Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Taveras.
Hi Michelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us. To start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am the oldest of four siblings, the only girl, and I like it that way! My family and I are originally from Queens, New York. The doctors told my parents that I would never walk. I was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that affected my balance. As a result, I walk with a loft strand crutch. My parents always encouraged me to live my life and do the things I wanted to do despite the effects of my cerebral palsy. I was also fortunate to have educators who encouraged this as well.
I developed a strong interest in helping others at a young age. I started working at St. Mary’s Hospital in Queens, New York when I was still in high school. The children that I worked with presented with terminal illnesses, physical disabilities, and learning disabilities. I could empathize with their struggle because of my own experiences living with a physical disability.
I obtained my bachelor’s degree at St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York. I majored in psychology with a minor in Spanish. Upon graduating from St. John’s University in 2003, I was accepted into a doctoral program at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
I was matriculated in their program for approximately six months and then asked to withdraw from the program. I was struggling with severe depression and had ignored my intuitive sense that I was not ready to leave my parents’ home and move to a different state to pursue my graduate training.
I made the decision to enroll in the MSW program at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. I knew that being asked to withdraw from the University of Hartford had nothing to do with my capability of successfully completing the program, but more to do with me struggling with the effects of severe depression and not being ready to leave my parents’ home.
I was determined to continue on my path of obtaining my doctorate in clinical psychology, but I wanted to obtain my master’s in a similar field prior to doing so. I wanted to hone my writing skills and my clinical skills, and still be close to home.
I earned my master’s in social work in 2006 and moved to Chicago to begin my doctoral studies in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, now known as The Chicago School.
My journey at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology was rough. My confidence was low because I was still recovering from the emotional effects of being asked to withdraw from the University of Hartford. Part of me saw that as a failure, and the other part saw it as an opportunity to grow and learn—to embrace the importance of following my intuition and doing what was best for me, even if it meant that things were going to take me a little bit longer.
I was still struggling emotionally and coping with depression. I sensed that if I didn’t get help and make some significant changes, something similar would happen to what occurred when I was living in Connecticut.
I got myself connected with a clinical social worker who offered counseling on a sliding scale to people who were experiencing economic hardship. At the time, that was me. I was a full-time graduate student, and I was not working.
I worked with the counselor I was connected with for the entire five years that I was matriculated as a graduate student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.
I also strengthened the relationships that I had with my friends and family. I was determined to obtain my doctorate in clinical psychology, and in August 2011, I did.
The training that I received both at Fordham University and The Chicago School of Professional Psychology helped me develop strong clinical skills and strengthened my confidence. Most importantly, I learned to trust myself and my ability to accomplish the goals that I set for myself.
Throughout my training, I was able to provide counseling to children, adolescents, and adults struggling with the effects of psychological conditions.
I firmly believe that my own experience struggling with depression and anxiety helped me become a more effective therapist, but most importantly, it helped me be a more empathic human being.
Throughout my life, I have learned the most valuable lessons when I have struggled the most. Through my struggles, I learned the power of resiliency, perseverance, and adaptability. It also reinforced what I already knew: that despite whatever happens, my family and friends are always there to support me—this lesson being truly priceless.
Throughout the course of my graduate training at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, I lived away from home for five years.
I completed my postdoctoral training at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
My goal was to eventually move to Florida because the majority of my family had relocated to Florida shortly before I moved to Chicago to start my doctoral studies.
Regardless of where life had taken me, my heart was always with my family.
I graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in August 2011.
My move from Michigan to Jacksonville, Florida was my second attempt to move to Florida. The moment that my family and I arrived in Jacksonville to help me get settled in my new apartment, I knew that Jacksonville would be the place where I would spend the rest of my life. It felt like home.
A recruiter from Baptist Health in Jacksonville had found my résumé on Indeed, and the rest was history. I was given the opportunity of a lifetime—to have a job doing exactly what I trained to do and what I wanted to do, and still be within close proximity to my family.
What more could I ask for?
I worked for Baptist Medical Center for almost 10 years, starting in 2015 through 2024. I worked as a psychologist in their outpatient program. During my time at Baptist, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse population, walking with them in their journey to overcome struggles associated with psychological conditions.
I continued to hone my confidence in my clinical skills. I also had the opportunity to form strong, meaningful connections with colleagues and administrators.
In 2024, I began feeling an internal push to challenge myself more—to grow and learn new things.
I embraced the opportunity to teach Introduction to Psychology as an adjunct professor at Florida State College in Jacksonville. I had always wanted to teach, primarily because I wanted to give back to the community and because it was an opportunity for me to challenge myself by overcoming anxiety associated with public speaking.
Teaching also provided me the opportunity to address elements of burnout that I had begun struggling with as a result of my work as a psychologist.
This is something that professionals may be susceptible to throughout the course of their career. Unfortunately, I believe there is stigma associated with talking about the effects of burnout and seeking treatment for it.
Teaching also helped me solidify my need to do something different—to shift gears. My friends and family had already been strongly encouraging me to pursue private practice.
Initially, the prospect of going into private practice was terrifying. Throughout my time at Baptist, I had become very comfortable with my process. I knew exactly what I needed to do, and I knew how to do it well.
One of the many benefits of working within a corporate structure is that the majority of administrative tasks associated with my job were handled for me.
Going into private practice meant that this would all be on me.
Nonetheless, I decided to take the leap, and with the help of my friends and family, I embarked on my journey of going into private practice after resigning from my position at Baptist in July 2024.
Currently, I have been in private practice for a little bit over a year. My goal is to develop my private practice into a training site for future clinicians—master’s level and doctoral level. I am currently solidifying an opportunity with the University of North Florida to become a training site for this purpose.
Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and I’m going to utilize the resources that I have access to in order to make this happen.
I currently have a team of four clinicians on staff. My office is in St. Johns County: 1629 Race Track Rd., Suite 102, St. Johns, FL 32259. We provide psychological and counseling services to children, adolescents, and adults who are combating symptoms associated with psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, substance abuse and dependency, grief, and loss.
We foster a warm and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to explore the roots of their struggles. Guided by empathy, understanding, and expertise, our clinicians help individuals overcome challenges and create meaningful change.
More details associated with the services that we provide can be found on our website: mtaveraspsychology.com.
We are paneled with most major insurances, including Medicare, TRICARE, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, and United Healthcare.
My team and I strive to provide exceptional care to the clients we serve.
My goal within the next few years is to continue to grow my practice with master’s level and doctoral level clinicians.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I have overcome a multitude of challenges, namely being born with a neurological condition called cerebral palsy that affected the right side of my body. As a result, I walk with a loft strand crutch, and my parents were initially told that I would never walk. As a child, I was wheelchair-bound for several years and had to undergo multiple orthopedic surgeries in order to be able to walk.
My mother and father married at a very young age. My biological father was killed when I was two years old. My mother was a single parent to me and my younger brother, Edwin—he is 18 months younger than me.
My mother met my stepfather when I was 2 1/2 years old. He raised me and my brother. I refer to my stepfather as my father.
My parents taught me the art of perseverance, resiliency, adaptability, and the essence of survival.
They both worked tirelessly to ensure that my brother and I had everything that we needed.
When I was 14 years old, my parents welcomed my brothers Brian and John-Paul. One of my greatest joys in life has been watching them grow up and accomplish success. I am so proud of them and everything that they have accomplished!
I firmly believe that all of the difficult things that I’ve had to overcome throughout my life have helped me develop into a stronger, more empathic person. My experiences have helped to shape me into a more effective psychologist and human being.
Despite the difficulties that I have faced throughout my life, I have been determined to accomplish the goals that I have set for myself.
There have been times throughout my life where I felt as though I was a failure because I did not accomplish the goals that I had set for myself.
In retrospect, my failures have strengthened me and helped me solidify my path. My failures are part of my story, which is why I welcome the opportunity to discuss them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about M. Taveras, PsyD & Company Psychological Services?
At M. Taveras, PsyD & Company, we are passionate about providing exceptional, compassionate care to our Jacksonville community. Our team of dedicated clinicians works with children, adolescents, and adults facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, learning differences, trauma, life transitions, and substance use.
We strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where clients feel safe to explore their emotions, understand their experiences, and build the skills needed to heal, grow, and thrive.
My team and I are committed to accessible, high-quality care and are paneled with most major insurance providers.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
If you or anyone you know has been considering seeking counseling, know that the first step is typically the hardest—doing the research and making the phone call to schedule the appointment.
Also know that we are all human, and we are all susceptible to struggles throughout our lives. Needing and seeking help is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of strength, perseverance, and resiliency.
As humans, we all have our physical and emotional limitations. Acknowledging that is a crucial step in the process of bettering yourself.
If you are a proponent of mental health, work to enhance public awareness regarding the importance of mental health.
Pricing:
- Self-pay rate: $250 initial session
- Self-pay rate: $225 follow-up therapy sessions
- Most Insurances Accepted
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mtaveraspsychology.com
