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 minister and psychotherapist who values the healthy integration of faith along with the best of the behavioral sciences. I value spiritually grounded and psychologically informed care. One professional specialty has grief and loss.

At Wilde Counseling, we believe that stability often comes when we brave the wilderness within and around us. With an emphasis on nervous system support, we help our clients heal from traumatic events, past or present, and experience more connection in their lives. We work with clients to make sense of attachment wounds, build inner trust and self-compassion, and move past the relational patterns that have kept them stuck. It is a privilege to enter hard spaces with you and offer a safe place to land.

Life can get overwhelming sometimes, and everyone has an opinion on how you should manage it. No matter what you’re dealing with, someone always suggests a quick fix— anxiety: “just calm down;” depression: “just be happy;” or disordered eating: “just eat.” The reality is, if it were that simple, we would all be perfect people and never struggle with anything in our entire lives. That’s just not human nature. So if that’s not the answer, how do we grow and change? How do we resolve the deepest, most wounded parts of ourselves?

There’s a quote by Christine Langley-Obaugh that I love, which says, “We repeat what we don’t repair.” We have to sit with those uncomfortable parts of ourselves—our anxiety, depression, disordered eating, grief—and figure out when and why it showed up. What is it trying to tell us about ourselves and our experience?

That’s what the therapeutic space is for. We put other pieces of our lives on hold for an hour, to sit and listen and process. From there, we can establish a different way for the brain and body to communicate with one another; a way that allows for expression without overwhelm. It’s a process that can take some time, but it is oh so worth it.

I consider it a gift to help individuals and couples meet their goals and work towards becoming their most authentic selves. I have expertise and experience treating depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, trauma, family and relational issues, marital concerns including infidelity, and more. My therapeutic approach is fairly simple: I believe you are the expert in your life and I am here as a partner and sounding board to help you make real positive changes. My therapeutic style takes into account my training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Gottman therapy for couples, in conjunction with my belief in the resilience of the human spirit. I tailor my methods to suit the unique needs of the couples and individuals I serve. I understand how daunting it can feel to reach out for help, but you don't have to face this alone. Together, we can embark on a journey toward a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

I have a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and work with adults, teens, children, and couples. I am a person -centered and strengths based counselor, which means that I see you as the expert on you and will use my skills to help you find the solutions to your problems that are best for you. During our work together I will draw from various counseling theories including: solutions focused brief therapy, psychodynamic, CBT, and attachment theory. I have a certificate in child and adolescent therapy and specialized training in play therapy that I will use with my younger clients.

I work with children, adolescents, and young adults. My therapeutic style is very person-centered. I want sessions to be beneficial for you and will cater towards your needs. I have completed training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). I also incorporate art therapy, sand tray therapy, and play therapy into sessions. Just like every human, every therapy session is unique!

I have over 30 years experience teaching mindfulness, meditation and working in the Mental Health field. I feel a lot of compassion for those who struggle and specialize in working with religious trauma, PTSD, nightmares, disscciation, and depersonalization, excessive worries, anxiety and panic attacks. I never ask my clients to do something, i.e. use a method that I have not worked with myself. I strongly believe one must walk their talk and live in integrity to feel healthy. I have traveled and lived in many countries and I provide support for expats and people with intercultural adjustment difficulties related to the experience of living abroad.. My primary purpose for traveling in other countries was to study with various teachers about the nature of consciousness. I lived, for example, with a group of Indians studying indigenous medicine in the Amazon jungle of Columbia. I also traveled through India, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Mexico and Turkey studying the psychological teachings contained in the religious teachings, histories, sacred sites, and art of these cultures. I have studied and practiced Samatha and vipassana Meditation methods for over 30 years. I currently reside in Saigon, Vietnam.