A little information about me. I have been in the field of Human Services since 2008. I am an associate licensed mental health counselor (LMSW) since 2018. I have practiced in both public and private practices. I am in the process of sitting for my full licensure in the State of Georgia. I am a graduate of University of Southern California. I hold a master's degree in social work with a minor in military families. I work with ages 11(+), families, couples and veterans. I provide evidence-based therapies and I am a certified hypnotherapist, a therapy that is helpful for the client struggling with trauma.

My desire is to come alongside you during life transitions, relationship issues and stressful times to provide a supportive and caring environment that assists you in dealing with life's difficulties. I work with women, adolescents and families struggling with anxiety, depression, addictions, faith-based issues, stress management, trauma, childhood sexual abuse, grief and relationship problems.

Melissa Murphy, LCSW-C, LICSW, LCSW, C-DBT, is a seasoned therapist and clinical director at Bethesda Therapy, licensed in Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. Specializing in anxiety, depression, trauma, and OCD, she employs ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), recognized as leading treatments for OCD. Melissa's expertise extends to managing mood disorders, sexual dysfunction, and pelvic pain disorders. Her approach is collaborative and strengths-based, focusing on developing personalized strategies for each client.

As a Gottman-trained couples therapist, Melissa is adept at addressing the complexities of relationships affected by ADHD and OCD. She also treats Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) and finds profound fulfillment in supporting therapists and those in helping professions. Her work is underpinned by advanced training in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over seven years of experience working with children, teens, and parents. "Enter into children's play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet." -Virginia Axline. I specialize in Child-Centered Play Therapy, a developmentally appropriate treatment modality for children that utilizes their natural mode of communication, play. I also utilize Expressive Arts, Family Systems, Strength-Based, and CBT.
I work primarily with children, teens, and young adults experiencing stress and anxiety, executive functioning deficits, identity confusion, mood disorders, grief and loss, and life adjustment challenges (i.e. separation/divorce). By providing a safe, non-judgmental environment, clients can effectively express, explore, and process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I believe every client is equipped with a unique set of strengths and skills that can help them overcome adversity. By helping clients rework negative perceptions of events in their lives or of themselves, clients can move to a more regulated state.

I have been supporting parents in every job or role I’ve had in adulthood whether I knew it at the time or not. My clinical work began working with teenagers in the inpatient setting. I noticed that there would be times where patients would become stable while in the hospital and then we would discharge them, only for them to return a short time later. I realized we needed to be working with the family as a whole. Then I began working with younger children, thinking if I intercepted my clients at a younger age, I could potentially prevent the struggles I saw on the inpatient unit. I slowly worked my way down in age, working in the infant and early childhood realm in mental health care. One day, I had a lightbulb moment. I noticed a trend in all of these settings: the most important and impactful work is done with parents. Most mental health difficulties in children (and even many adults!) can be traced back to early childhood. Those experiences either tend to help or hinder our roles as parents.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, trauma, or addiction, I can offer you a safe place to heal and grow. Looking into therapy is a brave first step in taking control of your life, and no matter what you are going through, I’ll meet you with compassion and respect. I believe my holistic approach to treating the mind, body, and soul—something I am very passionate about—can help you discover your best self.
I believe the ability to form close attachments and maintain satisfying relationships is at the core of a fulfilling life. That’s why I often work through a cognitive behavioral/emotional attachment lens, utilizing the therapeutic relationship to foster trust and connection. And because trauma is often at the root of many people’s pain, I’m also trained in EMDR.
My mission is to help you feel safe so you can tell your story, heal past emotional wounds, and find relief in the present. I have experience in various mental health settings, including residential, partial hospitalization, and individual therapy. As a trauma-informed therapist, I love working with adults dealing with anxiety, addiction, and trauma.

Hi! I believe that a fulfilling life is one built through connection with others as well as ourselves. I am excited about walking alongside you as we explore your relationship to yourself and the world around you. Together, we can work towards helping you create an authentic life!

Starting therapy can be scary, overwhelming, frustrating, and/or exhausting. There are so much options.. and if you're not a therapist yourself, many of the terms and specialties are new for you and probably don't mean anything yet. If you're not sure what exactly you're looking for, but know you want help and support, you're in the right place. I'll explain the process, walk through what next steps are and work with you along the way to answer questions and make sure what we are doing continues to feel supportive of your needs.

I offer my clients a safe space to explore questions and thoughts that they may not feel comfortable sharing with others. We will look at the feelings that come up for you in difficult situations and also share the wins together. We can keep things in the moment and focus on what's currently happening, or explore how past experiences have shaped you.

Everyone's needs are different, and there is not a one size fits all to therapy. I believe the relationship is the most important part of this process, and with a strong connection to your therapist (hopefully me!) real change and understanding can happen. If you're ready to start, please reach out and we can walk through this together.

You have arrived at this place wanting to explore deeper meanings of life, perhaps gain control over things that seem in disarray, or wish to make an internal shift to a place of peace, well-being, strength, and inner harmony. Pursuing therapy is a courageous decision. Whatever the challenges may be, I am happy to journey with you on this path of healing, overcoming, and anchoring. The counseling space that I offer will enable you to lean into your inner wisdom, strengths, skills, and capabilities.

I am a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor with over two decades of work experience in the mental health field. My work experience in the US and India has included weaving the intersectionality of equity, health, justice, and healing as an individual, a community, and a world.

A curious fact about me, which perhaps is rare, is that I worked in the corporate sector for ten years in leading technology companies before my immersion into the development and mental health field! The diverse background allows me to relate to a wide variety of people from all professions, backgrounds, and milieu.

I also speak several South Asian languages, including Hindi, Kannada, and Tulu.

In my work thus far, I have advocated for survivors of domestic violence and other forms of victimization alongside mental health counseling with trauma-informed approaches and mindfulness practices. Furthermore, I also worked as a counselor in a college setting, working closely with students and their families.

I weave person-centered therapy with holistic mindfulness approaches to healing and trauma-informed therapeutic interventions. As a clinician, I aim to support my clients in uncovering their own answers and their own truth, which offers access to their innate capacity for not merely healing but thriving!

I believe it is an honor to work with you. The work you do with me will be aimed at revealing a more authentic, happier, and healthier you! I look forward to meeting with you on your journey of overcoming.

I have been a practicing therapist since graduating from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta Georgia since 2013. I work with individuals as well as couples in a private practice setting based out of a local church in Douglasville, Ga. As a therapist I have experience working with with Anxiety, Depression, Co-dependence, Relational difficulties. I also do Pre-marital using Prepare-Enrich as well as Marriage Counseling. I love my work and I consider it a privilege to walk along side those who are willing to come sit and share with me.