heartsandmindstherapies is committed to your health and happiness. Whether you’re looking to set a new course in life, heal a wounded heart, or break from unhealthy habits, I want to help you become the person you want to be.
Any positive change requires awareness, determination, and effort. At hmt, I take an insight-oriented, solution-focused approach to therapy.
After setting mutually-determined treatment objectives, I help individuals, couples, and families achieve life goals, heal emotional wounds, become “unstuck”, or break free from unhealthy patterns.
I also consult with organizations to enhance work environments by improving morale, building teamwork, and mending conflict.
"We arrive at the truth, not by reason only, but also by the heart."
Blaise Pascal
Thank you for your interest in 
.
It’s my belief that we are at our best when our hearts and minds are in harmony. When one hurts, the other suffers. When one heals, the other mends. It’s only by listening to and understanding both your mental and emotional states that you can achieve purpose and fulfillment in life.
I’m a Clinical Social Worker licensed in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Florida with over 12 years experience helping adults and children live better lives. I got my Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia. I also completed more than two years post-graduate training in outpatient, community, and institutional mental health before becoming licensed.
I take an insight-oriented, relational approach to therapy, reflecting a mirror on your past and present struggles to create meaningful change and transformation. After setting mutually-determined treatment objectives, I work with individuals, couples, and families to help them achieve life goals, heal emotional wounds, become unstuck, or break free from unhealthy patterns.
I have extensive experience working with adolescents and adults on such issues as depression, anxiety, obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, grief & loss, substance abuse, identity and sexual orientation, spirituality, intimacy and relationships, career stalemates, lack of fulfillment, and difficult transitions.
identifying information removed to protect confidentiality
- Michael is a consummate professional. He listened intently by not taking notes while I was talking, remembered everything I said, never judged me, put specific events into perspective for me, and offered me helpful ways of dealing with certain people and/or situations. Most importantly, for someone who constantly feels misunderstood, I always felt as though Michael understood me.
- Just wanted to thank you once again for all your help, Michael. Sometimes I feel as if I’m drowning in this stuff and you always seem to throw me a life preserver just when I need it.
- After searching for about 5 years for a (couples) therapist, (we) feel very lucky that we have found you. I finally have real hope that (my husband) and I will be alright and that our marriage will survive, all because of you lighting the path for us.
- I know I could tell you this in our next session but just had to thank you again for everything. I was thinking about it last night and thought I could honestly thank you every day for the rest of my life for everything you have done. I know it's been less than 24 hours since we saw you but just having a 3rd person help ____ and I with all of our issues makes such a huge difference. I already feel less anxiety and have noticed a difference in our interaction (together) with (our child). ;) Thank you for always understanding!
- I can’t believe it’s been nearly a month now since (my son) and I last met with you. I’m happy to report that we have done very well “with the training wheels off” as we had described our attempt to go it alone for a while. In four weeks, we’ve had no problems or issues! More than that, I find myself describing our difficulties using the past tense, and that is a great feeling!... I have also spoken with a few other parents about their “teenager troubles,” and have been able to see, through their experiences, that our own have been a bit more normal and manageable than I would have thought just six months ago, when I was at my wit’s end! I have, in fact, now recommended to two families the idea of consulting with you.
- I SO appreciate feeling like there is someone listening. And I know you have a lot of other folks dealing with their own important issues with you. But you have the ability for that 50 minutes to make me feel like that you're with me. I don't know how you do it. But I really appreciate you. I appreciate what you do for a living.
- Thanks again for how good you are at your job Michael. I thought it would be easier for (my husband) and I to be on the same page if he listened to our meeting today. He wanted to. He also thinks you are very good at your job (it's more than a service, it's restoring a balance to peoples lives). So, we had a good discussion and are coming up with plans to help try catch things earlier, before anger steps in. We know it may not work every time, but we both know we have to keep trying.
- You have a great, non-anxious presence - not easy to find in people these days.
- I have learned so much during the almost 2 years that we've been working together, and I feel like all of our work has been completely eye opening and has helped to get me to a much better place in my life, so I cannot thank you enough for all your patience with me. I also feel like I'm now at a good point for me to venture out on my own now that I'm more equipped to process events, thoughts, and any concerns in a more productive manner.
- The skills I've learned from you will give greater value to my life... It is hard for me to show my emotions, but they are there, and you've helped me reach them and better deal with them.
- I greatly appreciate your patience, wisdom and the strategies you have taught me that will serve me in future relationships. I know that couples therapy must be difficult, but I really appreciate your impartiality. Our sessions helped me to see how my actions affected [my partner] in ways that I did not understand before, and I hope that I can learn from this experience and continue to grow.
heartsandminds provides mental health services to Metropolitan Washington DC and Northern Virginia. Michael Payne is a licensed psychotherapist experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of mental health issues.
heartsandminds is located in the heart of the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, conveniently accessible by bus and metro. We offer both daytime and evening appointments.
When should I see a therapist?
Disappointments and setbacks are a part of life. How do you know when it’s time to seek help? For some, it’s reaching a breaking point and deciding to make a change. For others, it’s wanting to make peace with a painful past. It may be prompted by a desire to understand self-defeating patterns or to answer a nagging question: “Is this normal?” Some seek counseling to change a bad habit that’s getting in the way of a brighter future. Others hope to heal a wounded relationship or move on from a broken one.
Here are some signs that your heart and mind may need healing
- Worrying “something bad” is going to happen
- Self-medicating through alcohol or other drugs
- Feeling hopeless/helpless
- Un-fulfilling or drama-filled relationships
- Loneliness
- Panic
- Difficulty sleeping
- Too much sleep/trouble getting out of bed
- Low energy
- Poor appetite
- Over-eating when sad or stressed
- Issues with sex or sexuality
- Feeling nervous around others
- Physical symptoms triggered by anxiety
- Obsessive thoughts
- Feeling guilty or ashamed
- Compulsive behaviors
- Flashbacks to traumatic events
- Mood swings
- “Road rage”
- Irritability
- Poor concentration
- Phobias/Irrational fears
- The “blahs”
- Parent-child conflict
Only you can decide if therapy is right for you, but most people who have sought counseling at some point agree that it helped them through a difficult time. If you are in emotional pain, you can and deserve to feel better. Reaching out for help is the first step. I would consider it an honor and a privilege to help you on your journey to personal fulfillment.
Call 703/622-2993 or e-mail mpayne@heartsandmindstherapies.com for an appointment.
"The mind has its own place and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
John Milton
Print and complete the forms below before we meet to cut down on administrative time during our first visit. The individual questionnaire helps me get to know you, your history, and your current concerns. The other three forms are designed to establish a clear, mutual understanding of the business side of our work together. Feel free to ask about anything that is unclear and mention any questions or concerns that you have before signing and dating the agreements.
Some related mental health resources:
Symptoms and Types of Depression:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-symptoms-and-types
Managing Anxiety in Times of Crisis:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/managinganxiety/
Coping with Traumatic Events:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/TraumaticEvents/default.asp
Managing stress in tough economic times:
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=171
Impact of Mental Illness on Families:
http://www.nc-cm.org/article180.htm
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
http://www.nc-cm.org/article160.htm
Managing Pain and Fatigue
http://www.arthritis.org/managing-pain-and-fatigue.php
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
National Institute on Drug Abuse
http://www.drugabuse.gov/scienceofaddiction/index.html
Therapist Profile on Network Therapy
http://www.networktherapy.com/heartsandmindstherapies/default.asp?loc=58975&rn=4&c1=20009
Therapist Profile on Theramatch
http://professionals.theramatch.com/michael-payne
Shop for a therapist: Article on NPR.org
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136283080/shop-for-a-pyschotherapist-to-avoid-the-lemons
Anxiety Resource
http://www.calmclinic.com
Daily graphics to touch the heart and nurture the mind
http://www.aheartaday.com
Take a virtual visit to our neighborhood and office space.
Please click on the pictures to enlarge and slide show.
is located in the heart of the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, VA conveniently accessible by bus and metro. We offer both daytime and evening appointments.
2210 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
Metro: Braddock Rd.
2210 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
phone: 703.622.2993