Matthew “Jacob” May, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), supervised by V. Jean Stanley, LP, LPCS, LSOTPS, has spent the past decade working in roles that support the emotional and psychological development of others, including serving in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and counselor. He lives in Lufkin, where he met his wife and began raising his family while also serving as youth pastor at Providence Baptist Church, a role he has faithfully held for the past ten years. These experiences have shaped his commitment to supporting the mental health and overall well-being of individuals and families in his community. Throughout his career, Jacob has maintained a bi-vocational path that combines professional counseling, education, and ministry. He completed a counseling program at Stephen F. Austin State University and is also a certified biblical counselor through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His professional focus centers on helping individuals better understand their thoughts, emotions, and life circumstances while developing healthier coping strategies and improved psychological functioning.
Jacob uses proven counseling methods and, when clients want it, can also include faith-based perspectives in the counseling process. He helps clients explore their thoughts, life experiences, and personal values so that treatment can be tailored to each person’s unique needs and circumstances. He provides counseling services through Pathways Forensic & Mental Health Services, PLLC in both the Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas locations with evening and weekend appointments available. His services include marriage and family therapy, adolescent counseling (ages 12+), adult therapy, grief and loss counseling, and faith-integrated counseling for clients who desire that perspective as part of their treatment. Earlier in his career, Jacob served as a crisis counselor at Burke, where he conducted crisis assessments and provided follow-up mental health services for individuals experiencing acute psychological distress. As a member of the Pathways FMHS clinical team, Jacob will provide direct mental health services where he can channel his passion for helping adolescents and adults navigate life challenges, strengthen emotional resilience, and develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior. He enjoys providing couples, family and marital counseling. In response to his new role, Jacob said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve individuals and families in our community. It is a privilege to offer compassionate, clinically informed care while supporting clients in their efforts to strengthen their mental health, pursue personal growth, and improve their overall well-being.”