PTSD Psychiatrists in Arizona

Bryce Thacker grew up in a rural community, where he learned the value of helping others achieve their best selves to support overall community health and well-being. With a passion for helping people live their best lives, he earned his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Nebraska and completed his nursing education at Creighton University. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner and in Community Health, from Creighton University, and later completed a nursing practice degree at the University of Colorado with a focus on population and community health. He also holds a post-graduate certification in psychiatric mental health from Washburn University.

Bryce practiced family medicine for 18 years before transitioning to psychiatric mental health in 2022. His background in both physical and mental health gives him a holistic perspective on care. Since shifting his focus, he has helped individuals improve their quality of life through medication management for mood disorders, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. He continues to live in a rural community with his family and remains committed to helping people become their best selves.

Bryce believes that each person’s “best self” is unique and that mental health care should meet individuals where they are. He emphasizes a collaborative, client-centered approach, always keeping the individual’s goals at the heart of care. He is dedicated to helping clients identify and overcome the symptoms and stressors that interfere with their well-being, and he works to dismantle limiting beliefs or labels that may have been placed on them.

By taking the time to understand each person’s challenges and aspirations, Bryce helps clients find sustainable, holistic paths to wellness. His care is grounded in empathy, respect, and a deep commitment to supporting each person’s journey toward a fulfilling and balanced life.

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Jackie LaVe' is a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is also dually certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She received her master’s degree and post-master’s certificate from Vanderbilt University. Jackie has 12 years of experience as a nurse and over 7.5 years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner. Jackie is licensed to practice in Montana, Arizona and New York.

Jackie LaVe’ offers a patient centered approach, working with individuals aged 18-65. She believes in engaging patients in the decision-making process. Jackie has professional interests in treating a wide range of adult psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, OCD, panic, autism and bipolar disorder.

She provides psychiatric assessments and medication management along with brief supportive psychotherapy. She believes in educating patients, so they are empowered to work together to create treatment plans that improve their health and quality of life. Jackie has additional education and experience in cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and motivational enhancement. Jackie can also review if adding a therapist to your care team could improve outcomes.

Entisar Hamid, Ed.D., LPC, LCPC, LPCC, LMHC, NCC, is a dedicated psychotherapist and life coach committed to fostering change in the community. Licensed in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana, she has over 13 years of experience supporting clients remotely and in person. She values holistic, culturally sensitive care and believes each client is the expert in their own story. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her family and engaging with her community.

Entisar creates a safe, supportive space where clients can share their experiences openly. She emphasizes building rapport and mutual understanding, empowering clients to explore their strengths while navigating challenges such as stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, grief, and self-esteem concerns. Her approach is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each individual’s needs.

She combines evidence-based therapies including ACT, CBT, DBT, EFT, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Informed approaches. Sessions focus on helping clients process emotions, develop coping skills, and achieve meaningful, lasting change. Her goal is to support clients in managing life challenges, improving mental wellness, and cultivating self-love and resilience.

Belinda received her undergraduate education at the University of Tulsa and completed her nurse practitioner training at the University of Texas–Arlington, earning a Master of Science in Nursing. She is nationally board-certified in psychiatry across the lifespan and has over a decade of experience working in outpatient, residential, and inpatient care settings. She is skilled in medication management and utilizes therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and psychodynamic approaches.

Belinda is a passionate psychiatric nurse practitioner dedicated to continual development and lifelong learning. With over ten years of experience, she spent more than five years working in a residential eating disorders facility. She has evaluated and treated individuals with a wide range of diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. Belinda believes in addressing the whole person and thrives on helping people find individualized solutions. While she specializes in using medication when necessary to alleviate symptoms, she also incorporates therapeutic techniques into her sessions to help clients discover what works best for them.

She prioritizes the therapeutic relationship and supports patient-centered goals. Belinda empowers her clients to choose options that align with their lives and encourages active engagement in self-care. She is deeply committed to helping individuals improve their quality of life by identifying and addressing areas of struggle, such as depression or grief. Additionally, she supports clients in recognizing and overcoming fears by identifying stressors and developing new coping strategies. Her approach inspires clients to reduce stress and prioritize rest and sleep to enhance overall wellness—body, mind, and soul.

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Henna, LMHC, has experience providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to adults and couples in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She earned a Master of Education and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Psychology, with advanced training in trauma-focused therapies, including EMDR, as well as grief and relational conflict.

Henna offers a safe, supportive environment where individuals can process deeply personal experiences without fear of judgment. Her warm, compassionate approach ensures each story feels valued and respected, fostering trust and connection from the very first session.

Henna begins by gaining a thorough understanding of a patient’s history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. She collaborates with patients to create a personalized treatment plan, integrating evidence-based modalities such as EMDR, CBT, IFS, psychoeducation, and mindfulness-based interventions to promote healing and growth.

Cecilia Wild is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a strong background in treating patients across the mental health spectrum. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Illinois State University and began her career in a women’s residential facility specializing in mood disorders, eating disorders, and PTSD. She then transitioned to inpatient adolescent psychiatry, where she became a charge nurse and obtained her Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Inspired by her passion for mental health, she pursued her master's degree at the University of St. Francis to become a PMHNP.  

Cecilia has extensive experience treating patients at all levels of care, including inpatient, PHP/IOP, and outpatient settings. She later transitioned to telehealth, providing medication management to college students. She is passionate about mental health advocacy, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.  

Cecilia takes a team-based, individualized approach to care. She believes in the importance of education, open communication, and empowering patients in their treatment journey. She emphasizes a holistic perspective, incorporating medication management, therapy, and lifestyle modifications.  

Cecilia prioritizes a trauma-informed approach, recognizing the significant role trauma plays in mental health. She integrates mindfulness techniques, motivational interviewing, and lifestyle changes to support overall well-being. By fostering a collaborative and supportive environment, she helps patients build resilience and achieve their mental health goals.

Roel Sepulveda is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), he has over 10 years of experience providing mental health care in psychiatric emergency rooms, outpatient psychiatry, and telehealth settings. Roel is committed to delivering comprehensive and accessible care that supports patients across diverse needs and backgrounds.

As a provider, Roel values creating a compassionate and collaborative environment where patients feel comfortable sharing their experiences. He takes a patient-centered approach, meeting individuals where they are and working together to identify treatment goals. Patients can expect a nonjudgmental space where their concerns are heard, respected, and addressed with empathy and understanding.

When working with patients, Roel begins by taking time to understand their history, symptoms, and current challenges. He develops individualized treatment plans that may include a combination of medication management, lifestyle strategies, and coordination with therapy or other supports. His goal is to provide evidence-based care while empowering patients to actively participate in their mental health journey and achieve lasting well-being.

Myrtle Davenport is a dual certified Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 12 years of experience in healthcare. She completed her Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree with a concentration in Family Nurse Practitioner at Chamberlain University and a Post Master’s in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Valdosta State University. Myrtle is skilled in assessing and treating a variety of mental health disorders including but not limited to anxiety, major depression, PTSD, ADHD, OCD, and other mood disorders across the life span. She is trained in psychiatric diagnosis, medication management, and supportive therapy. Over the past 7 years, she has gained valuable experience in a number of settings, including outpatient, inpatient, and residential facilities, community mental health clinics, and private practice.

Myrtle is dedicated to providing a safe and nonjudgmental environment where patients can expect to be heard, emotionally validated, and supported. She will ensure that patients are well-informed, empowering them to be active participants in managing their care. By fostering a strong therapeutic relationship, she will support her patients in achieving long-term mental wellness and resilience.

As a dedicated Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Myrtle provides comprehensive mental health care to individuals across the lifespan, helping them navigate through their mental health challenges with a holistic, compassionate approach. Her clinical practice involves conducting a thorough assessment and gathering relevant information from patients about their medical, psychiatric, and social history. Through open and empathetic communication, she will ensure a deep understanding of their symptoms, challenges, and goals. Based on the assessment, she will work closely with her patients to develop an individualized treatment plan and lifestyle recommendations. She will offer education on mental health conditions, coping strategies, and self-care techniques. She also provides referrals to therapists and other support services, helping patients develop the skills they need to thrive. She also believes in providing psychoeducation to patients, families, and caregivers. Myrtle's approach to patient care is grounded in empathy, respect, and evidence-based practices, and she is committed to fostering a supportive, collaborative environment where patients feel empowered to achieve their mental health goals.

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Dr. Diane Papke holds the position of staff psychiatrist at Talkiatry. After graduating from medical school, she completed internship year in Internal Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, AZ, followed by two years of neurology residency at Barrow Neurological Institute before completing Psychiatric residency at Maricopa Medical Center in 2005. She then spent the majority of her time caring for SMI/seriously mentally ill patients with a mantra "propelling people forward to wellness.” Working on the supportive level of care for this population honed her skills to care for the highest level of outpatient care through ACT/assertive community treatment. She has a genuine interest in treating psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, and most specifically bipolar. She has experience treating medical comorbidities including neurologic disorders. In 2023, she extended her expertise and skills to the general population to include telehealth management of her patients. With a nonsense approach, she prides herself on collaborating with patients to attain their goals of optimum psychiatric health, believing that the cornerstone of a healthy partnership with any patient is a holistic approach. Listening with an open mind and heart while collaborating with her patients to provide the correct medication management and supportive care has always been the key for her. She is looking forward to meeting you!

Dr. Solomon’s presence at Talkiatry brings her career full circle and back to her greatest joy as a psychiatrist—working directly with patients one‑on‑one to help them integrate the complexity of their feelings, beliefs, and personal reality in the context of an increasingly complicated world around them.

Her qualifications include a B.A. in biology from Harvard University and an M.D. from Tufts School of Medicine. She completed psychiatry residencies at Mt. Sinai and Brown and is board certified in both Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. Her four decades of practice have exposed her to an eclectic range of cultures, ethnicities, and pathologies in a wide variety of settings, from solo practice to regional medical centers to academic institutions. Her breadth and depth of clinical and life experience have helped her transcend cultural biases and institutional conventions and to more clearly see each patient as a uniquely complex and lovable individual.

Dr. Solomon takes a compassionate, individualized, and pragmatic approach to treatment, beginning in the first visit with a full history and discussion with the patient of their symptoms, challenges, and goals. Follow‑up visits are tailored to the patient’s evolving needs and combine shared insights and tools such as medications and behavioral practices to support them as she guides them on their unique journey toward their best life, on their terms.

Wayne R. McIntosh, PMHNP-BC, is a dedicated mental health professional with over a decade of experience in psychiatric care. He earned his advanced nursing degree with distinction from Arizona State University and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and an Associate of Science in Nursing from Harry S. Truman College. He has been a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) since 2015.

Wayne specializes in family-centered care, working with individuals aged 18 to 65. Whether supporting patients through anxiety, depression, ADHD, or life transitions, he develops personalized diagnostic and treatment plans that may include therapy, coping strategies, and, when appropriate, medication. His approach emphasizes clear communication and collaboration, empowering patients to understand their challenges, apply practical tools, and achieve lasting change.

Throughout his career, Wayne has served as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Associate Director of Medical Services, leading multidisciplinary teams and promoting accessible, high-quality care. As a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University, he has mentored future nurse leaders, focusing on clinical excellence and patient advocacy. His military background and volunteer work further reflect his commitment to serving diverse populations with compassion and respect.

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Dr. Mary Stephenson is a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with more than 25 years of clinical experience working with this population. Dr. Stephenson's practice focuses on medication management. She believes that the support and involvement of the family are an integral part of the treatment of the client. Additionally, more therapy support may be needed on occasion, and the recommendation to bring a psychotherapist on the care team may occur to provide an optimal outcome. She received her medical degree from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She completed her psychiatry residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, and her child and adolescent training at the Bingham Child Guidance Center, also part of the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky. After completion of her training, she moved to Colorado where she worked at The Cleo Wallace Center, in Westminster, CO, providing care for hospitalized youth, and clients in the Day Treatment and Residential setting. In 2000, Dr. Stephenson became the primary Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist on the outpatient team at Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Her role was providing diagnostic evaluations, and medication management in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and the hospital clinic, working closely with residents, child fellows, and other trainees. She had an academic appointment through the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She treated a varied demographic and had a wide range of diagnoses in the child and adolescent population. From 2016-2021, she worked at Intermountain Health Center in Tucson, AZ providing care in the outpatient setting of the community mental health center. The care was a hybrid model of "in-person” and Telehealth treatment of children and adolescents with various disorders, with an emphasis on diagnostic evaluations of Autism and Autism spectrum disorders.‍

Dr. Suneja practices psychiatry through a collaborative, integrative, disability and healing justice-informed lens. He rejects oversimplified binaries, recognizing that healing requires embracing complexity. His training includes Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and a global mental health fellowship at UCSF. His clinical interests include anxiety, OCD, women’s reproductive mental health, climate stress, intergenerational trauma, immigrant and refugee mental health, and substance use concerns. Based in Tucson, he enjoys desert life, reading, baking, making art, and spending time with his two dogs.

Dr. Suneja provides a healing space that prioritizes each service user’s goals and lived experiences. His approach integrates psychiatric and psychotherapeutic practices with complementary, alternative, and natural therapies, as well as harm reduction. His approach is neurodivergence-, queer-, and gender-affirming as well as trauma-informed. Rejecting the binary of “mentally ill” vs. “mentally healthy,” he recognizes the mind, body, and soul’s inherent complexity.

Dr. Suneja tailors care to each service user. The first session explores goals, treatment options, and optimal meeting frequency. In many cases, visits are more frequent at the beginning of treatment and spaced out over time. He prefers visits at least every 4-6 weeks and integrates psychotherapy into all treatment plans, with many service users benefiting from ongoing deeper therapeutic work.

Dr. Michael Kim, DO, is an accomplished attending psychiatrist dedicated to providing comprehensive mental health care. He earned his medical degree from Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at HCA's The Medical Center of Aurora North. With a diverse clinical background, Dr. Kim has honed his expertise across various settings including inpatient, outpatient, PHP/IOP, and specialized areas such as geriatrics, eating disorders, addiction, and child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Kim is proficient in innovative treatments like Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). He is passionate about employing supportive and psychodynamic therapy approaches, tailoring treatment plans to meet each patient's unique needs. Embracing a holistic approach to psychiatry, Dr. Kim integrates medication management with a focus on nutrition, diet, and lifestyle factors to foster overall well-being. Dr. Kim is committed to delivering high-quality, personalized care to his patients. Outside of his professional commitments, he is an advocate for personal health and wellness. He enjoys enhancing his fitness and nutrition, engaging with enlightening podcasts, and exploring the great outdoors. Dr. Kim's holistic approach to psychiatry reflects his belief in treating the whole person, ensuring optimal mental and physical health for each individual he serves.

Severine Dondina, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with licensure in Washington and Florida. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated summa cum laude with dual bachelor’s degrees in nursing and biomedical science. Her background spans outpatient, community, forensic, and crisis psychiatry, including leadership roles with Florida’s Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) and Multi-Disciplinary Forensic Teams.

Currently serving patients in Washington, Severine treats adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. She brings a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to care and is deeply committed to creating affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ and gender-diverse individuals. Her clinical style combines evidence-based medication management with warm, collaborative support.

Trilingual in English, French, and Spanish, Severine is known for her cultural sensitivity, clinical rigor, and authentic presence. She approaches each patient with curiosity, humility, and respect—believing healing begins with connection.

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Background and credentials

Dr. Phillip Azouz is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist. He earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School, where he was awarded the Albert M. Barret Award for Distinguished Performance in Psychiatry. He completed his psychiatric residency at Florida Atlantic University. Prior to medical school, he obtained his undergraduate degree in economics with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His background includes research at the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Center and the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Additionally, he worked as a Mental Health Specialist at McLean Psychiatric Hospital.

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Treatment approach

Dr. Azouz provides a relaxed, conversational, and non-judgmental space for patients to reflect on and integrate all aspects of their lives. He believes that vulnerability is key to healing and growth and works with individuals seeking to improve mood, reduce anxiety, enhance sleep, boost attention, or heal from trauma. His approach blends the latest research in medical treatment with insights from psychotherapy and coaching. He specializes in treating major depression, anxiety disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, addiction, and personality disorders.

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What you can expect in a first visit

During the first visit, patients can expect a comprehensive and collaborative evaluation where Dr. Azouz takes the time to understand their symptoms, challenges, and goals. He fosters an open and supportive environment, ensuring that treatment plans are personalized and aligned with each patient’s unique needs. His approach integrates evidence-based medication management, psychotherapy techniques, and coaching strategies to help patients achieve their full potential.

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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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