Kristina Eipl, MD

Dr. Alexandra ("Sasha”) Blaes is a board-certified psychiatrist. Before joining Talkiatry, she practiced consult-liaison psychiatry, seeing medically ill patients with psychiatric problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where she also treated veterans in nursing homes. Dr. Blaes graduated from New York University with a B.A. in philosophy and photography and worked in nonprofit marketing in New York before deciding she wanted to pursue a life in medicine. Following a post-baccalaureate, pre-medical program at Columbia University, Dr. Blaes completed medical school at The University of Maryland, followed by a psychiatry residency at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Johns Hopkins, she mastered clinical assessment and treatment of general psychiatric problems. She also received specialized training in eating disorders, addiction, reproductive psychiatry, chronic pain, and geriatric psychiatry, an interest she pursued further with a fellowship at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. In fellowship and in her subsequent experience at the VA, she developed expertise in caring for the difficulties that can accompany aging, including depression, anxiety, and memory loss, as well as the stress of medical illness. Dr. Blaes' practice focuses on medication management. She works to foster a safe and collaborative space in which patients can address psychiatric illness and other barriers holding them back from the lives they want to lead. Typically, she offers appointments for medication management coupled with supportive or emotionally focused therapy in 30-minute sessions. When Dr. Blaes feels that additional therapy is needed, she will suggest inviting a therapist to join the team for additional support and guidance. She welcomes collaborations with other clinicians, be they therapists or other physicians caring for her patients. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships that help patients grow and meet their goals - whatever their situation, challenge, or life stage. Dr. Blaes welcomes patients from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds and is LGBTQ+ friendly. In addition to her background in geriatrics, she has experience working with peripartum women and enjoys working with patients navigating major life changes.

Dr. Cheryl Person is the National Director of Clinical Quality at Talkiatry. She is board certified in general adult psychiatry and has been in practice for 20 years. Dr. Person focuses on medication management but believes that is only part of successful treatment. She will spend her time providing motivational interviewing or supportive therapy, and believes it is often critical to have a therapist as part of the treatment team. Dr. Person received her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatric residency at Johns Hopkins and a psychiatric epidemiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a focus on disaster mental health. After relocating to Texas in 2010, she worked as Director of Psychiatric Services of a large safety-net hospital in Houston. Prior to Talkiatry, she most recently was the executive director/chief physician of a large university student health center and campus pharmacy. In addition to adult psychiatry, Dr. Person has worked extensively with victims of acute trauma and her primary focus is on working with patients who have anxiety and mood disorders.

Dr. Kristina Kurtz is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania. She completed a Transitional Internship at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Oakland in Pontiac, Michigan, and Psychiatry Residency training at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. During her residency training, she held multiple professional leadership positions, including ethics committee consultant, associate chief resident, and chief resident. She has experience developing residency curriculum, and teaching psychiatry residents and medical students. Prior to relocating to Colorado Springs, Dr. Kurtz served as the Adult Inpatient Service Chief at Henry Ford Kingswood Hospital. She joined Talkiatry after serving as the Medical Director of Behavioral Health at UCHealth Memorial Hospital as well as Regional Medical Director for Colorado for Lifestance Health. Dr. Kurtz is passionate about providing holistic, evidence-based care to both adults and geriatric patients. She believes in providing a well-rounded approach to care which includes both medication management as well as psychodynamic psychotherapy and supportive therapy for a wide variety of disorders including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, substance use disorders, and bipolar disorder. She believes that medication management is most effective when an environment of shared decision-making exists between the prescriber and the patient and tailors her approach to meet each individual patient's needs.

Background and credentials

Dr. Kristina Schnitzer is a board-certified psychiatrist. She earned her medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine and completed her residency in Adult Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Program. She further specialized by completing a one-year clinical and research fellowship in Public and Community Psychiatry through Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. In addition to her medical training, she holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She has over three years of experience practicing psychiatry across inpatient, emergency, and outpatient settings.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Schnitzer focuses on medication management as the foundation of her treatment approach, typically combining it with supportive or emotionally focused therapy during 30-minute follow-up visits. She takes a collaborative and individualized approach to patient care and, when needed, may recommend additional therapy by integrating a therapist into the care team to ensure the best possible outcomes. She has experience treating a broad range of psychiatric disorders in various clinical settings.

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What you can expect in a first visit

Patients can expect a thorough and structured evaluation in their first visit, where Dr. Schnitzer carefully assesses their symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. She emphasizes open communication and collaboration, ensuring that patients are fully involved in shaping their treatment plans. Follow-up visits typically last 30 minutes, during which she monitors progress, adjusts treatment as needed, and may recommend additional therapeutic support for comprehensive care.

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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. Cyndia Choi has been board certified in psychiatry since 1991. She has 30 years of experience treating a diverse population of cultures, LGBTQ issues, and different age groups from young adults to seniors. After attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for her bachelor's degree, Dr. Choi received her medical degree from The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey at Rutgers Medical School. She went on to complete a general medical internship at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia and then her Psychiatric residency at the University of Pennsylvania .Dr. Choi has treated patients who have had a broad spectrum of diagnoses including major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, OCD, panic and anxiety, and addiction. Although the majority of her work has been in outpatient care, Dr. Choi has worked in emergency settings, inpatient units, and as a consultation-liaison to medical units. She has also enjoyed the honor of working with US military veterans. Dr. Choi's specialty is medication management, however, she believes that a therapeutic relationship is crucial to treatment. Dr. Choi values the privilege of getting to know each patient personally to develop a patient-centered plan of care.‍Typical follow-up appointments with Dr. Choi are 30 minutes in length to check on medication effects and for supportive therapy. If she believes that you may benefit from more in-depth therapy, she may recommend adding a therapist to your treatment team. Dr. Choi also believes in a holistic approach toward helping you achieve a healthy and fulfilling quality of life.

Dr. Goicochea is Peruvian and speaks Spanish fluently. She is a "triple Gator” having completed her undergraduate and medical degree at the University of Florida (UF) and psychiatric training at UF Jacksonville. She was recognized by the Gold Humanism Honor Society for exemplary service, integrity, clinical excellence, and compassion and awarded Resident of the Year for exceptional clinical skills and commitment to patients. Dr. Goicochea is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who specializes in providing person-centered mental health care. She believes in a comprehensive, holistic approach to best improve the overall well-being of her patients; she explores psychosocial and physical health contributions to psychiatric symptoms and incorporates therapy into visits to develop a deeper understanding of the particular psychiatric concerns and their impact on patients' lives. Dr. Goicochea actively listens and creates an empathetic, non-judgmental space to work collaboratively with patients in achieving treatment goals. Dr. Goicochea's expertise is in the combination of evidence-based medication management with psychotherapy, which includes supportive, person-centered, cognitive behavioral, acceptance and commitment, interpersonal, and solution-focused therapy. While she enjoys working with young adults, her skills and experience allow her to effectively assist patients of all ages. Her clinical areas of interest include the treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and ADHD.