Anne E Murphy

Therapy is a collaborative, growth-oriented process, encouraged through a trust-based relationship. In our initial meeting we will discuss your immediate concerns, the challenges and stresses that brought you to therapy, and your hopes for our work and your future. I will get to know you, your unique background, and your current situation. Your history explains who you are; your therapy goals define the scope of our work. I believe therapy can change and improve your life and your relationships, and I will be your therapeutic partner in that endeavor. We will work together to relieve distress and suffering, process trauma and losses, resolve barriers to healthier relationships, and help move you toward a more engaged and fulfilling life. My academic and clinical training was in Psychological Counseling. My clinical training internship was at Whatcom Community Mental Health Clinic in Bellingham, Washington, where I worked in outpatient counseling with adults and families. Following this, I joined Journey Mental Health in Meridian, Idaho, a clinic serving adults, couples, teens, and children. My years working with individuals, teens, couples, and families provided the foundational experience for private practice and my current focus of working with adult individuals. During the 2020 global pandemic, I began working increasingly through tele-health, which I continued after relocating my practice to the Flathead Valley of northwest Montana. With respect to work and family responsibilities, tele-therapy can provide accessibility to mental health due to convenience. My practice is currently open for adult individuals, through a primarily tele-therapy format, and which may include intermittent in-person sessions as needed. I received a master’s degree in counseling psychology, with an Emphasis in Depth Psychology, from Pacifica Graduate Institute. My thesis, “Symbol Formation: The Meaning Making Function of the Psyche,” explored psychological healing through understanding the inner self. My education included developmental, psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, existential, attachment - based, and family therapy approaches in outpatient and community clinic settings. Drawing from these evidence-based theories informs my approach for an individualized treatment trajectory. Originally from Washington State, my formative years were divided between urban and rural communities. Prior to becoming a counselor, I worked in commercial design throughout the Pacific Northwest. My interest in the arts, which often express core human themes, led me back to graduate school later in life and to a fulfilling second career. I enjoy my professional home as a therapist and look forward to being part of your journey.