Stephen Murphy, LICSW, LCSW-C

Stephen Murphy is a licensed clinician with ten years of practice supporting people through tough emotional moments. He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and works from Maryland while licensed in several states. He focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship struggles. His style is compassionate and straightforward. He creates a calm space where clients can talk through what matters most. Sessions focus on practical steps people can try between meetings and clearer ways to understand thoughts and everyday habits. Stephen uses a mix of approaches to fit each person’s needs. He draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and attachment-based ideas to address how thoughts, feelings, and relationships interact. He also incorporates client-centered and dialectical behavior methods when helpful. He often helps people with grief, trauma, addiction concerns, parenting strain, and work-related stress. Other areas he addresses include ADHD, bipolar concerns, caregiving stress, and blended family challenges. He supports people navigating life changes, identity questions, and communication problems. Stephen works in a nonjudgmental manner and aims to build resilience and clearer goals with each person. He emphasizes skills that make everyday life easier, such as emotion regulation, behavioral experiments, and values-based action. People interested in beginning can use the directory’s Start Therapy button to begin the intake steps.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts without getting stuck and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and decision-making when someone wants more clarity about what matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily routines. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean blending ACT, CBT, attachment ideas, and client-centered support as the process unfolds. If you are considering online therapy, check the session options before booking since the biography does not list formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, or travel. It can allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or let someone avoid commute time and focus on practicing skills in their everyday setting. Licensed professionals guide the choice of pace and structure so therapy supports real-life changes.