meet our psychiatrists
laura conley-olsen, md
As a lifelong Arkansan, Dr. Conley is happy to be serving the needs of central Arkansas, where she was born and raised. She has always appreciated the collaborative nature of psychiatry and is very excited to be in this partnership of like-minded and similarly trained physicians. She is dually boarded in general and child/adolescent psychiatry and has over a decade’s experience in treating adults and children for their mental health needs.
Dr. Conley specializes in working with children and adolescents, adults with autism, and those with women’s mental health needs (especially related to infertility and post-partum concerns). Her special interests include autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral disorders, trauma, trichotillomania, tic disorders, and gender dysphoria. She is a firm believer in evidence-based medicine and strives to keep up to date with current practice guidelines in order to provide the most comprehensive and personalized treatment plans for her patients.
Dr. Conley received her BA at Hendrix College in Conway, and she went on to complete both medical school and residency/fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She served as chief resident during her final year of training. She has subsequently maintained board certifications in both general psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry as well as the Arkansas Academy on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, having formerly served as their Secretary/Treasurer.
In her spare time, Dr. Conley loves spending time with her family, planning elaborate birthday parties for her children, reading, and making cakes and cookies that are both pretty and delicious.
While she mostly sees patients by telemedicine, she does schedule in-person appointments in the Conway clinic and occasionally in the Little Rock clinics when needed. She offers some evening hours as electronic prescribing.
nihit kumar, MD, FAACAP
Dr. Kumar has resided in Arkansas since 2010, moving here for residency and fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences after receiving his medical degree in India. He has more than a decade of experience treating children and adults with mental health issues, including addiction to drugs and alcohol. He is triple boarded in general psychiatry, child/adolescent psychiatry, and addiction psychiatry. His special interests include managing depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma in children and adolescents, and substance use problems in youth and adults.
He believes in care that is compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based. He has a background in academic medicine, and due to his extensive contributions in clinical work, teaching, and research, he was recognized as a Distinguished Fellow by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He has also formerly served as president of the Arkansas Academy on Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
When he is not working, Dr. Kumar enjoys spending time with his family and children and watching movies to relax.
Dr. Kumar prefers to see patients in person in the Little Rock office and has some telemedicine options available. He also offers electronic prescribing of medications.
dianna esmaeilpour, md
A native of Northwest Arkansas, Dr. Esmaeilpour practices medicine with the goal of helping her patients improve their quality of life. She believes that good outcomes in mental health come from good patient/physician relationships. Her approach includes using her varied life experiences to combine conventional medicine with psychotherapy, integrative medicine, and wellness strategies. She strives to have a therapeutic alliance with her patients, supporting them through life’s challenges while offering individualized treatment consistent with their values and goals. Dr. Esmaeilpour says that “it is always a privilege to work with people on their journey to hope and healing.”
Dr. Esmaeilpour enjoys working with children, teenagers, and adults. She prefers treating depression, anxiety, trauma, autism spectrum disorders and complex patients. She also has clinical experience with eating disorders and in sports psychiatry.
Dr. Esmaeilpour loves spending time with her family, being outside, and being active. She has a nontraditional educational background and varied work experiences. She received her BA at Hendrix College in Conway, studying abroad at Oxford while there, as well as completing an Asian Cultural History Tour with Eastern Michigan University. She went on to obtain a Master of Science in nutrition at Columbia University before completing medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. She completed her general psychiatry residency and child/adolescent fellowship at UAMS as well. She subsequently obtained additional training in functional psychiatry, with an integrative psychiatry fellowship with Psychiatry Redefined and has also studied Functional Medicine with the Institute of Functional Medicine.
Dr. Esmaeilpour has served as the Medical Director for the Child Diagnostic Unit at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for four years. She was also the Medical Director for the Eating Disorders Clinic and Arkansas Children's and worked with student athletes at the University of Arkansas as a Sports Psychiatrist.
Dr. Esmaeilpour has traveled extensively through Asia and Europe, lived in New Zealand, worked in the Cook Islands, and even climbed an 18,871 foot mountain in Peru. She brings a lot of varied life experiences to Capstone Psychiatry. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, running, snow-skiing, wake surfing, live music, and generally living life to the fullest.
Dr. Esmaeilpour sees patients in person at our NWA location as well as via telemedicine. She typically offers appointments Monday, Tuesday and Fridays from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
meet our office staff
Carlen Smith
Carlen is the medical receptionist for all three of our clinics, but she primarily works virtually or from the Little Rock location. She loves creating a friendly, welcoming environment for our patients no matter the setting. Carlen holds an associate's degree in healthcare management from Ultimate Medical Academy in Florida. Carlen is committed to ongoing professional development, and she is currently pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare management at South College.
When not working, Carlen enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, hiking, and creating memorial portraits.
meet our THERAPISTS
margaret healy, lcsw
Bio coming soon
lesley ford, lpc
With over 16 years’ experience in the mental health field, Lesley has extensive experience working with all ages with diverse needs. She practices from a holistic foundation, with cognitive behavioral “roots.” While she is experienced with a broad range of needs, she specializes in treating anxiety, depression, and emotional difficulties related to life adjustments. When she is not working, Lesley enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and binge-watching historical dramas series on Netflix.
Lesley is currently offering telehealth-only appointments for adults and teenagers. She also offers virtual couples counseling