Meet Cecily May

Welcome, I am so glad you are here!

I am passionate about setting children up for success in their adult years. Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive instead of merely survive, which takes healthy families and a healthy society. I think one of the most effective ways to build towards a more emotionally enriched society is through working with adults, allowing their healing instead of their wounds to trickle down through the generations. I believe parents, teachers and caregivers all deserve support in creating or maintaining connection despite challenging external factors. Alone, I cannot solve the barriers in our society, but I believe that I can offer support to those seeking guidance in acquiring skills and tools needed to navigate the emotional challenges that are a natural effect of caring for children in a modern day society.

After all, empowered adults, empower kids.

I am an adoptee and I was raised in an unstable family system resulting in my own insecure attachment style. However, I have spent the past 15 years mindfully deconstructing my own childhood dysfunction and painful family dynamics; reparenting myself, unlearning maladaptive behaviors of my own, forgiving myself, and reteaching myself healthy communication skills and relational tools in hopes of breaking my family’s generational cycle of pain and chaos. Over the years I rebuilt my inner foundation where I (re)discovered self: acceptance, trust, love, worth, confidence, safety and connection within; shifting to a more secure attachment.

I am a mother to my amazing daughter CE, who inspires me daily to keep moving forward on my own journey towards reflection and growth. Our relationship is a daily testament that despite one’s upbringing, cycles can be broken, and secure and connection-focused relationships can be cultivated with intentional and consistent effort.

Lastly, I have found what I feel is my calling in being able to guide and support others with their own journeys towards self-discovery, healing and growth and I am so happy you are here! My wish for those who had challenging childhoods is to find the inner-peace and self-acceptance they deserve.

Random Facts About Cecily

  • Throughout my existence I have at some point been "the first born", "the youngest", as well as "the middle" child.

  • My first name is actually "Mary-Catherine", though more often than not this results in people calling me by the incorrect name, and my having to correct them multiple times. So a few years ago I decided to simplify my online presence and go by the name "Cecily".

  • I lived in Guam for over three years. Yes, it was amazing. And Yes I adopted a Boonie Dog.

  • Back in 2012 I developed a brief acquaintanceship with Dave Chappell. I was living in Ohio at the time and was the organizing chair for our military spouses' club's social outings. We kept running into Dave and each time he happily joined in with our group's fun.

Continued Education & Certifications

  • Synergetic Play Therapy Certification Program: Ongoing

  • IFSCA: Stepping Deeper Course: Ongoing

  • Introduction to Synergetic Play Therapy

  • IFSCA: Stepping Stone Comprehensive Internal Family Systems Course

  • Integrated Attachment Family Therapy

  • The Embody Lab: Integrated Somatic Trauma Therapy

  • Intergenerational Trauma

  • IAOTRC: Trauma Recovery Coaching