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Stephen Murphy, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Stephen is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Stephen. View 21 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Virginia, Alabama, and 3 more

Recent reviews

I’ve worked with Stephen for over 6 months now and he has helped me really reflect on things going on in my life, my behavior and relationships with others, and my career and family goals. He is responsive and respectful and is great at helping me consider other perspectives. I would highly recommend him.

Reviewed February 2022

Stephen has been great help to our marital needs while offering us many incites to improve communication and early marriage transitions.

Reviewed November 2021

More about Stephen

  • 9 years' experience
  • Male
  • LCSW, LICSW, LCSW-C

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the states of Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. My experience includes clinical social work, risk management, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, case management, crisis intervention, advocacy, brokerage, education, and facilitation working with diverse groups of children, adolescents, and adults in medical social work, child welfare, mental health/chemical dependency, corrections, HIV/AIDS, and Veteran Affairs. While working with these clients, I have acquired necessary clinical skills relevant to culturally diverse practice and effective outcomes. I am a well-organized, highly motivated, and an energetic team player dedicated to meeting my clients where they are through both micro and macro level social work interventions.

Working in Mental Health for over 12 years, I've learned that people are literally trying to put the pieces of their life together just to make it through the day. Being sensitive to this, I've developed my practice model around the following quote, "We're only as strong as our weakest link; therefore do your best to strengthen someone today!" My goal every day is to strengthen someone (self-included) in some area. Let's Live in Purpose so we can Win on Purpose!

Specialties

Stress Anxiety LGBT Relationship issues Family conflicts Depression Addictions Trauma and abuse Grief Parenting issues Anger management Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Coping with life changes Coaching Compassion fatigue ADHD Abandonment Adoption and foster care Aging and geriatric issues Attachment issues Blended family issues Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Dependent personality Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) Dissociation Divorce and separation Domestic violence Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame HIV / AIDS Hospice and end-of-life counseling Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisis Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Paranoia Phobias Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships Post-traumatic stress Prejudice and discrimination Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Self-harm Self-love Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Workplace issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment-Based Therapy
  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy

Licenses

Stephen Murphy's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1053945345.

  • LCSW · Virginia · 0904011454 · Expires June 2025
  • LICSW · Alabama · 4325C · Expires June 2025
  • LCSW · Georgia · CSW007707 · Expires September 2026
  • LICSW · District of Columbia · LC200002451 · Expires July 2025
  • LCSW-C · Maryland · 29950 · Expires October 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Stephen Murphy

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

21 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Recommend Anxiety Helped Listens Understand Understands Excellent Helping Amazing

I’ve worked with Stephen for over 6 months now and he has helped me really reflect on things going on in my life, my behavior and relationships with others, and my career and family goals. He is responsive and respectful and is great at helping me consider other perspectives. I would highly recommend him.

Reviewed February 2022

Stephen has been great help to our marital needs while offering us many incites to improve communication and early marriage transitions.

Reviewed November 2021

Stephen is great and intuitive. For a person aversive to therapy, I’ve enjoyed the counseling sessions. I’ve come to understand a lot about my issues.

Reviewed April 2021

My counselor was very responsive, punctual and listens to my concerns. I was very satisfied with my session with my counselor and would recommend Betterhelp.com to anyone.

Reviewed April 2023

I highly value Stephens advice and expertise

Reviewed February 2023

Great ear. Great way of explaining the obvious. He gives different ways to approach difficult situations and solutions.

Reviewed January 2023

I've tried therapy before but its never felt useful and it just felt awkward and burdensome (I have some social anxiety so I just felt anxious about therapy...), so when I started this time I had very low expectations and expected a negative outcome. However Stephen has proven to me time and time again that it can work and help. Not just does he listen (and has made me feel safe to open up -though I still struggle with that) but he shows empathy and caring. I have also really appreciated and find it impressive how he listens, understands and then gets at the root of the issue or breaks it down in a way that makes suddenly certain patterns of behavior or feelings make more sense to me. It is this last thing that has really made me feel like things get better.

Reviewed January 2022

To be honest, I would've completely lost faith in therapy if I hadn't found Stephen Murphy. He manages to not only understand and empathize with me and talk me through the worst of it, but he also always manages to have me look at things from an entirely different view and make me realize things in one giant epiphany like moment. Even when I don't think we have anything to talk about, our sessions are always full. I've gone from thinking I'm nuts to being able to get through day to day with his help and support in our sessions. I recommend him to anyone needing therapy.

Reviewed November 2021

Stephen is excellent. He understands and makes me think about things I wouldn’t have otherwise.

Reviewed November 2021

With Stephen l feel like l finally have someone l can talk to about things that going deep within my self without being judged or looking for validation. So far it's been great and l would recommend anyone who is looking for someone to talk to and have that space of no judgment.

Reviewed November 2021

I trust Stephen's advice completely. He listens and councils very effectively. Highly recommended.

Reviewed November 2021

I highly value Stephen's advice and expertise in managing my chronic anxiety issues

Reviewed September 2021

Stephen always goes above and beyond to listen and communicate clear next steps...and also checks in on my progress.

Reviewed September 2021

Stephen is always there for me. Offers practical solutions. And he’s encouraging.

Reviewed June 2021

Stephen is amazing. The issues I’m dealing with right now, I feel like he understands more than anyone in my own personal life that I’d confide in. There have been times when I knew what the message he was going for already was, but then he rephrases it and simplifies it in a way that makes sense and just hits different. I’m so glad we were matched and no matter how inconsistent I am with utilizing this service, I plan on keeping it anyways because he’s too good and too important to lose

Reviewed May 2021

Stephen has helped me find practical ways to manage my anxiety and depression. I would highly recommend him

Reviewed March 2021

Stephen did an excellent job in coaching me through a difficult discussion that I need to have with my parents. He listened to what I had to say, asked the right questions, and made sure I had created some type of action plan to move forward. I would highly recommend Stephen to others...a true professional.

Reviewed February 2021

Stephen was great during the first meeting. I expect it will Continue.

Reviewed February 2021

I was worried that my therapist would be too CLINICAL. That was not the case. Very laid back. And that is what I needed . I don't want a "how does that make you feel" I want a "so here is the plan of action"

Reviewed January 2021

So far, I feel my counselor is helping me understand things, relationships and self better

Reviewed January 2021

I would 100% recommend Stephen for counselling. I feel listened to, and they have helped me manage my depression and anxiety.

Reviewed January 2021

How was your experience with Stephen?

Frequently asked questions

Does Stephen Murphy offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Stephen Murphy works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Stephen Murphy speak?

Stephen Murphy speaks English.

How many years of experience does Stephen Murphy have?

Stephen Murphy has 9 years of experience.

Where is Stephen Murphy licensed to practice?

Stephen Murphy is licensed to practice in Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, District of Columbia, and Maryland.

Does Stephen Murphy accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Stephen Murphy accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Stephen Murphy offer?

Stephen Murphy offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

How can I communicate with Stephen Murphy?

Stephen Murphy can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Stephen Murphy?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.