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Exploring Life & Business with Dr. Richard Taborga of Fort Lauderdale Counseling and Assessment

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Richard Taborga.

Hi Dr. Taborga, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the Clinical Director and Founder of Fort Lauderdale Counseling and Assessment. We’re a private practice that started from a true passion for helping others. Since the day that I took my first Psychology class, I have been obsessed with understanding human thinking, behaviors, emotions, and the many experiences that make us who we are. It’s an obsession that has led me to accomplishments that I never thought were possible. Often, I can’t believe that this is my life and that I get to do what I love every day.

This chapter of my life started 18 years ago when I decided to go back to school following, perhaps, my greatest business and personal failures. I didn’t know it at the time, but my life was about to change forever. I took one college course, named “Psychology 101,” and a whole new world opened for me. I remember telling my parents that I was going to be a Doctor (Psychologist). To which they responded, “Get your head out of the clouds!” In their defense, I wasn’t the strongest student, and I had many big dreams and never followed through. However, this time would be different. That Psych 101 course became an 18-year educational and occupational journey that was fueled by my passion, if not an obsession, for Psychology and helping others.

The first 3 years of my work in this field were spent working with children and families in a partial hospitalization program for underserved populations. It was the hardest job I’ve ever had, but one of the most rewarding. It sparked my passion for working with kids and helping others. I spent another year working with adults in a partial hospitalization program and developing my understanding and skills for working with adults with various severe mental disorders (e.g., Severe Depression, Anxiety, Psychosis, and Suicidality). Following my work in partial hospitalization care, I was fortunate to receive an offer to join a community-based, non-profit practice that provided services to an underserved Hispanic population.

This allowed me to use all my skills to help good people who were simply trying to make a better life for their families and committed to changing for the better. My clinical experience has been filled with 15 years of truly amazing people (i.e., colleagues and clients) and fulfilling experiences that have contributed to the therapist that I am today, as well as the private practice that I am proud to have started.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
If there are many roads to success, mine was filled with many unexpected turns and detours. As I shared earlier, this chapter of my life started when I decided to go back to school, following a significant business and personal failure.

It’s a story that I often share because it highlights that one of the worst moments of your life can lead you in an unexpected direction toward true happiness and fulfillment. We just don’t know it at the time. Like many students and new therapists, I was underpaid, faced personal difficulties, studied hard while working, and often sacrificed social opportunities for academic achievement. But my journey was also filled with amazing moments and people that contributed to my development as a psychotherapist and person.

Though there were tough times to get here, I learned to value the struggle and sacrifice and enjoy the journey. If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing!

We’ve been impressed with Fort Lauderdale Counseling and Assessment, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Fort Lauderdale Counseling and Assessment is a private practice that is comprised of a group of compassionate and experienced mental health professionals that share a vision of providing the highest standard of effective mental health care.

We’re truly invested in helping our clients achieve their goal of emotional well-being and love what we do. I could talk about the many years of experience and education that our team brings to each session, but the one true factor that sets us apart is the authentic connection with, and care for, our clients. This, in my opinion, is something that cannot be taught. Truly being present and joining someone during a difficult time in their lives is an honor and a privilege. The therapeutic alliance that we organically develop together creates an environment for clients to accomplish lasting change and greater well-being.

Our practice specializes in the care of individuals across the lifespan that include couples, adults with various difficulties (i.e., Depression, anxiety, adjustment to life stressors, etc.), as well as children and families. Each area of specialization is distinct and offers a different manner of understanding and helping our clients. Our team embraces a modern approach to psychotherapy that combines traditional and contemporary theories, evidence-based methods, as well as creative, solution, and insight-oriented practices.

We recognize the unique difficulties individuals and families face, and that therapy is not one size fits all. Each person brings their own interests, strengths, and areas of challenge to therapy. With compassion, empathy, and authenticity, we work to partner, advocate, and align with the unique needs of each client.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Fort Lauderdale Counseling and Assessment was established in 2020, during the year when everyone’s lives changed due to the pandemic and subsequent shutdown.

It was a scary time to start a business due to the many uncertainties that we all feared. But, this was my dream and I felt that to be successful I had to adjust to the changes and turn my anxiety into motivation. Knock on wood, things went well and I’m thankful every day for the many opportunities that I encounter.

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