Anna Murphy, LMHC

Anna Murphy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Iowa with nine years of clinical experience. She has supported people across the lifespan in psychiatric hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, and private agencies, working with ages from three years old through geriatric populations. Her background includes care for persistent and chronic mental illness as well as support for life transitions, trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use concerns, DHS involvement, codependency, grief and loss, and challenges with emotional regulation.

Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Studio Arts with a minor in Sociology from the University of Iowa, earned in 2012, and a Master of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling from the College of New Rochelle in 2015. Her clinical style is warm, interactive, and client-centered - she approaches each person as the expert on their own story and focuses on empowering clients to build tailored coping strategies and skills. She integrates trauma-informed practices, client-centered principles, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and other modalities such as Motivational Interviewing and solution-focused techniques. When appropriate and welcomed by the client, she also incorporates expressive therapy methods to complement traditional talk therapy.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Anna Murphy draws on evidence-based methods to guide online work and tailors interventions to individual needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful action - it can help with anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors by teaching practical skills to shift unhelpful thinking patterns and build coping strategies for depression, anxiety, and mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness skills - it is useful for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and reducing impulsive behaviors.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Anna collaborates with each person to determine which methods align with their goals, preferences, and experiences. Together they explore which strategies feel most effective and adjust the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Anna is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexible ways to engage in treatment. Remote sessions make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, access care from home or work, and maintain continuity during life changes while working with licensed professionals and therapists trained in these approaches.