Psychotherapy Services in Baltimore, Maryland

Nneoma Obiejemba, MD, is a practicing Allergist and Immunologist in Suburban Washington D.C. She is also a board-certified Pediatrician serving western Maryland. She enjoys working as a pediatrician, Allergist, and Immunologist. Dr. Obiejemba completed her fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, New York, and completed her pediatric residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Bronx Lebanon Hospital, New York.

She completed research projects on the relationship between a family history of cancer and the prevalence of asthma and allergies in pediatric patients and asthma as a comorbidity in adult patients receiving treatment for back pain. She has completed and participated in several research studies and case reviews with peers and her institutions. These studies are published in professional journals. She brings extensive experience leveraging her clinical experiences with patient advocacy.

Prior to her post-graduate studies in Pediatrics, Allergy, and Immunology, Dr. Obiejemba completed her internship in Nigeria, where she led a variety of projects designed to improve healthcare access and health outcomes in both rural and urban communities in Eastern Nigeria, particularly underserved populations including ethnic minorities, impoverished elderly community members, and families. Dr. Obiejemba holds a medical degree from Abia State University, Nigeria.

Keivan Gazy, MSN, PMHNP, is a dedicated and compassionate psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in caring for the geriatric and adult populations. With a strong background in clinical nursing and experience in various psychiatric inpatient settings, Keivan Gazy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to provide comprehensive mental health care.

Keivan Gazy graduated with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner master’s degree from Walden University. Having completed rigorous training and clinical rotations, Keivan Gazy holds a deep understanding of psychiatry and the unique challenges faced by individuals with mental health conditions.

With a passion for working with diverse populations, Keivan Gazy has gained invaluable experience in different psychiatric inpatient settings. Keivan Gazy has provided care to adolescents at Sheppard Pratt Hospital, acquiring specialized skills in assessing and managing mental health disorders in this age group. Additionally, Keivan Gazy has worked in a co-occurring disorders unit at Adventist Behavioral Health, where he developed expertise in addressing complex mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Building upon his clinical experience, Keivan Gazy has also served in a supervisory role at Dominion Hospital, overseeing all emergencies and staff members. This role has honed their leadership skills, ensuring efficient and effective management of crises while maintaining a high standard of patient care.

Keivan Gazy is passionate about community-based care and has worked on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team at Cornerstone Montgomery, collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams. He has provided comprehensive psychiatric care to individuals in the community, promoting their recovery and fostering independence. Understanding that mental health care goes beyond symptom management, Keivan Gazy takes a compassionate and holistic approach to patient care. Building strong therapeutic alliances creates a safe and supportive environment where patients can openly discuss their concerns and collaboratively develop personalized treatment plans.

As an advocate for ongoing learning, Keivan Gazy remains committed to staying abreast of the latest advancements in psychiatric nursing. He actively engages in professional development activities, attending conferences, and participating in continuing education programs to enhance their skills and ensure the delivery of evidence-based care. If you or your loved one are seeking specialized psychiatric care, Keivan Gazy is here to help. With a patient-centered approach and a commitment to fostering mental wellness, he is dedicated to assisting individuals to achieve optimal mental health and well-being.

Saudy Elizabeth Kanu, DNP, PMHNP

Clinical Director – Community Behavioral Health Programs

Saudy Elizabeth Kanu, DNP, PMHNP, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with more than five years of experience in the mental health field. She completed her clinical internship at ESNO Health Group and the Psychiatric Institute of Washington in Washington, D.C. Before her internship, Dr. Kanu spent more than a decade providing care to adult and geriatric patients in hospitals and long-term care settings. She has served patients at several leading regional healthcare institutions, including Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sinai Hospital, the University of Maryland Medical Center, Prince George’s Medical Center, and Laurel Regional Hospital.

From an early age, Dr. Kanu has been passionate about improving patients' health and enhancing their experiences within the healthcare system. Throughout her career, she has developed a broad understanding of healthcare by working across diverse clinical settings. Her international perspective inspires her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for both patients and the communities she serves.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Kanu served as a Clinical Supervisor with the Washington, D.C., Department of Health, where she played an integral role in the department’s COVID-19 response efforts. Her responsibilities included end-to-end supply chain management across multiple wards, documentation oversight, staffing coordination, operational support, and leadership of the department’s vaccination programs. She was instrumental in administering vaccinations throughout the District, developing vaccination strategies, strengthening community partnerships, and responding to the increased demand for vaccination services.

As the Clinical Director of ESNO Health Group’s accreditation-based, licensed community behavioral health programs, Dr. Kanu oversees comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery services designed to promote successful community integration and access to essential resources. She plays a central role in the organization's continuity-of-care model, supporting qualified low-income patients as they transition from hospital care to rehabilitation facilities and into community behavioral health programs.

Dr. Kanu has extensive expertise in childhood developmental disorders, adult and geriatric psychiatric disorders, preventive health and wellness, medication management, community rehabilitation assessments, individualized care planning, psychotherapy, and substance use disorder management. She is dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel supported as they begin their journey toward mental wellness.

In addition to her leadership at ESNO Health Group, Dr. Kanu is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eli Psychiatry and Behavioral Health LLC, a private psychiatric practice based in Maryland. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Missouri State University and her Master’s degree from Walden University.

Kristi G. Hall, PSYD, is an independently licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Maryland and in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Kristi G. Hall previously worked as a dedicated and critical member of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. She provided expert legal testimony and conducted forensic, neuropsychological, comprehensive psychological, and risk assessments. She also provided individual and group therapies. In addition, she worked with a myriad of individuals, administration, clinical staff, families, and patients. Dr. Hall has experience in private practice, where she has honed her skills by conducting individual psychotherapy, consulting services, neuropsychological, psychological, psychoeducation, and forensic assessments. Since the traumatic occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has drastically increased telemental health services for all her clients. Additionally, Dr. Hall supervises pre-licensed doctoral and master’s level clinicians and doctoral externs. Dr. Hall also has a distinguished wealth of experience in other clinical settings, including hospitals, group homes, schools, and treatment facilities. She has a strong background managing diverse diagnostic populations and individuals with other medical comorbidities including, but not limited to, substance abuse, severe mental illness, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, and crisis/emergency situations. Her vast health training and experiences cover the developmental lifespan, from assessing and treating young children with behavioral and learning problems to geriatric clients and competency evaluations (forensics). Dr. Hall is also an avid researcher. Furthermore, as an occasional adjunct professor and perpetual student of learning, Dr. Hall remains well-informed about the evidence-based practices in all her areas of interest. She aims to establish a collaborative partnership to meet her patients' and clients' needs.

Emmanuel Okoro, MSN, PMHNP, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner specializing in the adult and geriatric populations. He is a graduate of Walden University's psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program. Before his nursing education and graduate studies, Emmanuel completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. He has over a decade of experience working in mental health, including at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His experience spans various clinical settings, including hospitals, outpatient, rehabilitation facilities, and long-term care settings. He has been treating patients at ESNO for many years. His interests include addictions and chronic mental disorders, and he enjoys working closely with other mental health professionals.

Suzanne Linkroum, PHD is a licensed psychologist in Maryland and has been practicing for over 15 years. Her clinical focus is the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship/marital issues, adjustment to life transitions, parenting, and coping with chronic illnesses. She also has extensive experience administering psychological assessments, including psychoeducational testing, pre-surgical evaluations, and capacity assessments for older adults. She has experience working with individuals, couples, and families.

Dr. Linkroum has worked in multiple settings, including inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings, schools, long-term care/rehabilitative centers, university community mental health clinics, children’s hospitals, inpatient child and adolescent psychiatric units, community-based comprehensive care centers, and an integrated primary care setting. These experiences have given her an invaluable perspective on navigating the healthcare and mental healthcare systems. She strives to provide practical strategies to help alleviate some of the stress involved in seeking care for oneself or loved ones.

Her clients have described her as down-to-earth, practical, straightforward, honest, and warm. She strives to understand how her clients are experiencing themselves and the world around them. She is always interested in how her patients make sense of the things happening in their lives and helps them develop strategies for optimizing life satisfaction, self-compassion, acceptance, relationships, and overall functioning. She uses strategies from cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and interpersonal therapy to help them meet their treatment goals. Her clinical practice focuses on individuals 13 years and older, couples, and families.

She held leadership roles in a multi-site behavioral health clinic embedded within a community care center. Dr. Linkroum received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Dr. Linkroum then completed her Masters and Doctorate at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she focused on clinical child psychology. She completed her clinical internship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and spent three years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland. She served as the Assistant Vice President of a multi-site behavioral health department at a multidisciplinary community clinic serving adults. Dr. Linkroum has been involved in several research projects, presented at numerous professional conferences, and co-authored published papers.

Carroll Parrish, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Maryland. He has been in practice for over twenty years and has extensive experience working with clients experiencing mental health challenges or substance abuse challenges. He has a wide-ranging understanding of clients with dual diagnosis. He has held the position of clinical director with multiple community-based behavioral health programs and substance abuse treatment programs. He is also a board-approved supervisor and has mentored numerous Licensed Graduate Professional Counselors and Licensed Graduate Addiction Counselors. 

Previously, he was the Warden of two large adult prisons in Maryland. In addition, he held the cabinet positions of Deputy Secretary and later Acting Secretary of Public Safety for the state of Maryland.  In these positions, he led three agencies with over 11,000 employees and was responsible for an annual budget of $1.2 billion. In this position, he established correctional institution policies and set financial and programming goals for the Department. He holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Criminal Justice and Management and an M.Ed. from Coppin State University in applied psychology and rehabilitation counseling.

Laurie Pumphrey, Psy.D

Psychologist

Dr. Laurie Pumphrey is a licensed psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in the mental health field. Throughout her career, she has provided psychological services in a wide range of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment programs, group homes, outpatient clinics, nursing and rehabilitation centers, services for veterans, and academic settings as a college professor.

Dr. Pumphrey specializes in working with adults, including individuals residing in skilled nursing and rehabilitation settings. She has extensive experience supporting clients who are adjusting to medical changes, loss of independence, grief, depression, anxiety, cognitive changes, behavioral concerns, and transitions in care. Her clinical approach is warm, collaborative, and person-centered. Dr. Pumphrey places a strong emphasis on establishing rapport, building trust, and meeting clients where they are emotionally, cognitively, and functionally. She strives to create a supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and understood.

Dr. Pumphrey primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy while also incorporating client-centered techniques and other evidence-based approaches based on each individual's needs, goals, and readiness for change. Her work focuses on helping clients strengthen coping skills, improve emotional well-being, adjust to life transitions, and enhance overall quality of life.

Jeremiah Soko, MSN, PMHNP is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner who strives to meet the day-to-day medical challenges of people with mental illness. He is compassionate about the care he provides to patients and families. Jeremiah practiced as a registered nurse for sixteen years before pursuing his post-graduate studies as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. During those sixteen years, Jeremiah served in various capacities in patient care, including precepting, charge nurse, supervisor, unit coordinator, and direct care mental health nurse.

Jeremiah sat down and talked with patients as a direct care mental health nurse. What he heard from his patients flamed my desire to pursue advanced studies in psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Jeremiah learned earlier on that to work well with the mentally ill; he must understand their vulnerability, be willing to empathize with the population, and, most of all, be compassionate. He knew that patients with mental illness evoke empathy just as patients with medical illness. He wants to be an advocate for the mentally ill by continuing to educate himself on mental illness so that he can better serve his patients or anyone with mental illness and through educating the community about the misconceptions surrounding mental illness.

Jeremiah has good experience in childhood emotional disorders, adult and geriatric psychiatric disorders, psychiatric rehabilitation, substance use disorders, medication management, and individual and group psychotherapy. Jeremiah graduated from Walden University and completed some of his clerkships at ESNO Health Group. Additionally, he is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP).  

Kamsi Oby Onyeuche, BSc.

Clinical Outreach and Business Development Director

Kamsi Onyeuche is our Clinical Outreach and Business Development Director. She is the driving force behind our goal of expanding patient access and forging stronger strategic partnerships with other healthcare providers and programs in many Maryland neighborhoods. Ms. Kamsi has years of experience serving as a public administrator, consultant, and youth/women empowerment advocate. She notably served as the lead consultant for the World Bank-sponsored Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) Connect program and worked with the African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC). Her career highlights include youth/women's mentoring, empowerment and development programs, international consultancy, intergovernmental and multilateral relations, business development, and international diplomacy. In these roles, she participated in advocacy and inspection tours that evaluated good governance and infrastructure development in Africa and across the Caribbean. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and was inducted as a Fellow of the African Institute of Public Administration (FAIPA), Accra, Ghana. She also holds an honorary doctoral degree in Public Administration from London Bridge Business School in the United Kingdom.

Kameree Hayes is the Administrative Director of our Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) and Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program (IOP). She came to ESNO with over a decade of experience working in the substance abuse and mental health fields, ultimately specializing in managing programs and their day-to-day operations. She ensures the PRP and IOP programs follow all the approved policies and procedures, COMAR regulations, state and federal regulations, and the Joint Commission Standards. Her goal is to keep the organization compliant with regulatory bodies and support its growth. Her doors and ears are always open to assist staff, visitors, and patients with training, resources, and guidance. Kameree graduated from Morgan State University with a communications degree and has actively advocated for the mentally ill in the community.

Chinwendu Kalu, MS, RN.

Corporate Compliance Director – Community Behavioral Health Programs

Chinwendu Kalu is a registered nurse and oversees corporate compliance in our Community Behavioral Health Programs. She firmly believes that humans are created to help lift one another up in times of need. When people experience a mental health crisis, they need a listening ear and a compassionate heart to help them get back on their feet. She is that listening ear and that compassionate friend. She helps restore clients to their previous level of functioning before the crisis. She connects clients with resources and supports them in building healthy relationships. Her passion for mental health led her to pursue a nursing career at Towson University, where she completed her BSN. She intends to specialize in family psychiatric mental health nursing during her graduate studies. She currently holds a Master's degree in Applied Geophysics.