- Anxiety and depression
- Attachment issues
- Skills and values work
About Stephen
Stephen Murphy is a licensed clinical social worker with ten years of experience. He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and practices from Maryland. He helps people dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and family-of-origin patterns.
Stephen works with adults who notice old family roles and expectations still shaping their choices. He talks through how attachment, communication, and patterns from childhood turn up now. Sessions focus on clear skills and practical steps, not labels.
He uses approaches drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address thoughts and values that influence behavior. Attachment-Based Therapy is part of his work when relationships and early bonds are central to the concern. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills can be introduced for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.
Stephen emphasizes straightforward conversation and skill-building. He helps clients map repeating patterns, practice different responses, and try new behavior between sessions. That can include small experiments at home and rehearsal of conversations people find difficult.
People who come for relationship strain, parenting stress, or family-of-origin issues often focus on changing how they relate to others. He also supports those managing grief, addiction concerns, career questions, and life transitions. International clients may be accepted, and sessions reflect the realities of living and working today.
To begin, the process asks for a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session. Payment varies by location and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and taking committed action even when difficult thoughts or feelings appear. It helps people who want clearer direction and behavior that matches their priorities. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape patterns in adult connections and helps people work on trust, closeness, and communication problems.The therapist treats approach selection as a collaborative task. He will talk with each person about what seems to fit their goals and preferences, and adjust methods as needed. Clients and therapist decide together whether to emphasize skills training, values work, or attachment work based on progress and feedback.
Practical benefits of online sessions include easier fitting of appointments into a busy week and options for shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. Session formats should be confirmed before booking, since the profile does not specify which formats are used. The goal is to make sessions workable within everyday life while focusing on concrete skills, communication practice, and change that carries into daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, family-of-origin issues, and related concerns such as grief, addictions, and parenting strain.
What is his therapy style like?
He keeps sessions practical and conversational, focusing on skills, behavior experiments, and clearer ways of relating rather than long theory discussions.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has ten years of professional experience as a licensed clinical social worker working with adults on emotional and relational concerns.
Which credentials and locations are listed?
He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and is licensed in Maryland among other jurisdictions; his profile location is Maryland.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
Yes, he does accept international clients according to the profile information.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.