Stephen Murphy, LICSW, LCSW-C

Stephen Murphy is a licensed clinical social worker with ten years of practice. He works with people facing anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and big life changes. He provides steady support while people find clearer direction and better daily coping skills.

He creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where clients can talk through what matters most. Sessions focus on practical steps and honest conversation. Stephen helps people build skills for managing stress, addiction concerns, grief, and mood challenges such as bipolar disorder.

His approach pulls from a few evidence-informed methods. He uses tools that help people notice and change unhelpful thinking, strengthen attachment and relational patterns, and commit to values-based action. Therapy can include short-term coping strategies and longer work on patterns that keep showing up.

Stephen also supports issues tied to parenting, adoption and foster care, caregiver stress, and workplace pressures. He pays attention to identity-related concerns, including LGBT topics, and offers guidance around communication and commitment challenges.

Stephen holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and practices in Maryland. He works with clients in English and accepts international clients. Before booking, confirm the current session options to match your needs and schedule.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Stephen uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. ACT focuses on noticing difficult thoughts and moving forward with purposeful action, which can help with anxiety, depression, and life transitions.

He also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to look at how earlier relationships influence current patterns. That work helps people improve communication, increase emotional connection, and change repeated relational responses.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. This is a collaborative decision that can change as progress unfolds.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online therapy useful because it can reduce travel time, fit into work breaks, or allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Online sessions can make it easier to attend consistently and to apply skills in everyday settings while still working with a licensed professional.