Meet Our Staff in Williamsburg, VA
Dr. Syed Z. Ahsan, M.D.
Born and raised in Pakistan. He obtained his medical degree from Sindh Medical College, in Karachi, Pakistan. He migrated to the USA in 1984. He attended New York Medical College, graduated from School of Public Health, and obtained an MPH degree in 1988. He completed his Psychiatric training in general/adult psychiatry at Lincoln Medical Center, in Bronx, New York. Dr. Ahsan completed his Child and Adolescent fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York in 1994.
Dr. Ahsan is Board Certified in General Psychiatry and Board Eligible in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Dr. Ahsan moved to Lee County Virginia to establish Psychiatric services at Lee County Community Hospital, in 1994. He entered private practice in 1999, until 2003. Keeping in mind the concept of providing the best care to the community, he joined the local community Services Board to provide Psychiatric services to children, adolescents, and adults, through a team of more than a dozen counselors and therapists. He also serves as a consulting-contract Psychiatrist for the Virginia Department of Corrections for more than the past 10 years.
Dr. Alan H. Ali, M.D., FAPA
Dr. Ali is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and by the American Board of Adolescent Psychiatry. He served as Attending Psychiatrist at Newport News Behavioral Center for the past Fourteen years and is currently on Staff for Riverside Behavioral Health Center.
He has published Articles in the Jefferson Journal and the American Journal of Psychiatry. He has given presentations to the Medical Staff on issues related to Adolescent Mental Health and Treatment.
Sonya Singh, Licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Education: I am a Certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and have been practicing for 22 years. I am currently completing psychiatric nurse practitioner certification. I also have a master’s in psychology from India where I grew up.
I have had an interest in psychiatric illness and while working in primary care I have managed patients with psychiatric issues. I have worked in outpatient primary care and currently, I take care of elderly residents in long-term care facilities where I treat multiple psychiatric conditions along with their chronic illnesses. While treating patients with physical ailments found that emotional health was a component that was important to address for better treatment outcomes.
I believe in a holistic approach to patient care. I believe that using modalities like mindfulness, meditation, and lifestyle modifications can enhance the quality of life for patients and treatment outcomes. I currently reside in Williamsburg with my husband, two daughters and our three dogs. We have recently moved to Williamsburg and really enjoy exploring this area. I enjoy painting and gardening.
Susan L. Jarek, Licensed Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Professional Summary: Board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, providing holistic, spiritually infused, interdisciplinary psychiatric care to adults. Exceptional knowledge and clinical experience in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing medication management of psychiatric disorders.
Education:
- Rivier University
- Nashua, NH in 05/2017
- Master of Science: Nurse Practitioner Psychiatry
Certifications:
- Board Certified Family Psychiatric Mental
- Health Nurse Practitioner by the American
- Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Elsa I. Beck LPC
Education: Elsa holds a Master of Counseling Psychology and is a Registered Play Therapist. She is a native Spanish speaker and a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Experience: Elsa has worked with children in the U.S., Germany, and the United Kingdom, both in school a system and in a childcare setting. Furthermore, Elsa has experience working with parents, groups, families, couples, and individuals.
Treatment: Philosophy: Elsa tailors her approach to the unique needs and preferences of children and adult clients, using an Integrative Perspective that is based on valuing human potential, actively exploring feelings, recognizing how our abilities, and strengthening our relationships.
Sarah W. Bisconer, Ph.D.
Education: Dr. Bisconer completed her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology in 1980 and her Doctoral degree in Educational Psychology in 1990. She is a Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor and a Virginia Licensed Applied Psychologist.
Experience: Dr. Bisconer worked for Eastern State Hospital for 9 years as a treatment team psychologist. She worked for Colonial Behavioral Health, Emergency Services, for 10 years as a crisis counselor and she supervised Emergency Services for 7 years. She has worked in the Psychology Department at the College of William and Mary as an adjunct faculty member since 2001, where she teaches psychology courses, conducts research, and mentors students. Dr. Bisconer has many published research articles and book chapters in her areas of expertise.
Expertise and Treatment Philosophy: Dr. Bisconer provides counseling services to individuals 17 years and older who are seeking treatment for a recent loss or trauma, a depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, substance use disorder, attention deficit disorder, emotion dysregulation disorder, trauma disorder, and co-occurring disorders. A multidimensional integrative model informs her assessment, diagnostic, and treatment practice. She recognizes that an individual's presenting problem can be influenced by biological, developmental, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and interpersonal factors. Dr. Bisconer is trained as a scientist-practitioner. She seeks to implement evidence-based treatments that enable individuals to develop safe, healthy, happy, and productive lives.
Melvin G. Snead, JR. MS
Education: Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from the Medical College of Virginia and Bachelor of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Experience: Melvin "Mel" Snead has over 20 years of experience providing individual and group mental health and substance abuse treatment in public and private agencies.
Expertise:
Crisis counseling, life stage issues, elder care substance abuse treatment, men's issue, couples counseling, marital counseling, anger management, workplace issues, depression and anxiety, family abuse survivors, and adult children of alcoholics. Mel utilizes a cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and problem-solving approach to help his clients to cope with and resolve their presenting issues.
Brendina D. Tobias LCSW, MSW
Education: Master of Social Work - MSW Norfolk State University and Bachelor of Arts Christopher Newport University.
Extensive Professional Development/Research
Experience: Providing therapeutic counseling and clinical social work services to individuals, families, and groups for over 35 years.
Service delivery in various settings: Department of Mental Health in-patient, residential, private, child-abuse prevention, community mental health out-patient, private practice, The American Red Cross, mental health, school social work, and victim assistance.
Expertise: Assessments attention deficit disorder, bereavement, case management, crisis intervention, post-traumatic stress disorder, school social work, victim assistance, and work with military families.
Jamie Ware-Jondreau, LPC
Education: Master in Community Agency Counseling from Hampton University with 15 years of experience.
Specialty and Expertise: Ms. Ware-Jondreau has dedicated her career to providing mental health care to adults, children, adolescents, and their families. Jamie has worked in areas of dual disorders behavioral concerns, ADHD, PTSD, affective disorders, and emotional dysregulation disorders. She provides treatment in the areas of domestic violence prevention, anger management substance abuse education and prevention, self-injury, and trauma-related areas. She has always implemented a strength-based treatment approach to include motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Ms. Ware-Jondreau has a wide range of experience, which includes working in psychiatric hospitals, detention centers, and in outpatient community-based settings.
Joelle Griffin Russell, LPC
Education: Joelle Griffin Russell completed her Master of Education in Community Counseling from the College of William and Mary in 2008 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Experience: She has 11 years of experience in mental health emergency services at Colonial Behavioral Health.
Expertise and Treatment Philosophy: Joelle provides counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults dealing with mood disorders, life transitions, anxiety, grief, relationship conflict, and other issues. Guided by person-centered therapies, her approach is informed by her extensive career in education and the arts, including work experience from the primary level to college instruction. She is a certified Montessori teacher. Joelle has also completed training in the Bonny Method of guided imagery and music, and she is pleased to offer this modality to appropriate clients.
To learn more about our team, call (757) 229-7927.