Christen Murphy, MA, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I opened Hope for the Journey Therapeutic Services in January 2020, following several years of clinical work in community mental health and group practice. My goal was to provide much needed mental healthcare to my hometown in rural NC.

My specialty treatment areas involve navigating life's transitions (separation, divorce, entering/exiting college, etc), relationship concerns, issues with anxiety and perfectionism, and women's issues. I am also well versed in depression and suicidality management, grief and bereavement, parent/child relationship problems, and conflict resolution. I thoroughly enjoy working with adolescents (16+), young adults, and couples.

My style of therapy is informal and collaborative, implementing solution focused and strengths based techniques. I strongly believe that YOU are the expert on your life and your life's experiences, and because of this, believe that each client has the capacity within them to enact change. I work alongside my clients to assist with recognizing harmful patterns and thought processes that contribute to negative interactions and experiences. Together we will collaborate on how to create excitement and fulfilment in each day. My work incorporates attachment, humanistic, and systems theories.

I am a NC native living at the beach with my husband, our baby girl, and our rescue dog, Bear. I thrive in life with a little help from DIY projects, travel, thrift shopping, and watching true crime documentaries.

Experience and Credentials:

NC Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, License # 1990
SC Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, License # 7970
Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Appalachian State University
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Minor in Social Work from Western Carolina University
Trained in Gottman Couples Therapy, Levels 1 and 2
Trained Clinician in TF-CBT (trauma-focused counseling) through NC Child Treatment Program
Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator for Premarital and Marital Counseling
Master's Level internship experience at Mountain Youth Academy- Locked Residential Treatment Facility
Work experience at Daymark Recovery Services- Day Treatment Program (school based)
Work experience in a group private practice (in office and school based)

Why Work With Christen?

Therapists have a large skill set, expansive education, and a desire to help others. We are listeners, supporters, and motivators. There are a lot of options, so why me?

Accessible: With a teletherapy option, barriers to regular sessions are eliminated. There's no need for travel, gas, transportation, etc. And no longer does living in a rural area exclude you from working with trained professionals.
Relatable: I take great pride in my ability to connect with others. I believe strongly in the value of the human experience, meaning that no matter your circumstance or our differences, we are human and are thus connected through the suffering that life brings from time to time. I approach my relationship with clients with curiosity and empathy. I want to learn about your personal reality and sit with you during the deep, dark times that others might shy away from because I too have experienced those times myself.
Expertise: I have experience working with depression, anxiety, anger management, trauma, parenting, life transitions, relationships and communication, grief and bereavement, etc. I also regularly attend continuing education trainings to stay up to date on all things mental health.
Honesty/Transparency: I am fully committed to being honest and transparent with my clients through their treatment. I believe that there is a large amount of knowledge to be gained from pointing out dynamics during sessions, changes or differences noted in my clients, and from hearing an outside perspective on thoughts and behavior.
Mindset: I don't believe that we live in a black and white world. So much of what we do, relationships we share, and our thoughts and actions fall in shades of grey. I'm here to help you navigate the grey that can sometimes be sticky or uncomfortable. We don't have to see the full picture, we just need to take the first step.
Empowerment: Despite my skills and training, I believe that each of my clients are the experts on their lives. Unlike some professionals you may meet, I don't pretend to know what's best for you and I don't use a "one size fits all" therapy style. I'm here to support you, guide you, and empower you to know what's best for your unique situation.