I'm Christine Murray (she/her/hers), the Founder of Start Here Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. I'm on a mission to promote mental health, healthy relationships, and thriving communities. I have over two decades of experience working in the mental health field. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, as well as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in my home state of Pennsylvania. My counseling practice specializes primarily in working with individuals who are on a journey toward healing and growth following unhealthy, toxic, and/or abusive relationships in any area of life, especially survivors of intimate partner violence / domestic violence. I also work with a limited number of clients who are navigating general life transitions and struggles. Although I work primarily with individuals, as a trained marriage and family therapist, I also work with couples and families.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I believe it's a courageous thing to do to reach out for support from a counselor! The first session with a new counselor can be a bit of an anxiety-inducing situation, so we'll focus the first session on getting to know one another, reviewing important information about the therapy process, and starting (slowly!) to explore what a client hopes to get from counseling and the concerns they are facing that prompted them to reach out for counseling. During the first session, we'll also discuss how frequently the client would like to meet and, if desired, get the next session scheduled so that the client knows what to expect after the first session.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I've been working in the mental health field for over two decades, and I've learned a lot throughout my career, but I'm happy to share that I'm always still learning and growing. In 2024, I’m retiring after 19 years of service as a faculty member at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where I have been a Professor in the UNCG Department of Counseling & Educational Development and also served as Director of the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships from 2019-2023. As much as I've enjoyed the opportunities I've had in academia to train future counselors and do research, I'm thrilled to be devoting more time and energy to direct clinical practice now. This is especially true because we're in the midst of an unprecedented mental health crisis with all of the major things happening in the world in recent years. One of the strengths I strive to bring to my work as a counselor is being a compassionate, non-judgmental presence. While my focus as a counselor is always on the client, I have a lot of life experiences that inform my work, along with my professional training and experiences. My own life has had its fair share of ups and downs, and I've benefited from counseling in my own life at different points in time as well. I consider it a privilege to work in a field in which we get to walk alongside and offer support to people who are navigating difficult seasons in life. If you are taking the courageous step of reaching out for help, and if I'm the right fit for you as a counselor, my commitment will be to offer practical skills and personalized support, meeting you right where you are on your journey.