Last updated September 2026.
Dr. Michael Nackashi, Psy.D., is a Jacksonville clinical, forensic, and sports psychologist at D’Arienzo Psychology who works extensively with teenagers, high school students, college students, young adults, athletes, and young professionals.
His areas of practice include sports and performance psychology, anxiety and panic, depression, ADHD, psychological assessment, stress management, career decisions, relationship concerns, forensic psychological evaluation, and psychological fitness and safety evaluations.
Dr. Nackashi also provides couples therapy for young adults and psychological testing for students, professionals, companies, and institutions.
Accepting TRICARE patients
Request an Appointment With D’Arienzo Psychology
Jacksonville Sports Psychologist and Performance Psychology
Sports psychology is an important part of Dr. Nackashi’s practice. He works with athletes who want to improve both psychological well-being and performance and helps address the mental demands associated with competitive sports.
Sport and performance psychology can be useful for high school, college, recreational, and competitive athletes who struggle with performance anxiety, confidence, concentration, motivation, emotional control, pressure, setbacks, or maintaining consistency under stress.
Areas that may be addressed in sports psychology and performance consultation include:
- Performance anxiety and competition nerves
- Confidence and self-belief
- Concentration and staying focused under pressure
- Goal setting and motivation
- Managing mistakes and recovering from poor performances
- Negative self-talk and overthinking
- Pre-performance routines and mental preparation
- Stress management
- Balancing athletics, academics, relationships, and personal life
- Communication with coaches and teammates
- Managing expectations and pressure
- Developing psychological resilience
Dr. Nackashi’s background working with adolescents, college students, and young adults is particularly relevant for student-athletes who are simultaneously managing academic expectations, athletic performance, relationships, career decisions, and the developmental challenges of young adulthood.
Learn more about sports and performance psychology services in Jacksonville at D’Arienzo Psychology.
Psychologist for High School and College Athletes
Student-athletes often experience pressures that extend well beyond the playing field. Athletic performance may be affected by anxiety, mood, ADHD, sleep, academic stress, relationships, confidence, injuries, expectations from others, and uncertainty about future goals.
Because Dr. Nackashi works extensively with high school students, college students, young adults, and athletes, he can address athletic performance concerns within the larger psychological context of the athlete’s life rather than treating performance as an isolated issue.
For some athletes, the goal may be performance enhancement. For others, treatment may involve anxiety, depression, ADHD, adjustment difficulties, trauma, relationship concerns, or other psychological issues that also affect performance and well-being.
Jacksonville Psychologist for Teens, College Students and Young Adults
One of Dr. Nackashi’s primary areas of specialization is psychological care for adolescents and young adults.
He has extensive experience working with high school students, college students, graduate students, millennials, and young professionals experiencing:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Depression and mood concerns
- ADHD
- Academic stress
- Career uncertainty and career decisions
- Adjustment difficulties
- Relationship and interpersonal problems
- Stress and burnout
- Trauma and sexual assault
- Substance misuse
- Identity concerns
- Self-esteem and confidence concerns
- Suicidal ideation and psychological safety concerns
His university counseling-center experience provides additional perspective on the developmental, academic, interpersonal, and career challenges commonly experienced by college students and young adults.
Dr. Nackashi’s Approach to Psychotherapy
Dr. Nackashi uses a collaborative and evidence-based approach designed to help patients understand psychological patterns, develop more effective coping skills, and make meaningful changes consistent with their personal values and goals.
Depending on the patient and presenting concern, his approach may incorporate:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Interpersonal Process Therapy
- Relational Cultural Therapy
- Mindfulness-based strategies
- Motivational approaches
- Skills-based interventions
- Positive psychology and performance psychology principles
Anxiety, Panic and Stress Management
Dr. Nackashi works extensively with adolescents and young adults experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, excessive worry, stress, and difficulty performing effectively under pressure.
These concerns may occur in academic settings, athletics, relationships, professional environments, or everyday life.
Treatment may focus on identifying patterns that maintain anxiety, developing healthier coping strategies, improving emotional regulation, reducing avoidance, and helping individuals function more effectively even when stress is present.
ADHD and Psychological Assessment
Dr. Nackashi provides psychological assessment involving ADHD, learning concerns, cognitive functioning, emotional functioning, and other referral questions.
His graduate training included psychological and neuropsychological assessment, intelligence testing, psychoeducational testing, integrated psychological report writing, and assessment of ADHD and learning disabilities. His clinical training also included neuropsychological assessment at the Miami Veterans Affairs system.
Learn more about psychological testing and assessment in Jacksonville.
Forensic Psychologist and Psychological Evaluations
In addition to clinical and sports psychology, Dr. Nackashi provides forensic psychological assessments and occupational psychological evaluations.
At D’Arienzo Psychology, his work includes clinical, educational, and forensic evaluations as well as psychological assessment for individuals and organizations.
Depending on the referral question, services may involve psychological testing, clinical interviewing, record review, evaluation of psychological functioning, and integration of multiple sources of information.
Learn more about forensic psychology services at D’Arienzo Psychology.
Psychological Fitness and Safety Evaluations
Dr. Nackashi also conducts psychological fitness and safety-related evaluations for students, professionals, and individuals in various occupational settings.
These evaluations are designed around the specific referral question and may involve psychological assessment, interview data, records, and other relevant information.
Couples Therapy for Young Adults
Dr. Nackashi provides couples therapy with particular experience working with couples in their twenties, millennials, college-age adults, and young professionals.
Relationship work may address communication, conflict, trust, intimacy, life transitions, differing expectations, career stress, and other challenges that commonly emerge during early adulthood.
Learn more about couples and relationship psychology services.
TRICARE Psychologist in Jacksonville
Dr. Nackashi accepts TRICARE patients and provides psychology services to eligible military members, veterans, and military families.
His clinical background includes training in Veterans Affairs settings as well as experience addressing trauma, adjustment, stress, mood concerns, relationships, and other psychological issues relevant to military-connected individuals.
Education
- Psy.D., Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 2021
- M.S., Clinical Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, 2018
- B.S., Psychology, Minor in Biology, Florida State University, 2014
His doctoral training included psychotherapy, psychological assessment, neuropsychology, ADHD and learning-disability assessment, trauma-informed care, multicultural psychology, and integrated psychological report writing.
Professional and Clinical Training
Dr. Nackashi’s training has included university counseling centers, Veterans Affairs neuropsychology, community mental health, psychological assessment, humanitarian mental-health outreach, and private practice.
- D’Arienzo Psychology: Clinical Psychologist, 2023–Present
- Florida State University Counseling and Psychological Services: Psychology Resident/Staff Psychologist
- Florida State University Counseling and Psychological Services: Psychology Intern
- Florida Atlantic University Counseling and Psychological Services: Psychology Trainee
- Faulk Center for Counseling: Psychology Trainee
- Miami VA Neuropsychology Rehabilitation: Psychology Trainee
Research, Presentations and International Psychology Experience
Dr. Nackashi has presented professional work involving psychotherapy integration, refugee mental health, humanitarian psychology, ADHD and learning-disability assessment, multicultural psychology, and psychological assessment.
His training also included humanitarian mental-health outreach with vulnerable children and refugees in Eswatini and Jordan, where he provided trauma-informed services, psychological assessment, psychoeducation, and consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Michael Nackashi
Is Dr. Michael Nackashi a sports psychologist?
Yes. Dr. Nackashi works with athletes as a sports psychologist and provides sport and performance psychology consultation addressing psychological factors that can affect athletic performance, confidence, concentration, stress, and well-being.
Does Dr. Nackashi work with high school and college athletes?
Yes. His practice focuses heavily on high school students, college students, young adults, and young professionals, and he also works with athletes on sports and performance psychology concerns.
What can a sports psychologist help an athlete with?
Sports psychology may address performance anxiety, concentration, confidence, motivation, emotional regulation, negative self-talk, competition stress, goal setting, interpersonal issues with teammates or coaches, and psychological resilience.
Does Dr. Nackashi work with ADHD?
Yes. He provides both clinical treatment and psychological assessment involving ADHD, attention, learning, and related concerns.
Does Dr. Nackashi provide psychological testing?
Yes. His background includes psychological, psychoeducational, and neuropsychological assessment training, and he conducts clinical, educational, and forensic evaluations through D’Arienzo Psychology.
Does Dr. Nackashi provide forensic psychological evaluations?
Yes. Dr. Nackashi provides forensic psychological assessment as part of his work with D’Arienzo Psychology.
Does Dr. Nackashi see young adults and college students?
Yes. Adolescents, college students, young adults, and young professionals are among the primary populations he serves.
Schedule With Dr. Michael Nackashi
To inquire about sports psychology, performance psychology, psychotherapy, ADHD, psychological testing, couples therapy, or forensic psychological evaluation with Dr. Nackashi, contact D’Arienzo Psychology.
D’Arienzo Psychology
6058 San Jose Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32217
904-379-8094
Availability of specific clinical, sports psychology, forensic, assessment, and telehealth services depends on the referral question, jurisdiction, professional requirements, and Dr. Nackashi’s availability.
