Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Murphy, LCSW-C.
Hi Meghan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I received my Bachelor’s in Psychology from Washington College in 2009 and subsequently graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in 2011. Growing up in a family where substance abuse was a struggle gave me an early understanding of the struggles people face when someone they love isn’t truly well. That experience shaped the mental health therapist I am today, and I believe truly helps those in my office feel seen and heard. Over the last 15 years of my career, I have worked in various mental health settings, including The Kennedy Krieger Institute, Sheppard Pratt, school settings, community mental health, and eventually landed in private practice.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not, with each stage in my life has come challenges and learning curves that have made me stronger and moved me closer to where I am today. The death of my father when I was 20 solidified my desire to continue my education in the mental health field. I felt very strongly that if he had received more comprehensive mental health care, his outcome may have been different. Additionally, after the birth of my first son, I experienced post-partum anxiety. Motherhood changed my entire view on life and the way I practice as a clinician.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a holistic and integrative mental health practice serving children, teens, and adults. We have over 30 years of combined experience serving individuals with a variety of stressful life circumstances, such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, and trauma. We work to uncover the root causes of your struggles and heal them through a combination of talk therapy and other treatments such as play therapy, expressive arts, animal-assisted therapy, brainspotting, and EMDR. Through our integrative approach, we help people get connected not only to their mental health needs but also to their physical needs. Our brain and our body are connected; without a whole body approach to treatment, key components in our healing can be missed. We have a strong referral base in our community to make sure you are supported in all areas of your health.
Recently, Meghan has added two newer services to the practice. For in-person clients, Meghan utilizes the support of her certified therapy dog, Macky. She has been a wonderful addition to the team with helping clients feel regulated and more connected in sessions.
Meghan has also expanded to include ADHD coaching as a practice offering. After many years of working with parents and children, Meghan found herself saying the same things over and over again regarding support for her ADHD clients. It can be a confusing time to try to figure out what supports may be needed and which areas of the diagnosis to focus on first. She created her coaching platform as a way to reach more parents and families with valuable information on ways to support an ADHD diagnosis, as well as connect families in an online community. More information can be found on Instagram at @yourADHDroadmap.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those just starting their career as mental health therapists, I encourage you to work or intern somewhere that you feel well supported and gain skills and knowledge across multiple disciplines. Community mental health and hospital settings can be great for this. Just be sure to hold strong boundaries and care for yourself. High acuity settings can lead to quick burnout rates.
If you are a patient just starting the process of looking for a therapist. Think about what is bringing you to treatment and what you would like support with. Finding the right fit for yourself can be difficult at first. Know that you may need to consult or meet with a few people before you find the right person to settle in and do the deeper work with. The first person you get an appointment with may not be the best fit for you long term.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://connectwithhealing.com
- Instagram: @yourADHDroadmap
