Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Mattapoisett, MA

I believe good mental health care begins with feeling heard. I’m Dr. Sylvia May, a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. I provide individualized and thoughtful care for adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, life transitions, stress, and women’s mental health concerns.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and focused on understanding the full picture of your health and your life. With experience in both psychiatric and primary care, I consider how emotional well-being, lifestyle, medications, relationships, and life circumstances may intersect.

Together, we will develop a plan that feels realistic for your life and reflects your concerns, priorities, and goals - not simply your diagnosis.

I became a therapist because I wanted to show up for people in the moments that matter most. My background spans emergency services, crisis intervention, inpatient psychiatry, residential programs, and outpatient care — experience that shaped a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach to every session.

I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, panic attacks, anger management, life transitions, and relationship challenges. I also offer couples counseling through a Solution-Focused approach. As a Black male therapist in Central Massachusetts, I'm especially attuned to the needs of men's mental health — an area that is underserved and where I bring both lived experience and clinical depth.

I'm an LICSW — Massachusetts' highest independent social work license — trained at Salem State University and offering evidence-based, online therapy across the state.

I offer an environment of ease and attentive listening as a place to begin. Our work together will help you feel more grounded and less overwhelmed, so painful emotions can be met with understanding and long held patterns considered from new perspectives. Over time, you can expect to move through life with more self compassion and steadiness.

With more than 15 years of experience in office, hospital and hospice settings as a hospice chaplain, I have helped adults navigate grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and crises of purpose and meaning.

I graduated from Smith College School of Social Work in Northampton, MA, in 2002 and have been helping people with various mental health issues since that time. I have been trained in psychodynamic therapy, DBT, mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing, among other modalities.

I am a licensed mental health counselor and dance movement therapist. I am passionate about mental health, healing, and helping folks help themselves. I approach my work with a trauma informed lens, and with a deep respect for meeting people where they are at. Focus mainly on identity, anxiety, depression and trauma.

Asking for help is difficult, but it’s worth it for the relief it brings. In 30 years of professional experience, I have witnessed the transformative power of therapy. I specialize in working with adult individuals. I am genuinely interested in you and your human experience. How has it shaped you? What obstacles has it erected in your path? Let’s get curious about it all. My complete respect and empathy are always present.

I work compassionately with generally high-functioning adults who may be experiencing a range of potential symptoms that diminish their mental and/or physical health and well-being. These may include anxiety, perfectionism, and performance challenges; self-esteem and self-worth; body image and disordered eating; managing chronic disease; grief and loss; depression; relationship challenges with friends, partners, and family members; and life and career transitions that may include finding meaning in life. I often work with people who simply find life is easier when they have a non-judgmental connection outside of their usual circles.