Michelle M. May, LPC, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia (#0701005989) and Washington, DC (#PRC15518) specializing in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). Michelle is the Chair of the Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy Core Training program at Washington School of Psychiatry in Washington, DC and has taught Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy at Washington School of Psychiatry since 2019. Michelle has a private practice in Arlington, Virginia where she provides intensive dynamic psychotherapy for adults and couples. She is the author of the upcoming book, What I Couldn’t Tell My Therapist, which will be available in the fall of 2024. She is a Certified Teacher and Supervisor by the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA) and does trainings for health practices, organizations, and universities seeking to learn about mental health and intensive dynamic therapies. She also specializes in supervising licensed medical and mental health professionals in Experiential Dynamic Therapies such as ISTDP. Before starting her private practice, Michelle worked in the criminal justice mental health system in Alexandria, Virginia and at The Renascence Center, LLC, a group private practice in Arlington, Virginia.

She received her B.A. with Distinction and High Honors in Psychology from the Honors College at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor and received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marymount University.  

Michelle also offers mental health information and education via Instagram: @michellemmaylpc.

Media Appearances, Presentations, and Publications

• Addressing Common Barriers to Treatment in ISTDP, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital Child Psychiatry Grand Rounds, 2023.

• When Change Means Saying Goodbye, 2023. Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC) Fall Workshop

• GoodRx Health: “Is an Anxious Attachment Style Affecting Your Relationships? Here’s How to Know”

• New York Magazine’s The Cut: “Get Your Toxic Positivity Out of My Face”

• Mental Health Mastery YouTube series, Nomina Wellness, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, 2022.

• New York Magazine’s The Cut: “How Can I Convince My Boyfriend That Therapy Is Worth The Money?”

• Defense Recognition, 2023. Center for Cognitive Therapy and Assessment

• Defense Recognition for Deep and Lasting Change, 2022. Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC) Fall Workshop

• Advanced Anxiety Recognition and Regulation, 2021, The Wellness Connection

• Finding the Cause: A Clinical Exploration Through Video Tape, Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC) Fall Workshop Conference, 2021.

• Helping Clients See: Defense Recognition for Lasing Change, Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors, 2021.

• A Brief Introduction to ISTDP, 2021, The Wellness Connection,

• May, M. (2021). Going Deeper with Anxiety. Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors January 2021 Newsletter.

• Anxiety in Person and Online: Advanced Assessment and Treatment, Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC) Fall Workshop Conference, 2020.

• Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors, 2019.

• May, M. (2019). Unresolved. In C. Bauer (Ed.), Voices: The Art and Science of Psychotherapy, 55(2), 18. Albany, NY: American Academy of Psychotherapists.

ISTDP Training and Supervision

• Certified Supervisor by the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA)

• Certified Teacher by the International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA)

• Chair and Faculty, Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) Core Training Program at Washington School of Psychiatry

• Supervision and Teaching Training, Jon Frederickson, 2020 - 2023

• Graduate, Washington School of Psychiatry 3-year Core Training certificate program in Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP)

• Supervision with Jon Frederickson, 2015 - 2023

• Supervision with Allan Abbass, 2018 - 2019

  For a complete list of all trainings, please reach out to Michelle at michellemaylpc@hushmail.com

Professional Memberships and Associations

• National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) (NCC #300179)

• American Counseling Association (ACA)

• International Experiential Dynamic Therapy Association (IEDTA)

• New Washington School of Psychiatry

• Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselors (NVLPC)

• Psychology Today

• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)

• National Honors Society of Counseling

• International Honors Society of Psychology