Interpersonal Psychiatry

Dr. Soni chose to devote his professional life to medicine after working for more than a decade as an Environmental Engineer. As a physician, he initially gained experience in various organizations before founding Interpersonal Psychiatry in October of 2013. Dr. Soni elected to work in private practice after witnessing first-hand the dire need for high quality, timely, and accessible, psychiatry services in his community. His treatment philosophy is somewhat unique, in that, Dr. Soni places his primary emphasis on improving his patients overall quality of life. This philosophy allows for treatment that is patient specific or Patient Centered. The Patient Centered Treatment model is evidence based and includes medications when warranted in addition to behavioral and social interventions that are also tailored to the person, and not a one size fits all approach.

Debra Williams is a General Adult and Child Psychiatrist, Addiction and Pain Medicine specialist who received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Science & Molecular Biology. She completed her medical school education at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1993. Residency was completed at the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry in 1998. She enjoys Travel, Movies, Knitting and Crocheting, and enjoying outdoor activities

Though raised in Kansas, I received my Bachelor’s in Nursing from the University of Missouri in Columbia (Go Tigers!). I have been working in health care for over 15 years including time in intensive care, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and addiction medicine. I received my Master’s Degree from Simmons University in Boston, MA and am board certified in both family medicine and addiction medicine with a speciality in psychiatry for all ages. I am passionate about medication assisted treatment including buprenorphine induction and titration. I have worked as a nurse practitioner in both inpatient and outpatient environments and am committed to providing cutting edge care to a diverse population.

Born in Nigeria, I moved to the Texas in my teenage years. I attended Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls Texas. Moved to Kansas in 2018. I have been working in healthcare for about 8 years with background in Medical Surgical Nursing, Cardiac Care and received a Master’s degree in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Maryville University, St Louis, Missouri. Currently, I am certified in psychiatry across all population and passionate about care in mental health as well as advocate for patient education. Enjoys traveling, shopping and reading.

I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Science (medical) from Punjab, India. My Associates degree in Nursing is from Johnson County Community College, Kansas where I also taught nursing students for many years after I received my Master’s Degree in Nursing education from MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe, Kansas. I went on to receive my Post -Master’s Degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City to be a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. I have been in healthcare for over 15 years with a background in Telemetry, Progressive Care Unit, Cardiovascular Recovery Unit. As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, I have worked in inpatient, outpatient, community mental health center, and crisis treatment center settings. I am passionate about providing mental healthcare to a diverse population. I am fluent in Punjabi, Hindi, and English. I am adding SPRAVATO treatment (esketamine), for treatment-resistant depression in adults, to my practice.

Paul Hahn has been licensed in Marriage & Family Therapy since 2008 and licensed in Addiction Counseling since 2011. He has been a father, husband, and member of the Lawrence community for over 40 years. He works with adult individuals and couples. Before joining the team at Interpersonal Psychiatry, he worked in private practice as a marriage therapist and has extensive experience treating addictions work in a variety of settings. Paul believes the client sets the agenda for treatment and will work with you to ensure that your values are honored throughout the therapeutic process. Paul will work to help you better understand what’s meaningful to you as you work toward creating a better life. He can help you address emotions, decision-making, and relationships. He understands that life’s difficulties often lead us toward making regrettable decisions and maintains a non-judgmental stance with all his clients.

Reaching out for help can be difficult; I am here to join you on your path to healthy change. The quality of the relationship between client and therapist is one of the strongest predictors of progress in treatment so my first priority is working to develop a robust and collaborative relationship with all my clients. I focus on providing a safe space in which you feel comfortable to explore thoughts and feelings while I offer understanding, insights and helpful feedback. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with over 18 years of experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and a variety of concerns. I specialize in working with adolescents and adults with depression, anxiety, trauma, life cycle transitions, and relationship challenges. I use a range of evidence-based therapeutic techniques (most commonly CBT, motivational interviewing, solution-focused, and strengths based) and work to find the right approach that makes each client feel empowered to seek the

Emily is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received her Masters in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2014. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, groups, and families in multiple settings such as school, foster care, and incarceration. She is trained in a range of therapeutic modalities: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Family Systems Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Trauma First Aid Gestalt Therapy A therapeutic experience helps us to understand and nurture ourselves, no matter how messy or complicated we feel about our lives, so we can surf the waves, navigate choppy waters, and enjoy calm seas. Emily is passionate about social justice, and believes that the more we can live as our honest, real true selves, the healthier and safer our community will be.

Brittany is a social worker based in Kansas City, Missouri. Brittany was born and raised in Southwest Missouri and has lived and worked in the Kansas City Metro area since 2015. They received their Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Developmental Disabilities from Pittsburg State University in 2011. They received their Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and are a licensed social worker in Kansas and Missouri. Brittany has enjoyed a variety of jobs in the social work field, including experience working in a children’s residential facility, as an intensive-level mental health case manager for families, as a behavior therapist for individuals with Autism, as a health- and mental health-focused home visitor for Early Head Start, and as a support coordinator for individuals with developmental disabilities. Brittany has had internships in therapeutic recreation, as an intake worker and then therapist and group co-facilitator at a domestic violence

Heather is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the state of Kansas. She interned at the Metropolitan Organization to Combat Sexual Assault, where she completed Trauma-Focused CBT training and worked with survivors of sexual assault in their process of healing and recovery. Additionally, she trained at Baker University, working with emerging adults on life transitions, depression, anxiety, gender and sexual identity and managing stress. She also interned with the University of Kansas Positive Psychotherapy Clinic where she provided a protocol to clients based on positive psychology principles which focus on client resources and strengths to work through a variety of concerns including grief, family conflict, and personal empowerment. Heather is continuing her education by seeking certification as a Couples and Sex therapist, as her deepest passion is working with clients on sexual health concerns.

Kylie moved to Lawrence KS from Topeka in 2019. She is busy from sun up to sun down with her two boys, Aiden (7) & Grayson (5). She is blessed in her recovery, through all the trials & tribulations, she wakes up to a new day ready to feel inspired & to carry the message of hope and healing to others. She enjoys watching Greys Anatomy and can perform a Whipple with her eyes closed. She enjoys sharing laughs and making memories with the people she loves and of course good food! Her goal is to continue being the best mother she can be to her wonderful boys, and keep striving to be a better version of herself..… and the rest will come.

Anissa strives to find ways to provide the highest quality of services to the patients and clients of Interpersonal Psychiatry. With a background as a social worker and from a social justice perspective, the value of equity and accessibility of care is highly important. She works in the various office locations and is also an owner of a psychotherapy practice. Anissa loves to travel, be a skateboard mom, write poetry and loves to integrate spirituality in everything she does and practices. She believes we all can heal, grow, and evolve into more authentic and caring people. Connection, Communication, Compassion and the keys to her values both personally and professionally.

Irfan A. Handoo was born in Columbia, Maryland. He grew up in Leawood, Kansas and graduated from Blue Valley North High School. Dr. Handoo earned his undergraduate degree from UMKC and his Medical Doctorate at the UMKC School of Medicine in 2005. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Handoo completed his residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center at Wichita, where he also completed a fellowship in psychopharmacology. He does have experience in residency as a sub-investigator for clinical research trials. Dr. Handoo is Board Certified in Psychiatry and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Handoo has been published in several journals, including The Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.

I am a licensed master social worker, as well as a certified enneagram coach. I have over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, working with individuals, children, families, and couples. I specialize in working with women, in particular mothers, in combating mom guilt. In addition to utilizing the enneagram, I utilize solution-focused and strengths-based perspectives in treatment. I believe therapy is a vulnerable and personal decision, and I want each person to feel empowered and supported through their journey. When we can understand what our core motivations are behind why we do what we do, we are then able to grow and make changes, in order to live the life we want. My hope for each person is you become more confident in knowing what you have to offer the world matters. That you have the ability to make the changes you desire that will better serve not only you as an individual, but within other areas of your life, such as, your career and relationships.

Though life can bring so much joy and exciting experiences, it can also be difficult to navigate at times. With people dealing with so many different kinds of life stressors, sometimes we need a healthy way to manage stress. I hope to assist you in navigating through some of life’s toughest challenges. As a therapist, my focus is on creating a safe environment for you to express your thoughts and feelings in a judgement-free environment. As we collaborate, I plan to offer support, understanding, education, and input to help work toward your treatment goals. I am a Licensed Master of Social Work who graduated with a Masters in Social Work in 2013 from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. I have years of experience with working with adults and children, all of whom come from unique backgrounds. This includes children in foster care, children and adults in a community mental health setting, as well as working with adults and children experiencing mental health crisis. My specia

Born & Raised in Kansas City, KS I moved here to Lawrence in 2019 on my personal journey in recovery. I have worked in Customer Service since I was 16yrs old, I have worked for Interpersonal Psychiatry for a little over 2yrs, I find joy in helping and encouraging people. My (almost) 11yr old son Aidyn helps to keep me young at heart. My goal is to get my Bachelors in Addiction Counseling and to also get my License as an Esthetician. I find happiness in good home cooked meals, traveling, hanging out with my closest family/friends, good skincare, makeup artistry, and DIY art projects. #GoChiefs

Emma (she/her) is a Kansas native who has lived in KCMO since 2021. She has been able to develop a good patient experience thanks to her many years in customer service and as a freelance photographer. She has two cats and likes to spend her free time with them, playing games with her girlfriend and friends, and learning new things.

Being accepted for who we are is one of our most basic needs as humans. With many pieces adding up to create a whole being, it is hard to find someone who can understand without having to explain every time we see them. Repeated explaining and misunderstanding can lead to a feeling of shame and uncertainty that can damage the therapeutic relationship before it starts. I work from a baseline of understanding to help create a safe space for my clients to learn and grow. Therapy should be a laboratory where you can experiment with how you interact with others and present yourself. You are the expert on you. I’m just here to guide. I work from a strengths-based perspective with radical acceptance and non-judgement to identify in collaboration with my clients the things about themselves, their communities, and their environments that are serving them, and help them use those things to find a better peace in their lives.

I have over 15 years of experience working in various roles in mental health. I earned my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Washburn University and my Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. I am board certified in psychiatric care for individuals across the lifespan and am especially passionate about providing mental healthcare for children and adolescents. I am LGBTQ+/kink/polyamory affirming and strive to provide care that is sensitive to the intersectionality of my clients’ diverse experiences.

“Sometimes life events knock us off course and we struggle to find our way back. Often times we feel very alone in the process of trying to deal with the aftermath of such events. Do you find yourself wanting to feel better, but are unable to? Wondering how to move on without feelings of guilt or shame? Feeling as if no one understands you or your situation? Life can be hard sometimes but it doesn’t mean we have to endure the struggle alone. We can free ourselves through compassion, understanding, and empathy.” – Mandi Mandi is a native of the Midwest and received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and human services from Drury University. She continued her education by attaining a Master of Arts in Counseling from MidAmerica Nazarene University. She is currently licensed with the Kansas Behavioral Science Regulatory Board as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Master Addiction Counselor.

Elizabeth Hiatt has been a Kansas certified Paramedic since 2015. Her experience has led her to work on an ambulance, in hospitals, and in clinical research. Since beginning her EMS career, she has seen the best and the worst of mental health and is excited to be part of a team that is making such a huge difference in the daily lives of those suffering with mental health issues. When Elizabeth is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 boys, and dog. While her boys’ sports keep her very busy, she also makes time to keep up to date on the latest movies and music. Elizabeth has a love for learning and is always looking for new topics to delve into. Additionally, she is very creative and enjoys crafting, artwork, and design.

Tammy grew up in Baldwin City, KS and graduated from Baldwin High School. Tammy moved to Hawaii to live for 2.5 years then returned to live in Lawrence, Kansas, to raise her son. Prior to working at Interpersonal Psychiatry, Tammy has worked for over 20 years as a administrative assistant, legal assistant, front desk receptionist and a personal assistant. She has received many achievement awards over the years. Tammy’s outstanding professional customer service and communication skills to be able listen and focus on what the patient’s needs are, is a very valuable asset to Interpersonal Psychiatry. She knows how to strive to provide the best possible care to the patients whether it is by phone or in person.

Katie is a born & raised Kansas Citian. With her eight years of experience in hospitality and customer service, you will always be in great hands when visiting our Overland Park office. In her free time, she enjoys archery, hiking & spending time with her animals.

I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO. I started my career in Mental Health back in 2011 as a Mental Health Technician at Truman Medical Center then ended up at Signature Psychiatric Hospital in the same position. I found out about TMS and was immediately intrigued. I trained as a TMS Technician at PAKC and worked there about a year. I am beyond excited to be back working with Dr. Handoo at Interpersonal Psychiatry using Brainsway Deep TMS!!!

Lauren manages the office at the Overland Park branch of Interpersonal Psychiatry. She has worked alongside psychiatrists for over 10 years to help provide excellent patient care and pursue research into better treatment options for patients. In her free time, Lauren is working on her a Master of Science degree for data analytics. She has two cats (Frost and Luna) who like to keep her company while studying.