Thomas May, LCSW

Thomas May is an LCSW with 41 years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people through major life changes, relationship and family struggles, grief, and low self-esteem. He aims to make sessions straightforward and practical so people can take steps forward between meetings.

He uses a client-centered stance that prioritizes each person's experience and pace. That means listening closely, reflecting what matters, and working from the concerns a person brings. He also draws on existential ideas to help people find meaning, face difficult choices, and rethink life direction when values or roles change.

Thomas has a long history of supporting people during midlife transitions, workplace stress, and social anxiety. He also helps with caregiver stress and challenges tied to chronic pain, illness, or disability. He often focuses on communication problems, isolation, and rebuilding a sense of purpose after loss or separation.

Sessions tend to include practical communication skills, ways to manage day-to-day stress, and conversations that clarify personal values and goals. He encourages people to explore emotions like guilt, shame, or anger while learning tools for coping and self-compassion.

Thomas practices in California and works in English. He guides people toward clearer choices and steadier functioning rather than quick fixes, aiming to help them feel more grounded in everyday life.

How client-centered and existential work adapt to online therapy

Thomas uses client-centered work that focuses on the person's present experience, values, and goals. This approach means the session follows what the person brings, with reflective listening and practical steps to change communication and daily habits. Existential therapy in his practice invites people to examine meaning, life direction, and the choices that shape identity, which can help during midlife shifts, grief, or major illness.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. He collaborates with each person to decide whether client-centered listening, existential reflection, or a mix fits best. Goals, comfort with different methods, and what feels most useful guide that choice together.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, handle shorter check-ins between commitments, or avoid long travel to appointments. It also helps people maintain continuity of care when life events or health issues make in-person visits difficult. Thomas aims to help people translate therapy into everyday routines and coping strategies that fit their schedules.