About Sharon (Hart) Morris May, PH.D.
| Sharon grew up in South Africa and came to the United States in 1972 with her parents, Dr. Archibald Hart (former Dean of Fuller Graduate School of Psychology) and Kathleen Hart, along with her two sisters, Dr. Catherine Weber (author of ‘Unveiling Depression: Female Depression’ and ‘Secrets of Eve: Female Sexuality’) and Sylvia Frejd (author of “My Daily Renewal,” speaker, life coach, song writer of ‘Renew My Mind’ on Kim Hill’s Dove Album of the Year 2000 of the same title). After attending UCLA and receiving her degree in Psychology, Sharon spent many years as wife and mother, writing bible study curriculum, a Women’s Ministry Director, bible study leader and speaker at women’s retreats. In 1995 Sharon’s husband was killed in a car accident and six months later she returned to graduate school to complete her Master’s in Christian Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology.
Since then Sharon has specialized in one of the most highly effective couple’s and family therapy models called Emotionally Focused Therapy. Sharon is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Director of the Haven of Safety Relationships. Sharon is known as a relationship expert having helped many couples journey from the edge of divorce to a close, connected safe haven marriage. Sharon has a heart for working with couples, leaders, pastors, missionaries, training counselors and helping people foster close and secure relationships with their creator and their loved ones. Wherever there are relationships (dating, marriage, family, workplace, churches, mission-field), Sharon aims to help foster understanding, healing and wholeness. Sharon is well known for her highly effective ‘Safe Haven Marriage Intensives’ where couples come from all over the world for a 2-to-3 day marriage-changing process. With follow-up sessions, this model has proven to be a very effective way for bringing about lasting change in couples. Sharon devised, ‘Haven of Safety Marital Assessment Tool,’ a marital assessment tool based on the attachment concept of ‘safe haven.’ She continues her research regarding how couples make sense of the way they fight and foster a safe haven with each other. Her first book is called, “Safe Haven Marriage: Building a relationship you want to come home to.” Her new book is titled, “How to argue so your spouse will listen.” Sharon is an effective and captivating speaker. She is humorous, motivating and informative. She integrates cutting edge research regarding relationships, psychology and counseling with the spiritual aspect of life. “You can’t make sense of relationships, life, and what is most important in each,” Sharon says, “if you don’t have a sense of the heart of God and the purpose He has for your life.” Sharon is married to Michael May and together they have 4 grown sons in their twenties: Matthew, Vincent, Alan and Mitchell. Family brings Mike and Sharon the most joy in life. Mike and Sharon travel together and when home, live in Arcadia, California. |
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Selected Recent Publications
--Books and Chapters in Books-- “How To Argue So Your Spouse Will Listen” (2007) Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing. --Articles-- “Grief Work: A Systemic Approach to Bereavement and Restructuring Attachments After Experiencing Loss.” (2005) Christian Counseling and Pastoral Care, Volume 2 of the AACC Counseling Practice Series. Timothy Clinton, George Ohlschlager, Archibald Hart, executive editors. Nashville: Integrity Press. |
