.

Background and credentials

Dr. Sinner is board-certified in Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. With over 14 years of experience, he has worked in a variety of settings, including five years in inpatient psychiatry in Vermont, where he served as Medical Director for a state hospital psychiatric unit and taught medical students. He then spent five years working in an outpatient community mental health center in Pennsylvania before transitioning to telepsychiatry, providing care to individuals in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Sinner employs a collaborative, patient-centered approach, tailoring treatment plans to meet each individual's specific needs. His practice integrates pharmacotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive therapy as needed. He specializes in treating a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD, neuropsychiatric disorders, developmental disorders, and personality disorders. His philosophy is to provide personalized care that makes a meaningful impact at different stages of a patient’s life.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive evaluation focused on understanding their mental health concerns, history, and treatment goals. Dr. Sinner takes a compassionate and collaborative approach, working closely with patients to create individualized treatment plans. He ensures that each patient receives a balanced and effective combination of medication management and therapeutic interventions suited to their 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 specialize in medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits your needs and comfort level.

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Dr. Dennis Valerstain is a board-certified Adult and Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. After completing his undergraduate education at Emory University, he attended medical school at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He subsequently completed psychiatry residency at University of Miami/Jackson Health System and further sub-specialized at University of Miami/Jackson Health System with a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Valerstain has had the opportunity of working with a diverse array of patients including children, adolescents, the severely mentally ill, veterans, and cancer patients across three distinct hospital systems. Dr. Valerstain has had varied clinical experiences in specialty inpatient psychiatry units, emergency psychiatry, consultation liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, and outpatient clinics via telemedicine and face to face interactions. Dr. Valerstain has experience working with patients of all ages, particularly those with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, Tic disorders, substance use disorders, and more. Dr. Valerstain's practice focuses on medication management and also employs empathic listening, supportive psychotherapy techniques, and a comprehensive and methodological approach to his visits. Given his broad and diverse training experiences, he enjoys problem solving and working collaboratively with patients (and their families) to navigate their complex issues and jointly focusing on simple solutions to work towards improving their mental health.