Therapist profile
Stephen Murphy, LICSW, LCSW-C
LICSW and LCSW-C - Relationship and Parenting support
Continue with StephenAbout
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Attachment focus
About Stephen
Stephen Murphy is a LICSW and LCSW-C with ten years of clinical experience, licensed in Maryland as LCSW-C and holding social work licenses in Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. He works with adults on a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, addictions, trauma and grief. Sessions are conducted in English and international clients may be served.
He focuses on practical help rather than labels. He listens to what is happening at home and breaks problems into manageable steps. Common topics he addresses include communication problems, caregiver stress, blended family issues, and coping with life changes such as separation or loss.
Stephen draws from several approaches to guide sessions. He uses acceptance and commitment ideas to help people clarify values and take small actions. Cognitive behavioral techniques are applied to spot unhelpful thinking and try different behaviors. Attachment-based perspectives inform work around closeness and trust.
Sessions tend to be straightforward and goal oriented. He helps people set realistic next steps they can use between meetings. For parents or adults dealing with difficult family dynamics, he offers tools for reducing conflict and managing strong emotions.
He describes his role as a collaborator who helps people sort priorities and practice new ways of handling stress. Clients will find clear strategies and stepwise skill-building aimed at daily life problems.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people identify what matters most to them and take small steps toward those values. It is often used for stress, anxiety, and life transitions where moving forward matters more than getting rid of all difficult feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting patterns of thought that reinforce worry or low mood and then trying different behaviors or coping skills to change outcomes. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and managing everyday stressors. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns of closeness and distance in relationships and helps people recognize how early patterns influence adult relationships and caregiving roles.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Stephen will collaborate with each person to choose which methods suit their goals, needs, and pacing. That may mean combining ACT, CBT, and attachment ideas across sessions and adjusting tactics as progress is made.
The therapist's biography did not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, require less travel, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Many people find video or phone meetings helpful for maintaining regular appointments and practicing new skills between sessions. Licensed professionals can tailor pacing and assignments so sessions connect directly to everyday family and parenting demands.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting challenges, addictions, trauma, grief, and related concerns listed in his specialties.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses practical, goal-oriented sessions that focus on skill building and stepwise change based on approaches such as ACT, CBT, and attachment work.
How much experience does he have?
He has ten years of clinical experience working with adults on a range of emotional and family-related issues.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and is licensed to practice as an LCSW in Maryland; he also holds social work licenses in Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.
Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
He accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
What session formats are offered?
The original profile does not specify session formats; confirm current session options before booking to know how meetings are held.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.