Kristina Kurtz, DO

Jennifer Garner is a board-certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with Talkiatry. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2009 and a master's degree from Vanderbilt University in 2011. Jennifer enjoys treating all adults and has outpatient experience with community mental health, corrections, and private practice. Besides outpatient care, she has worked in crisis stabilization and ambulatory detox for adults with primary psychiatric and dual diagnosis illnesses. Jennifer is skilled in treating a wide range of conditions including ADHD, bipolar disorder, substance misuse, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. She is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, ensuring all gender identities feel safe and respected. With a focus on patient-centered care, her approach is carefully tailored to each person's individual needs and goals, promoting a collaborative therapeutic relationship. During appointments, she combines medication management with therapy techniques to empower patients with the skills for their well-being. Appointments are as unique as each individual that she meets with. If you're ready (and even if you're not so sure) take the first step and let's talk.

Dr. Batson is a board-certified adult psychiatrist who has been in practice for over 20 years. At the heart of Dr. Batson's approach to clinical care is a deep understanding, both professionally and personally, of the effects of trauma and stress on our brains, our bodies and our lived experience. She helps every patient understand the events that have led them to where they are and to find the path to recovery for strength and healing. While Dr. Batson's professional career has spanned the breadth of mental health care, she specializes in helping patients who suffer from the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive behaviors, phobias and depressive disorders. Many of these patients also suffer from debilitating physical conditions such as chronic pain, muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal symptoms and other physical manifestations of a chronically activated stress response. Dr. Batson's experience has taught her that these conditions can be treated, and even cured, with a tailored approach of psychopharmacology and mind-body psychotherapeutic approaches to healing. Dr. Batson received a bachelor's degree in European Studies from Vanderbilt University, a medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and completed a combined internal medicine and psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She is board-certified by The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her clinical experience treating patients spans the breadth of mental health care delivery, including community mental health care of severe and persistent mental illness, consult-liaison psychiatry, inpatient care on combined medical and psychiatric hospital units and telehealth psychiatry. For over 10 years, she has been specializing in helping patients with stress/trauma-induced physical symptoms caused by neural pathways in the brain; most of these patients are able to significantly decrease and even cure their symptoms. Dr. Batson enjoys meeting new patients and looks forward to learning your Life Story. When not at work, she enjoys all things outdoors - gardening, hiking, biking, adventure travel, and learning about the natural world.

Jami Jacobson, MA, LMHC is a psychotherapist at Talkiatry. She achieved her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of New Orleans in 2014, and her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and Wellness from New York University in 2017. Jami has experience as both a mental health professional and as a social worker in a variety of settings in New York City. She has worked with individuals, families and the LGBTQIA+ community in hospitals, educational training centers, community outreach and housing programs, and family services. Her specializations include treating Phobias, Trauma, and Anxiety Disorders: specifically Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety and Social Anxiety. She utilizes techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She has also completed Phase One training in Brainspotting, which specializes in addressing traumas in the subconscious and unconscious mind. Jami believes therapy should be a wholistic approach that incorporates both the body and the mind. She has a warm demeanor and seeks to create a safe, comfortable, and judgement-free zone, personalized for each client's unique needs. She seeks to educate her clients on the ties between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, as well as how our environment and our past can have an influence on our day-to-day lives. ‍

Background and credentials  

Dr. Alexandra Baluna, MD, is board-certified by the American Board of  Psychiatry and Neurology. She received her medical degree from  LSUHC-Shreveport and completed her psychiatry residency training at  Montefiore/Albert-Einstein College of Medicine, where she served as chief of  the Consultation-Liaison (C/L) service. Following residency, Dr. Baluna  served as Senior Chief, during which she was honored with the Leo M. Davidoff  Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Teaching of Medical Students. Her  professional experiences include roles at Fordham University, Albert Einstein  Student Mental Health Counseling Center, and most recently, as an outpatient  psychiatrist at Maimonides Medical Center, where she enjoyed teaching and  supervising residents.  

Treatment approach  

Dr. Baluna emphasizes creating a warm, empathic, and nonjudgmental  therapeutic environment. She collaborates closely with patients to develop  personalized treatment plans that consider cultural, biological,  psychological, and social factors. With a strong interest in psychotherapy,  she frequently employs ego-supportive and insight-oriented therapy techniques  during follow-up sessions.  

What you can expect in a first visit    

During an initial visit, patients can expect a welcoming and supportive  atmosphere where Dr. Baluna conducts a comprehensive assessment. This  involves exploring the patient's history, current challenges, and individual  circumstances. The goal of the first session is to collaboratively build an  individualized treatment plan tailored specifically to the patient's 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 speciualize in  medication management and collaborate with you on a treatment plan that fits  your needs and comfort level.

Dr. Blanca Osorio-Candelaria is a board-certified adult psychiatrist and has been practicing for over 16 years. Her practice focuses on medication management, which she typically combines with supportive therapy in 30-minute follow-up visits. If Dr. Osorio-Candelaria feels you would benefit from working with a therapist in conjunction with medication management, she welcomes collaboration with your therapist to make for the best outcome. ‍Dr. Osorio-Candelaria is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in San Juan, PR. She completed her residency at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, followed by a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her years of experience started as a medical officer for the Army, including a deployment to Iraq. Her working experience after her military service includes working as a medical director of a community health center, a medical director of a community hospital, a medical director of an inpatient unit, and working for an Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT) specializing in the Serious Mentally Ill population.‍Dr. Osorio-Candelaria specializes in psychopharmacology, especially tailoring individualized treatment to serve the needs of patients with a variety of conditions. She has a lot of experience in treating patients with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, Insomnia, and ADHD. She also has experience in treating patients with medical comorbidities.

Dr. Syed Abbasi is an adult psychiatrist who completed his undergraduate education at Rutgers University and earned his medical degree at Ross University. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center with training at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, additionally as Chief Resident at Columbia University's Outpatient Adult Psychiatry Eye-6 clinic. Dr. Abbasi is passionate about and experienced in providing holistic, thoughtful, evidence-based care for patients with depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, trauma-related disorders, relationship issues and struggles with self-image. He believes empathy and understanding are the most fundamental components of the doctor-patient relationship. He provides psychiatric medication management and integrates supportive psychotherapy, elements of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), stress management techniques and lifestyle interventions to meet patients where they are and collaborate toward improvement and optimization of their wellness. Occasionally, when appropriate, he may recommend adding a therapist to your care team for further benefit.