Meet Out Team

Our team of experienced psychiatrists and therapists delivers thoughtful, personalized care with a human touch. We take the time to understand you as a whole person and work collaboratively to create a seamless, effective plan tailored to your needs.

BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST

Gerard Scardino, MD

ABOUT DR. SCARDINO

With nearly four decades of clinical experience, Dr. Scardino brings a calm, seasoned perspective to psychiatric care. He takes a comprehensive approach to treatment, viewing each patient through a biopsychosocial lens that considers the biological, psychological, and social factors shaping mental health.

Throughout his career, Dr. Scardino has served as a medical director, led interdisciplinary teams, and received multiple service excellence awards in Harris County. He brings that same level of thoughtfulness, clinical rigor, and dedication to every patient interaction.

Outside of his clinical work, Dr. Scardino enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, and spending time outdoors. He encourages patients to build similar balance in their own lives as part of a sustainable approach to mental wellness.

Dr. Scardino provides care via telehealth in both New York and Texas and offers in-person appointments across our Dallas and Houston locations.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

39 Years of Experience

Multiple Harris County Service Excellence Awards

Former Medica Director

Psychiatrist

Michael Franco, MD

About Dr. Franco

Michael was born and raised in Brooklyn and is a proud member of the Syrian-Sephardic Jewish community, a background that informs both his worldview and his approach to care. He graduated as Valedictorian from both elementary and high school, went on to graduate as Salutatorian from Brooklyn College through the Macaulay Honors Program and B.A.-M.D. track, and completed his medical education and Psychiatry Residency at SUNY Downstate. The breadth of his clinical training is rare even by residency standards.

That training spans consultation-liaison psychiatry, inpatient and outpatient care, child and adolescent psychiatry, emergency psychiatric services, ketamine treatment, and addiction psychiatry,  across SUNY Downstate, Kings County Hospital, the Brooklyn VA Medical Center, South Brooklyn Health, and Lenox Hill Hospital. He brings all of it to bear in a treatment approach that combines thoughtful medication management with supportive psychotherapy and practical CBT and DBT tools patients can start using right away. His framework is holistic and biopsychosocial, grounded in the understanding that physical and mental health are rarely separate conversations.

What also sets Michael apart is how he thinks about the space between clinical science and human meaning. He hosts a podcast, Spiritual Psychotherapy, exploring the intersection of Eastern and Western approaches to mental health, and gives lectures at synagogues throughout Brooklyn. Outside of work, he plays tennis, follows the Yankees, and recharges through nature, sauna, and cold plunge. That curiosity about the whole person — not just the diagnosis — comes through in every session.

Michael sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and New York and in-person in our Midtown Manhattan office and will soon see patients in Brooklyn as well.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Salutatorian — Brooklyn College, Macaulay Honors Program

Member of Alpha Omega Alpha, The National Medical Honor Society

Received an Award for Distinction in Foundations of Medicine

Board-Certified Child Psychiatrist

Daniella Gavito, MD

About Dr. Gavito

Dr. Daniella Gavito has built her career around a conviction that most clinicians talk about but few act on: that getting the right diagnosis early can change the entire trajectory of a person’s life. She recognized a serious shortage of psychiatrists willing to specialize in children and adolescents, and rather than work around it, she went to Lexington and spent two additional years training specifically in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Kentucky. That decision defines the kind of clinician she is.

She works with toddlers through adults, bringing particular depth to the complexities of childhood-onset mental health conditions, the ones that, when missed or misdiagnosed, quietly shape everything from school performance and social development to self-image and long-term health. Dr. Gavito believes strongly in the treatment team model: when a patient already has a therapist, she collaborates closely with them rather than working in parallel. Her patients include individuals, couples, and families, and her track record includes meaningful progress even with the most severe presentations.

Dr. Gavito is not currently accepting new patients, but continues to collaborate closely with our team through consultations focused on children and adolescents.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

MD — Texas A&M University, Doctor of Medicine

BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

Gustavo Mathieu-Fornet, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-C 

ABOUT GUSTAVO

Gustavo’s path to psychiatric care started long before most. Trained as a Medical Doctor in Cuba, he spent nearly a decade practicing medicine and completing specialties in Internal Medicine and Pathology before building a new chapter in the United States. He went on to earn his FNP-C from Chamberlain College of Nursing, his PMHNP-BC from the University of Cincinnati, and his Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Chamberlain, bringing over a decade of dedicated psychiatric experience to the work he does today. That combination of foundational medical training and deep psychiatric specialization gives him a clinical perspective that’s genuinely rare.

He treats adults and older adults across a wide range of mental health conditions, with experience spanning both inpatient and outpatient settings. Whether a patient is navigating a first episode or managing a long-term diagnosis, Gustavo brings steady, grounded care built on years of real-world practice.

Outside the office, he’s an 80s music devotee who’s equally at home over a game of dominoes or pool, and nothing recharges him quite like time at the beach. That easygoing energy tends to follow him into the room.

Gustavo sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and New York

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

MD — Cuba

FNP-C — Chamberlain College of Nursing

PMHNP-BC — University of Cincinnati

P DNP — Chamberlain College of Nursing

BOARD-CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER

Deborah Ferguson, PMHNP

About Deborah

Deborah’s career in psychiatric nursing has been built one clinical environment at a time, each setting, each patient population, each challenge adding a new layer to how she shows up for the people she cares for. She holds a BSN from Indiana University and an MSN from Indiana Wesleyan, and her board certification in psychiatric mental health nursing reflects a depth of training she puts to use every day. She works with patients across the full lifespan, from children facing early mental health challenges to older adults managing long-term conditions.

Outside of work, Deborah is a wife, mom of two, and grandmother, and she will tell you those roles inform her clinical instincts as much as any credential. She finds balance in gardening, baking, and time with family, and brings that same grounded energy into every appointment.

Deborah sees patients via telehealth in both Texas and Indiana.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BSN — Indiana University

MSN — Indiana Wesleyan

Board-Certified PMHNP

Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Linda Coleman, PMHNP

About Linda

Linda earned her Master’s as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas at Tyler and has been practicing for over three and a half years across inpatient, outpatient, and telehealth settings, working with patients across the full lifespan and adapting her care to meet people at whatever level of need they arrive with.

Her approach is collaborative and patient-centered in the truest sense: she works with each person to build a treatment plan that addresses symptoms while also honoring their goals and values. Empowering patients to have real autonomy in their mental health journey isn’t a tagline for Linda, it’s the through-line of how she practices. She integrates evidence-based medication management with supportive therapy, psychoeducation, and practical coping strategies tailored to each individual.

Outside of sessions, Linda is someone who genuinely loves bringing people together, whether through a planned gathering or a spontaneous one. She travels, stays active, and will tell you her husband is her best friend. That warmth and investment in real human connection comes through in the room.

Linda sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person on Thursdays in our Woodway office.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Board certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Matt Ramos, PMHNP

About matt

Matt didn’t come to psychiatric care from a distance. Growing up in the Dallas area with a father who practices as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, he saw firsthand what it looks like when people get the right care at the right time, and that shaped the path he chose. He holds a BS in Psychology from Texas Christian University, a BS in N ursing from Texas Woman’s University, and an MS as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is board certified across the full lifespan, working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

His practice is built around two principles: patient safety and patient autonomy. He brings experience from both inpatient and outpatient settings and focuses on psychiatric evaluation and medication management for mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD. When he’s not working, Matt is spending time with family, which, given his roots, often means staying close to home in Dallas.

Matt sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in Dallas.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Fidelis Ibe, MSN,
PMHNP-BC, FNP-C

About Fidelis

Fidelis came to psychiatric care through a path most providers don’t take, primary care first. Dual-certified as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, he brings something uncommon to every appointment: the ability to see the full picture. Years of managing acute and chronic medical conditions alongside psychiatric disorders taught him that physical and mental health aren’t separate conversations, and his patients benefit from a provider who treats them that way.

His clinical experience spans primary care, urgent care, and psychiatric practice, with advanced training in evidence-based pharmacologic management, holistic assessment, and patient-centered treatment planning. He treats patients across the lifespan and takes a collaborative, individualized approach, building real therapeutic relationships and taking the time to understand each patient’s history, goals, and day-to-day challenges before reaching for a prescription pad.

Outside the office, Fidelis recharges through fitness, outdoor activities, and time with family and friends. He is also a lifelong learner who stays current across both medicine and mental health, a habit that shows up in the quality of care he delivers.

Fidelis sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in our Woodway office.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Board-Certified Psycian Assistant

Issis Elvir, PA-C

About ISsIS

Issis Elvir’s path into psychiatric care was shaped early, her volunteer work with Global Brigades in Honduras gave her a firsthand look at what it means to bring healthcare to people who’ve had to go without it, and that experience never left her. Board-certified as a Physician Assistant with a focus on psychiatry, she brings both clinical rigor and a genuine commitment to accessible, culturally sensitive care to every patient she sees.

She works with children as young as 5, adolescents and adults across a range of psychiatric conditions, with experience in both in-person and telepsychiatry settings. Her approach combines evidence-based medication management with a holistic lens, meaning she’s paying attention to each patient’s full picture: their lifestyle, their background, their goals, not just their symptoms. She believes in shared decision-making, and her patients tend to feel it from the first appointment.

Outside of sessions, Issis is traveling, spending time with family, or looking after her pets. She values a balanced life and brings that same perspective into the room.

Issis treats patients in either English or Spanish and meets with them via telehealth throughout Texas.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

THERAPY DIRECTOR & MANAGING PARTNER

Andrew Mattern, LPC-S

About andrew

Andrew has spent his career going wherever the need was greatest, crisis lines, geriatric psychology, pediatric inpatient care, hospital outpatient programs, and now leading the therapy team at Psych Matters. He holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from UH-Clear Lake, and his clinical range is genuinely hard to match. He has consulted for the City of Houston Health Department and Gulf Bend Services, and has spent years building programs designed around how people actually live, not just how treatment is supposed to work on paper.

That same practical mindset shapes how he leads. Andrew invests heavily in mentorship and has built a team culture at Psych Matters where therapists grow alongside the patients they serve. Outside of work, he’s at home in the kitchen, out on a field or trail, or spending time with his family, and his direct, low-pretense approach makes him especially effective with patients who are new to therapy and not sure what to expect.

Andrew sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in Dallas.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Doctoral Candidate — Sport & Performance Psychology 

Former Professional Ballet Dancer & Director

LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR — NEW YORK

Annika Dalbratt, LMHC-LP

ABOUT ANNIKA

Before Annika became a therapist, she was a professional ballet dancer and director, and that background isn’t just an interesting footnote. It fundamentally shapes how she works. She understands the mental weight of performance pressure, the relationship between physical discipline and emotional resilience, and the way identity and self-worth can get tangled up in what we do rather than who we are. That perspective resonates with clients well beyond the dance world.

She holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology, bringing a distinctly layered lens to her work with children, teens, and adults. Outside of sessions and coursework, she’s taking ballet class, reading, working out, catching a new play, or spending time with family. Her energy is warm, direct, and unguarded, the kind that makes it easier to actually say the thing you came in to say.

Annika sees patients via telehealth throughout New York and Texas, and in-person at our Midtown Manhattan office steps from the Empire State Building.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Doctoral Candidate — Sport & Performance Psychology

Former Professional Ballet Dancer & Director

LICENSED MASTER SOCIAL WORKER

Zhanna Bukshan, LCSWTX , LMSWNY

ABOUT ZHANNA

Zhanna brings clinical precision and genuine warmth to her work in equal measure. She earned her BA in Psychology from Long Island University and her MSW in Clinical Social Work from Fordham University, and has built her experience working with adults and older adults in outpatient settings. Her approach is evidence-based in method and person-first in manner, meaning the tools she uses are grounded in research, and the way she uses them is grounded in you.

What also sets Zhanna apart is that she offers therapy in both English and Russian,  making her a meaningful resource for Russian-speaking clients who may be navigating mental health care for the first time. Outside of sessions, she’s spending time with family, walking through a park, reading a novel, watching a film, or cooking something worth savoring. Her clients tend to describe her as someone who listens without judgment and cuts right to the heart of things.

Zhanna sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in Dallas.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BA — Long Island University

MSW — Fordham University

Bilingual: English & Russian

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR — ASSOCIATE

Cristen Cooper, LPC-A

ABOUT CRISTEN

Cristen describes therapy as a collaboration, and she means it. She earned her BS in Psychology from Louisiana State University and her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Texas at Dallas, and brings experience from both inpatient behavioral health settings and clinical research, a combination that gives her an unusually grounded clinical foundation. Under the supervision of Andrew Mattern, LPC-S, she works with clients across the lifespan, holding space for the full complexity of what people bring through the door.

Her approach is holistic and anything but one-size-fits-all. Outside of sessions, she’s going on walks, trying a new restaurant, or loudly cheering on LSU, and that same curiosity and enthusiasm tends to show up in the room with her clients. She’s the kind of therapist people actually look forward to seeing.

Cristen sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in Dallas.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BS — Louisiana State University

MS — UNC Dallas

Supervised by Andrew Mattern, LPC-S

Experience: inpatient behavioral health & clinical research

Licensed Professional Counselor

Kama Sanchez,  LPC-A 

About Kama

Kama’s road to mental health counseling started in exam rooms, over twenty years’ worth of them. Before making the leap into clinical mental health, she spent two decades as a Medical Assistant working across nearly every medical specialty, building a foundation in patient care that most counselors simply don’t have. It was during her years at Harris Health System, where over 90% of her patients were Spanish-speaking, that she became fluent in Spanish and developed a deep commitment to serving immigrant and Latino communities with culturally sensitive, accessible care.

That healthcare background made the transition to counseling feel less like a pivot and more like a natural next step. Kama holds a B.S. in Applied Psychology from Oregon Institute of Technology and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families, and her therapeutic approach centers on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy, empowering patients to take control of their lives rather than just manage symptoms.

At home, Kama is married with five fur babies who keep weekends busy, and when things quiet down, you’ll find her with a book in hand.

Kama sees patients via telehealth throughout Texas and in-person in our Woodway office.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BS — Oregon Institute of Technology

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Capella University

Licensed Professional Counselor

Sylvia Smith, LPC

About Sylvia

Sylvia didn’t just study counseling — she built her approach from the ground up by blending two things she’s always loved: working with young people and creativity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child & Family Studies with a minor in Music Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Master of Education in Counseling from Texas Southern University. That combination isn’t accidental, it’s the foundation of a therapeutic style that meets kids and teens exactly where they are.

Sylvia specializes in game-based cognitive behavioral therapy, a playful but structured approach that helps children and adolescents work through difficult emotions in ways that feel natural and safe rather than clinical. Whether it’s through board games, drawing, music-based coping strategies, or expressive play, she creates space for young clients to open up, build skills, and develop real resilience, without it ever feeling like a lecture. Her warmth and creativity make even the toughest topics approachable.

Outside the office, Sylvia is drawn to art and music, the same creative outlets she brings into her sessions every day. She’s passionate about helping young people develop confidence, emotional awareness, and practical coping skills, one session, one strategy, and yes, one game at a time.

Sylvia sees patients in via telehealth throughout Texas and in person in our Woodway office.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

BA — University of Louisiana at Lafayette

MEd in Counseling — Texas Southern University

Licensed Professional Counselor (TX)

Nerufeedback Technician

Adam Gomez

About Adam

Adam brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience in psychiatric care, a career that started at 20 and has spanned every corner of the field. From inpatient hospitals to outpatient clinics, from direct patient contact to managing an entire behavioral health department, there isn’t much in this world he hasn’t seen. That breadth of experience gives him a calm, confident presence that patients pick up on right away.

Before joining Psych Matters, Adam spent twelve years at Legacy Community Health managing the behavioral health department for his location, overseeing psychiatrist and therapist scheduling, back-office operations, and day-to-day workflow. Prior to that, he served as a court liaison at Behavioral Hospital of Bellaire handling the involuntary commitment process, and worked as a Mental Health Technician at both Kingwood Pines Hospital and The Harris Center. Every role deepened his understanding of what patients need and how good care actually gets delivered.

Adam is an upbeat, high-energy presence in the office, and patients feel it. Outside of work, he channels that energy into running. He’s completed the Chevron Houston Marathon seven times and counting, lacing up every year since his first.

Addam provides NFB to patients in our Woodway office.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Brainview & Nerufeedback Technician

Franklin Godfrey

About Franklin

Franklin is the kind of steady, reassuring presence that makes the difference in a clinical setting, especially when patients are trying something new. As Head Technician for BrainView and Neurofeedback services, he’s the person guiding patients through every step of their assessments and sessions, making sure the technology never gets in the way of the care. He works closely with lead therapists and clinical providers to ensure each patient’s experience is smooth, individualized, and grounded in trust.

What sets Franklin apart is his ability to pair technical precision with genuine warmth. Whether he’s working with a nervous child, a skeptical teen, or an adult navigating neurofeedback for the first time, he meets every patient with patience, calm, and a focus on comfort that families notice and remember. He understands that the equipment is only as effective as the environment around it, and he takes ownership of both.

Franklin believes quality care has no age limit and no asterisks. His focus is simple: create a space where patients feel safe enough to show up, supported enough to stay the course, and confident in their progress toward better cognitive and mental health.

Franklin see patients across Texas

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

Getting started is easier than you think. Our team is ready to listen, evaluate your needs, and build a personalized plan that puts you on the path to lasting wellness. Same-week appointments are often available.