Michael Payne, LICSW, LCSW

Michael Payne is a Clinical Social Worker licensed in the District of Columbia and Florida. He received his Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Payne has worked in a variety of mental health settings over the past nine years. Prior to joining Parkhurst Associates Mental Health Services, he was in private practice with the Lambda Counseling Center in Miami Beach, where he specialized in individual, group, and couple’s therapy. In Washington, DC, Mr. Payne was previously employed as a mental health therapist at the Center for Mental Health. There, he conducted assessments and therapy with adults, adolescents, and children and directed a school-based intervention program. At Whitman-Walker Clinic, he worked as a therapist and case manager for HIV+ and LGBT clients in need of supportive mental health services. Mr. Payne is also an award-winning documentary producer and writer.

Mr. Payne employs an insight-oriented, solution-focused approach to therapy. He also frequently incorporates cognitive-behavioral modalities and exercises. After setting mutually-determined treatment objectives, he works with individuals, couples, and groups to help them achieve life goals, heal emotional wounds, become “unstuck”, or break free from unhealthy patterns. Mr. Payne has extensive experience working with such issues as depression, anxiety, obsessive and compulsive behaviors, identity and sexual orientation, intimacy and relationships, career stalemates, lack of fulfillment, and difficult transitions.

Mr. Payne is available for appointments on evenings and weekends.