Healthline’s Medical Network is composed of a diverse group of mental health professionals that bring experience from a variety of specialty areas. The collective experience from our Network can be seen in the medical review of our articles, advisory insights provided on research initiatives, and via the proactive surveillance of the evidence landscape, which ensures that our medical content is at the forefront of healthcare.
Psychiatry
Jeffrey Ditzell, DO
Dr. Jeffrey Ditzell is an adult ADHD and general psychiatrist with a private practice in New York City. He earned his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has completed fellowships in addiction psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and public psychiatry. He has been the chief of an inpatient dual diagnosis unit, the lead attending in two psychiatric emergency rooms, and the lead physician of an assisted community treatment team. Additionally, Dr. Ditzell has served in the United States Army for over 20 years, having attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, having served as the division psychiatrist in Tikrit, Iraq, during deployment in 2005. Dr. Ditzell has had the additional honor of serving as medical officer for a community-based warrior transition unit at Rock Island Arsenal, assisting soldiers and their families in making the oftentimes difficult transition from overseas deployment to home.
Nicole Washington, DO, MPH
Dr. Nicole Washington is a board certified psychiatrist and the chief medical officer of Elocin Psychiatric Services, a primarily virtual practice where she focuses on the mental health needs of the busy professional. Dr. Washington has spent most of her career caring and advocating for people who aren’t typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities and high-performing professionals. She hopes to break down some of the barriers to treatment these populations face as well as engage people in topics relevant to the busy professional through her practice; her book, “From Introspection to Action: The High-Level Professional’s 28 Day Journey to Improving Mental Health”; and podcast, “The C-Suite Confidant.” Dr. Washington is a sought-after speaker on a variety of mental health topics and enjoys working with organizations on initiatives that create environments that are supportive of the mental well-being of their employees.
Marc S. Lener, MD
Dr. Marc Lener is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, and founder and CEO of Singula Institute. Dr. Lener completed his undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in the biological basis of behavior. Dr. Lener then began a career as a high school science teacher at Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., and remained in the area to complete his medical training at George Washington University School of Medicine while spending a significant amount of time at the National Institute of Mental Health as a research student. Dr. Lener completed his psychiatry residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, where he was accepted into a specialized research track, allowing him to examine neurobiological correlates of psychiatric illness, such as schizophrenia and depression. Dr. Lener was chosen as chief resident of research during his last year of residency, and in addition to residency, completed a psychoanalytic fellowship at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute to further his skills in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic psychotherapy approaches. After residency, Dr. Lener completed a 3-year clinical research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, where he examined neural correlates of depression heterogeneity to identify biological markers of depression risk and treatment response.
PsyD
Karin Gepp, PsyD
Dr. Karin Gepp is a clinical psychologist with experience in a wide variety of areas including mood-related difficulties, anxiety, psychosis, trauma, addictions, personality disorders, adjustment issues, anger management, and forensic topics. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Antioch University New England in Keene, New Hampshire, and has worked in diverse settings including inpatient, outpatient, and correctional facilities. She has theoretical leanings toward psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral concepts and techniques, and enjoys neurocognitive and diagnostic assessments as well as supervision and consultation opportunities.
Vara Saripalli, Psy.D.
Dr. Vara Saripalli earned her doctorate of clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Before her psychology studies, Saripalli worked in the automobile and insurance industries. She works as a licensed psychologist in Chicago in private practice where she offers therapy services with a focus on helping busy professionals get more control of their lives and careers.
Kendra Kubala, PsyD
Dr. Kendra Kubala is a licensed psychologist specializing in working with survivors of trauma. Dr. Kubala received her Master of Arts in psychology from the Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University in New York and her Doctor of Psychology from Immaculata University in Pennsylvania. She completed her postdoctoral training at the Joseph J. Peters Institute in Philadelphia. Dr. Kubala is licensed in both Pennsylvania and New York, and works in private practice, seeing patients via telemedicine. Dr. Kubala serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving traumatic events.
N. Simay Gökbayrak, PhD
Dr. Simay Gökbayrak is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, California, where she provides direct clinical care and consulting, and is engaged in research. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis on health psychology and behavior change from the University of Rhode Island. She completed a clinical postdoctoral fellowship at San Francisco VA Healthcare System where she also later engaged in postdoctoral research. Her interests include evidence-based therapies, depression, anxiety, motivation and behavior change science, men’s mental health, and the intersection between mental and physical health.
Ashleigh Golden, PsyD
Dr. Ashleigh Golden is a Stanford-trained clinical psychologist specializing in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. She’s a fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and a registered Health Service Psychologist. Dr. Golden received her PsyD from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. Dr. Golden has a passion for translating empirically supported treatments to virtual contexts, having served in clinical leadership positions and consulted with several digital behavioral health organizations. She also helps clinicians transition to the tech world as director of community for Therapists in Tech.
Bethany Juby, PsyD
Dr. Bethany Juby is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorder recovery and acceptance and commitment therapy. She founded Juby Clinical Services LLC to provide psychotherapy and counseling services to adults via teletherapy. Dr. Juby received her Doctor of Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She’s a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals Foundation and the American Psychological Association.
Lori Lawrenz, PsyD
Dr. Lori Lawrenz is a psychologist at the Center for Sexual and Reproductive Health in Honolulu, Hawaii. She’s currently completing her fellowship in sexual health. She’s been a licensed psychologist for 20 years with licenses in Missouri and Hawaii. She has a master’s degree and doctorate in clinical psychology. Dr. Lawrenz is passionate about addressing trauma, shame, grief, and mental health issues to assist her clients to live more productive and happy lives.
Tiffany Taft, PsyD
Dr. Tiffany Taft is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the psychological and social effects of chronic medical illness. She is the founder of Oak Park Behavioral Medicine LLC, an independent private practice of psychologists, social workers, and counselors near Chicago, and she is a research assistant professor and director of psychogastroenterology research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Taft received her PsyD from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2009 and completed her fellowship in psychogastroenerology at Northwestern University in 2011.
Jacquelyn Johnson, PsyD.
Dr. Jacquelyn Johnson is a licensed clinical psychologist. She is in private practice in California and specializes in issues specific to high-performing African American women such as contending with the strong Black woman trope. Dr. Johnson received her MS in marriage and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary and her doctorate from the University of La Verne.
Nathan Greene, PsyD
Nathan Greene is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Oakland, California, and co-founder of Surf Circle, a therapeutic surf program for adolescent boys. He specializes in psychological trauma, psychological resilience, and child and family treatment. Dr. Greene is a graduate of UC Berkeley and the Wright Institute, where he now serves as an adjunct clinical faculty member.
Alex Klein, PsyD
Dr. Alex Klein is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in psychotherapy and assessment. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute in Berkeley, CA. He works at Kaiser Permanente Oakland and has a private practice. His primary interests include neurodiversity, couples and family therapy, social justice, parenting challenging children, consulting on educational programs, integrative approaches to psychotherapy, and the supervision of graduate students. Dr. Klein loves spending time with family and friends, music, and exploring the outdoors with his wife and twin daughters in the Bay Area.
PhD
Marney A. White, PhD, MS
Dr. Marney White is a clinical psychologist specializing in eating disorders and weight management. She completed a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship the Yale School of Medicine, and a postdoctoral master’s degree in Chronic Disease Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. She has authored more than 150 journal articles and book chapters on eating/weight and mental health, and is currently a professor of psychiatry and public health at Yale. Her open course, Health Behavior Change: From Evidence to Action, is currently available on coursera.
Akilah Reynolds, PhD
Dr. Akilah Reynolds is a licensed psychologist in California. She practices at an academic psychiatric center and in private practice. She specializes in child psychology, parenting, depression and anxiety, and work-life balance. Dr. Reynolds received her PhD from the University of Houston. She completed a fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in adolescent and young adult medicine.
Matthew Boland, PhD
Dr. Matthew Boland is a licensed clinical psychologist. He conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers in Reno, Nevada. He also conducts original research on posttraumatic stress and emotional regulation in clinical disorders, and he teaches university courses on related topics. He is featured in informational videos on topics in mental health as “Dr. Matt B.” Dr. Boland completed a PhD at the University of Nevada and a clinical research fellowship at the University of California, San Diego.N. Simay Gökbayrak, PhD
Dr. Simay Gökbayrak is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco, California, where she provides direct clinical care and consulting, and is engaged in research. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis on health psychology and behavior change from the University of Rhode Island. She completed a clinical postdoctoral fellowship at San Francisco VA Healthcare System where she also later engaged in postdoctoral research. Her interests include evidence-based therapies, depression, anxiety, motivation and behavior change science, men’s mental health, and the intersection between mental and physical health.
Janet Brito, PhD, LCSW, CST
Dr. Janet Brito is a nationally certified sex therapist specializing in relationship and sex therapy, gender and sexual identity concerns, compulsive sexual behavior, mindfulness and sexuality, and infertility. She graduated from Pacifica Graduate Institute with a doctorate in clinical psychology. Dr. Brito is the founder and owner of Sex Therapy Hawaii, LLC. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, photography, yoga, and locating unique coffee shops.
LCSW
Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, ACSW
Ms. Joslyn Jelinek is a board certified social worker specializing in perinatal mental health and chronic pain. She’s the founder of Chicago Human Potential and practices with a group of behavioral health clinicians in Chicago, Illinois. She treats individuals, couples, and families. Ms. Jelinek received her master’s in social work from the University of Michigan and is a registered dual diagnostic professional (substance use assessment and treatment) as well as a registered yoga teacher. Her background includes working at Cook County Hospital for more than a decade, where she learned the effects of trauma on children and adults, and effective modalities to treat clients. She uses a holistic approach to treating mental health. Ms. Jelinek is licensed to practice in Illinois and Michigan.
Danielle Wade, AM, LCSW
Danielle Wade is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in behavioral health, senior support services, and hospital care management. She received her Master of Arts in social work with a clinical concentration and a family support services certification from the University of Chicago. Wade is currently a clinical liaison in Colorado, guiding families and assisting medical professionals in transitioning medically complex patients out of hospitals and into skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. She also advocates for infertility awareness, support, coverage, and access to services.
LMFT
Jennifer Litner, LMFT, CST
Jennifer Litner is a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist working in private practice in Chicago. She earned her Master of Science in marriage and family therapy from Northwestern University and her Master of Education in human sexuality studies at Widener University. She is a clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and a certified member of the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. At Jennifer’s practice, Embrace Sexual Wellness, she helps people address their intimate concerns such as changes in sexual desire, coping with illness, loss or lack of intimacy, sexual pain or discomfort, and sexual identity. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Francis Kuehnle, RN-BC, MSN
Mx. Francis Kuehnle is a registered nurse who holds a certification in psychiatric-mental health nursing from the ANCC. They are a faculty member at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and specialize in teaching mental health nursing to undergraduate pre-licensure students. Mx. Kuehnle received their MSN from Mount Mercy University. They are also a member of the American Psychiatric Nursing Association and Sigma Theta Tau – Gamma Chapter. Francis’ main areas of interest include therapeutic communication, compassionate care of patients experiencing psychosis, and LGBTQIA+ language.