Welcome!
May Zhang, LMHC
My name is May, a bilingual (English and Mandarin) therapist with 6+ years of counseling experience who was born and raised in Shanghai. I came to the U.S. as a teen, and now I live in NYC. I have been a therapist for the past six years working with a variety of populations with different needs and struggles in life. I have interned at a public art high school and then a community mental health center in Philadelphia. Previously, I worked at a nonprofit in Brooklyn helping Asian and Latino immigrant families by providing individual, couple, and family trauma-informed therapy for the past four years.
I put strong emphasis on understanding how my client's lived experience intertwines with different systems, including their family of origin, society, cultures, etc. My own journey of living in different places and being exposed to different cultural and gender values at different stages of my life often leads me to reflect on the challenges of acculturation and the importance of cultural sensitivity in my practice. I have been really enjoying helping my multicultural clients explore their own cultural identities and feel seen.
My Therapy Approach:
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to therapy. I see each of my clients as unique individual who is resilient and capable of ongoing growth in all aspects of their life. My clients describe me as someone who is genuine, inquisitive and affirming. I also like to challenge clients, if necessary, to help them broaden their ways of viewing themselves, others, and the "problems" that they are going through right now. I believe healing starts the moment you step in the therapy room where I help you explore what is on your mind, where you want to go next, and the tools that will help you on the way. I am trained in EMDR to help clients process past trauma. I have also helped many AAPI clients deepen their self-understanding and achieve self-compassion and healing through exploration of their family dynamic, cultural values and identities, as well as to process their complex trauma using EMDR and/or talk therapy.
I take on an integrative approach which combines elements of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Family System, psychodynamic, strength-based, etc., depending on each client's needs and preferences. I create a safe place for all of my clients where I help them explore whatever is on their mind, set up individualized goals collaboratively, and further expand their perspectives and awareness in order to heal and grow.
My Specialty:
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Anxiety and rumination
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Relationship issues
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Low self-esteem
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Complex Trauma
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Family conflicts
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Acculturation
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Immigration stress
