I am originally from New Jersey and I went to Undergraduate School at Tulane University in New Orleans, La. I received my Master’s Degree (93) in Social Work as well as a Post Master’s Degree in Family Therapy(96) from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York City.

 
I relocated from New York City in 1998 and have loved living in Raleigh. I am divorced and I have two sons. As a mother and having a full-time career, I can relate to the struggles of parenting and coping with stress. To unwind, I enjoy doing Yoga, entertaining, watching shows and reading. I also love music (living in New Orleans will do that to you) and find it to can be a very healthy coping tool to manage anxiety and stress. I try to meditate and work out daily as well as practice gratitude, these activities keep me grounded in the here and now.

​

In my career, I have worked with the geriatric population, adults and adolescents as individual for counseling and as couples, groups or families. I have 18 years as a Parent Counselor and Educator as well as experience leading group, writing blogs and articles and teaching. A passion of mine is teaching Meditation and other mindfulness strategies… when we can learn to quiet our minds, we then realize that we can really change from within (YouTube: Michelle Chachkes episode from 8/11/20 “Meditating with Michelle”).