If you can read this, you made the first step. Congratulations. Seeking therapy is hard. Most people delay and tell themselves that whatever they are experiencing must be the way life is. Chances are if you have reached the point to begin exploring therapy, counseling can help make your life better. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor for over 20 years. In that time I have worked with men, women, teens, and families on a wide variety of issues. Sometimes that work simply involved helping them through a particular incident or life change that overwhelmed them. Other times our work together centered around longstanding issues of depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. I believe that you cannot laugh without a combination of insight and relief. You can expect some humor in most sessions. In addition to traditional cognitive behavioral therapy, I also offer a fourth-wave therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). I have found this technique to be highly effective in helping people with trauma and or anxiety. Our minds and bodies are connected. Anyone who has experienced a tight neck and shoulders or an upset stomach when they were stressed knows this. EFT uses acupressure (done by the client) and cognitive interventions to provide fast and effective relief. With over 20 years of clinical experience, I am ready to help you through the challenges you are facing. In addition to counseling, I also provide vocational testing, coaching, and consulting. I provide both Christian and secular counseling depending on the needs of my clients.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During our first session, I will have a lot of background questions for you. To best help you, I need to get a full picture of your life. If you fill out a pre-appointment questionnaire before the session, that will save us some time. However, we will still need to review it to make sure I understand everything. When the session is over you will no longer be alone with your problem and will likely experience some new feelings of hope and relief. I will also make sure that regardless of how long it took to get background information you leave with at least one new tool to help you with your problem.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I understand that most problems are not simple. Many people with anxiety often also have ADHD and the two conditions interact with each other. Most people struggling with substance abuse almost always began using the substance due to anxiety, depression, and or trauma. Everyone has core beliefs about how the world works and mental filters through which they process information. We develop them at a young age. When we reach new stages of life, they do not always work as well as they used to. Therapy is a time to examine them with our current minds. I work with people to help them not only deal with current problems they are facing but also adjust how they approach life going forward to better handle life's next big challenge.
About Mark H Murphy
Specializes in
Licensed in
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Mind-body approach
In addition to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I utilize Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT or Tapping). CBT works on the thoughts and feelings at or just below the surface of our consciousness. Often this is highly effective with anxiety and depression. However, it is not as helpful with trauma and sometimes the old thoughts and feelings return like weeds. Using EFT, I help people work through the memories that created the negative thought patterns, feelings, and world views that keep coming back despite our best logical efforts. One way it works is by helping the bodies energy systems that store these memories unblock so the memories can be processed and released. EFT also helps by helping executive brain functions stay on line while processing troubling memories. I find EFT helps people make deep shifts of understanding while releasing the emotional intensity of strong negative emotions.
Christian Counseling
I offer both secular and Christian Counseling. Issues of faith are worked into counseling at a level that the client chooses. Many Christian's struggle with issues of faith that impact their mental health. I often find that these problems come from beliefs that emerge from commonly held Christian Cultural assumptions as opposed to actual scriptural precepts.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT can help people more closely examine their thinking that is causing them emotional distress. The basic rule of being in counseling with CBT is "Don't believe everything you think." By talking through your thoughts and feelings you are able to uncover mistake in thinking that are causing your emotional responses. CBT also involves behavioral challenge assignments. These assignment help solidify new thinking and can also help expose where the more work needs to be done.