Stephen Murphy

Calm, practical therapy rooted in evidence-based care

LICSW, MD, LCSW-C Maryland

Experience: 10 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Stephen

Stephen Murphy brings a decade of clinical experience to his practice in Maryland, holding the credentials LICSW, MD, and LCSW-C.

Background and approach

He works with people facing a broad range of challenges such as anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, grief, and stress, and offers focused support for issues like ADHD, relationship and parenting concerns, and career-related difficulties.

His background includes work across multiple jurisdictions, and he grounds his interventions in established therapeutic models including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Murphy’s style emphasizes a compassionate, individualized approach that helps clients build practical skills while exploring deeper patterns tied to attachment, communication, and self-esteem.

He incorporates techniques from client-centered and emotion-focused frameworks to tailor sessions to each person’s goals, whether that means coping with major life changes, addressing compassion fatigue, or navigating complex family situations. Prospective clients are invited to consider a collaborative process where resilience and personal growth are central aims.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Online Care

Stephen Murphy uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; this approach is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on clarifying personal values and building psychological flexibility through acceptance and mindfulness-based strategies. Both approaches emphasize practical skills and real-world application to support coping and goal-directed action.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is a collaborative process. Murphy works with clients to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and adjusts methods over time so the work fits each person’s situation and values. This shared decision making helps align techniques such as CBT or ACT with the client’s priorities and pace.

Online therapy with him is offered through multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care while balancing work, family, and other commitments, and they allow therapists and clients to focus on practical strategies and emotional growth regardless of location.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does he address?

He provides help for a wide array of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, and issues related to sexual orientation and identity.

What is his therapeutic style and approach?

He blends cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance and commitment principles, attachment-informed work, and client-centered engagement to create practical, person-focused therapy.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has 10 years of experience working with diverse emotional and behavioral concerns, applying evidence-informed methods across many clinical situations.

What credentials and location are listed?

He holds the credentials LICSW, MD, and LCSW-C with license details DC LICSW LC200002451 and MD LCSW-C 29950, and practices in Maryland.

Does he work with international clients or offer services in other languages?

He accepts international clients and conducts therapy in English.

Which session formats are available for online work?

Sessions may be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin therapy with him?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsDepression

Also works with

Addictions Trauma and abuse GriefParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

10+ years

Licensed

Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, District of Columbia, Maryland

Languages

English