Ellen Murphy, LCSW
I believe that people have tremendous resilience allowing the capacity to persevere extreme difficulties. I also hold that through our innate capacities and potential we can recover from our struggles as well as make meaning of these experiences. We all can choose to initiate change towards healing. I view my therapeutic role as the facilitator assisting clients in the process of healing themselves and moving towards their most powerful, authentic self.
The decision to start or resume psychotherapy can be a difficult one. It requires courage and readiness on your part. Knowing this, I make the environment as comfortable as possible for my clients, allowing the space to achieve desired insights, different experiences and life changes.
I provide psychotherapy, counseling and consulting services to adolescents and adults, couples, families, and groups. Employing empathic listening skills, intuitive insight and humor, I assist clients in moving toward greater self-awareness. This treatment helps clients gain control in their lives and make better choices.
I typically utilize an approach to help clients recognize family-of-origin dynamics, and how negative beliefs, reactive emotions and unhelpful behavior patterns limit their progress towards goals. I employ a personalized blending of experiential therapies (mindfulness, meditation, EMDR, somatic imagery, ego state 'parts' work, and hypnosis), family systems, cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic and transpersonal work depending on the needs of each client and their goals for change. I emphasize a holistic focus considering aspects of mind-body-spirit for the healing process.
Before making a career change to serve as a social worker and psychotherapist, I worked as a marketing professional in corporate healthcare. This experience allows me to understand intricate dynamics of corporate workplace systems and impact of the work-related stressors as well as health-related issues with which clients often struggle.
Thank you for considering collaborating with me in your healing process. I welcome your call to discuss a strategy of working together.
Ellen
Education:
Bachelor of Science
James Madison University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The University of South Carolina
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Post-graduate Certificates:
Gestalt Psychotherapy
The Gestalt Training Center, Washington, D.C.
Spirituality and Clinical Practice
Professional Memberships:
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Society for Spirituality and Social Work
