- Stress and anxiety
- Blended family issues
- CBT and ACT methods
About Stephen
Stephen Murphy is a licensed clinical social worker with ten years of experience. He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and practices with a base in Maryland. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, addictions, trauma, and life changes.
He offers straightforward, goal-oriented work rather than long lectures. Sessions often focus on what is happening now and on small steps that change daily life. He uses practical techniques to manage strong emotions, improve communication, and reduce unhelpful patterns.
Many people bring blended household pressures into sessions, such as step-parenting tensions, loyalty conflicts, or co-parenting stress after a separation. He helps individuals sort priorities, set boundaries, and balance competing responsibilities. Conversations can include how to talk with a partner or an ex, and how to manage difficult family interactions.
His toolkit draws from several established approaches including cognitive behavioral strategies, acceptance-based ideas, attachment-focused perspectives, and skills from dialectical behavior work. These methods are used to teach coping skills, shift unhelpful thinking, and strengthen relationships with others.
Stephen works with adults in English and accepts clients outside his country where licensing permits. Costs vary by location and sessions run on a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules a first session.
Online approaches and how they fit blended households
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing difficult thoughts and choosing actions that align with personal values. It can help when stress or role confusion in a blended household makes decision-making hard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT can be useful for reducing anxiety, managing anger, or shifting patterns that fuel household conflict. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how past relationships shape current reactions and expectations. This approach can clarify patterns around trust, loyalty, and closeness that often surface in stepfamily dynamics.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to match methods to a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. That means trying techniques, tracking what helps, and adjusting the plan together rather than committing to one method up front.
Session logistics should be confirmed before booking, since this biography does not list specific formats. Ask about available session types when you schedule. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy routine, allow shorter check-ins during a work break, or let someone choose audio-only if bandwidth is limited. These practical options help therapy fit daily life while the therapist focuses on skills for communication, emotional regulation, and balancing blended household demands.
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 address?
He works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family-related concerns, addictions, trauma, grief, parenting strain, and life transitions including blended household challenges.
What is his therapy style like?
Treatment is practical and direct, focusing on skills, communication, and small behavior changes that fit everyday life.
How much experience does he have?
He has ten years of clinical experience supporting adults through emotional and interpersonal challenges.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and practices from Maryland, with licensure across several U.S. jurisdictions.
Can I work with him if I live outside the U.S.?
He accepts international clients where his licensing and local regulations allow; sessions are conducted in English.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats are not specified in this biography; please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and services are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.