About Rebecca May

Rebecca May is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) #18034 and completed her Master of Arts in Counselling at Yorkville University and post graduate degree in Family Systemic Counselling in Australia at the Institute of Family Practice. Rebecca is passionate about helping adults and couples facing the unique challenges that come with midlife both individually and in their relationships.

Mid-Life Challenges & Chronic Stress

Rebecca brings a unique blend of experience to her practice. Her background includes not only psychotherapy but also roles as a business consultant, project manager, parent, and even a Latin dance instructor for over 20 years. This diverse experience, particularly balancing her unfolding careers and parenthood later in life, allows her to understand the pressures and complexities many adults face in their personal lives. These include becoming a parent, moving, changing careers, separation, dating, health changes, work stress, supporting aging parents, and loss.

Rebecca helps her clients understand how the accumulation of chronic stress can turn into symptoms of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and ruminating thoughts. Her goal is to help her clients learn how to slow down, listen to their needs, and begin to make choices that are aligned with who they really are. Like teaching dance, Rebecca believes people of all ages and life stages can learn the strategies and steps to move through midlife challenges in healthier ways. Her goal is to help you shift from a state of fight-or-flight to one of balance, resilience, and growth.

Couples & Relationship Counselling

Rebecca is especially passionate about working with couples. Having been married over a decade with three young children, she understands the modern-day realities involved in maintaining a strong relationship. Couples today often juggle multiple roles, family demands, long work hours, and often struggle to find the energy and time to connect by the end of a chaotic day. Distance and isolation can all too easily move in.

As a trained Gottman Method Couples Therapist, Rebecca is skilled at helping couples navigate these challenges, reduce conflict, and deepen intimacy. Rebecca focuses on helping partners bridge differences, understand each other’s values, and create new shared meaning. She believes that when both partners are committed to the work, even communication failures can become opportunities for growth. She fosters an environment of kindness, open feedback, and transparency, helping couples rebuild and maintain trust, learn better communication skills, and strengthen their bond. Her approach helps partners appreciate each other’s strengths instead of focusing on their faults. At the end of the day, Rebecca believes partners can unite in the face of life’s never-ending demands and create a “port in the storm” where they can ultimately rest and reconnect.

Background and Interests

Originally from Australia, Rebecca moved to Canada in 2012. She travels back to Australia whenever she can to visit family, friends and feel the warmth of the endless sandy beaches that she explored as a child. Outside of the office, Rebecca enjoys teaching Hip Hop dance to youth at Guelph Youth Dance and Latin dance to adults at the Royal City Dance. She’s careful to save enough energy to also enjoy time with her husband and three young children.

Email: rebecca.may@mylifecounselling.ca
Phone: 1-800-828-9484 (ext. 127)