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MK Portrait of May Kirby

May Kirby

Compassionate, evidence-informed therapy for complex concerns

LPC South Carolina

Experience
10 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with May

About May

May Kirby is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who centers her practice on evidence-based methods, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a primary tool.

Background and approach

She brings ten years of clinical experience, including work in intensive outpatient mental health settings, and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for meaningful change. Her style blends practical skills training with empathic collaboration to help clients navigate symptoms and everyday challenges.

Her areas of focus include stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, and self-esteem issues. She also addresses a wide range of related concerns such as ADHD, mood and personality disorders, panic and obsessive-compulsive patterns, codependency, caregiver stress, and life transitions.

May draws on approaches like acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment-based work, client-centered techniques, and existential perspectives to tailor care to each person’s needs. May works with adults from South Carolina and accepts international clients in English.

She aims to help people uncover strengths, clarify values, and develop coping strategies that support daily functioning and longer-term goals. Prospective clients are invited to explore whether her collaborative approach aligns with their priorities.

Approaches that guide online care and practical benefits

May frequently uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; this approach is often applied to anxiety, depression, panic, obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and problems with sleep or substance use. She also draws on acceptance and commitment therapy, which focuses on clarifying personal values and building psychological flexibility to manage difficult emotions and life transitions. Attachment-based work is used to explore relational patterns and how early connections influence current communication and intimacy concerns, which can support healing from trauma and improve relationship functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and May works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Together they assess what is helpful in early sessions and adjust the plan as needed to emphasize skills training, processing, or values-based action.

Online therapy with her is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it possible to maintain regular work on coping strategies, skill practice, and therapeutic tasks from home or other locations, supporting continuity and accessibility for clients with varying routines.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does May address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and intimacy difficulties, grief, self-esteem struggles, and ADHD.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her practice emphasizes a strong therapeutic alliance and uses evidence-informed approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment-based methods, and client-centered techniques to guide work.
How many years has she been practicing?
She has ten years of experience, including work in intensive outpatient mental health treatment settings.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is an LPC with the credential SC LPC 6507 and practices in South Carolina.
Does she work with clients who live outside the U.S.?
Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
What session formats are available for online work?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on client preference.
How does pricing and subscription work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsFamily of origin issuesHoardingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Motivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

South Carolina

Languages

English