Niles Drake, MD

Dr. Tara Thompson-Felix is a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist. Dr. Thompson-Felix has specialized training in perinatal mental health and believes that improving outcomes during pregnancy and the postpartum period has a long-lasting impact on outcomes for a mother and child. She also specializes in treating a wide array of psychiatric conditions affecting children, adolescents, and young adults. Dr. Thompson-Felix's journey into medicine started in her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University. She earned her medical degree at Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and trained in adult psychiatry at Temple University Medical School. She completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Thompson-Felix has extensive research experience in using neuroscience to understand the impact of maternal mental health on child development. She has authored several publications, presents her work nationally/internationally, and received numerous awards for her clinical work, research, and passion for teaching. Dr. Thompson-Felix believes that trust, communication, and respect between a patient and their physician is the foundation of effective treatment. Her style is welcoming, nonjudgmental, and collaborative. She evaluates mental health based on biological, psychological, and cultural aspects. She uses evidence-based treatments to manage psychiatric symptoms and promote optimal health.

Dr. Carmen Orellana is a Staff Psychiatrist at Talkiatry who has been in practice for over 6 years, both in the U.S. and abroad. She is double board-certified in child and adolescent psychiatry and adult psychiatry. Dr. Orellana's practice focuses on medication management. She strives to provide exceptional medical care and has extensive experience in treating persons with diverse behavioral disorders and backgrounds. Dr.Orellana involves her patients in all decisions about their health, and provides care that is respectful of patient preferences, needs, and values. Typically, she would recommend evidence-based treatments to her patients and may, occasionally, believe that concurrent therapy is also needed. She would ask that you bring a therapist into your care team to provide the best outcome. Dr.Orellana received her medical degree from Universidad Evang�lica de El Salvador. Dr. Orellana completed a residency in Psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Southern University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois. After completing her training, Dr. Orellana remained in the school, where she worked as an Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, supervising and teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, and treating patients with various psychiatric conditions. Dr. Orellana has experience in treating treatment-resistant mood disorders with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).‍

Dr. Viga Naik takes a holistic approach when practicing, understanding the importance of an integrative treatment care model. She believes optimal patient care goes beyond psychopharmacology and requires incorporation of psychotherapy and psychosocial intervention. She is a strong advocate for her patients, dedicated to being an educator of mental illness to break self, societal, and systemic stigmas. She believes that a strong therapeutic alliance between clinician and patient is essential. She works on creating a safe and empathetic environment while providing psychoeducation to patients, empowering them to play an active role in their treatment. Dr. Naik is an adult psychiatrist with specializations in Addiction Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, also known as psychosomatic medicine. She completed her residency training at New York Medical College and fellowship training at the Mount Sinai Health Systems located at Bronx Care and Beth Israel Hospital. She has worked in both inpatient and many outpatient specialty clinics such as psych/oncology, transplant, collaborative-care, medication assistance treatment, music and medicine, and gender affirmation surgery treating patients with comorbid mental illness and substance use disorders as well as comorbid mental illness and general medical conditions. Her practice focuses on medication management in combination with supportive therapy and providing psychoeducation to patients. She treats depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, general anxiety disorder, substance use disorders and other associated psychiatric disorders.

Background and credentials

Dr. Schaefer is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with over 16 years of experience. She earned her medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, and completed her adult psychiatry residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. She then specialized further by completing a forensic psychiatry fellowship at Yale University. She has worked as a staff psychiatrist at Atrium Health System for over 16 years.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Schaefer’s practice primarily focuses on medication management, which she offers in conjunction with supportive therapy and elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). She takes a patient-centered and collaborative approach, ensuring that treatment is tailored to each individual’s needs. If additional therapy is required, she may recommend working with a therapist as part of a comprehensive care plan. Her primary focus areas include depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a thorough psychiatric evaluation, where Dr. Schaefer carefully assesses their symptoms, treatment history, and mental health goals. She works collaboratively with patients to develop a personalized treatment plan, which may include medication management and therapy recommendations. Follow-up visits are typically 30 minutes and focus on monitoring progress, adjusting treatment as needed, and ensuring the best possible patient outcomes.

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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. Danielle Jackson is a board certified Adult Psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is a graduate of Yale University's Psychiatry Residency and Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Jackson's practice focuses on a combination of psychopharmacology (medication) and psychotherapy techniques including supportive therapy, motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy. She approaches care from an individualized, patient-centered, collaborative perspective. She often integrates evidence-based lifestyle recommendations in areas such as nutrition, sleep hygiene, exercise, and stress management tools in treatment to help patients achieve their wellness goals. Her interests include adjustment disorder, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD and trauma-related disorders. In addition, she enjoys helping patients navigate the challenges that can accompany changes in life (careers, parenthood, relationships, chronic illness). Prior to joining Talkiatry, Dr. Jackson served as medical director for substance use and co-occurring disorders at Sunset Terrace Family Health Centers at NYU Langone. She has experience caring for a diverse patient population including those with perinatal mood disorders (postpartum anxiety/depression), substance use disorders and those from minoritized and marginalized communities.

Serena Mirchandani is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience treating serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. She also provides care for individuals with depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, autism spectrum disorder, and substance use disorders. Serena earned both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in psychiatry from Columbia University. She completed a Nurse Practitioner Fellowship at Community Healthcare Network and worked at Bellevue Hospital for 2.5 years, providing care on an inpatient psychiatric unit for a diverse, underserved population.

Serena’s approach is grounded in open communication, evidence-based care, and deep respect for each patient’s lived experience. She prioritizes a collaborative, safe space where individuals feel heard, respected, and empowered. Her holistic style supports honest conversation, transparency in treatment options, and patient-centered goals.

Serena begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand each patient's full story—biological, psychological, and social. She then partners with patients to develop personalized, evidence-based treatment plans that align with their values and goals. She emphasizes education, transparency, and regular follow-up to support ongoing progress and informed decision-making.