Karen Murphree, LCSW

Karen Murphree is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) practicing in Montana with 30 years of experience helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship challenges, trauma, and a wide range of life transitions. She takes a whole-person, strength-based approach that blends evidence-based psychotherapy with creative and lifestyle-focused tools to support healing and resilience.

With training that includes prior clinical experience as an LPN and graduate-level study in natural and alternative health plus health coaching, she emphasizes the food-mood-lifestyle connection and integrates practical wellness strategies alongside talk-based work. Her clinical work weaves together approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), attachment-based principles, and client-centered practices, while also drawing on visual imagery, music, art, guided meditation, movement, ritual, aromatherapy, attention to sleep and nutrition, and other complementary methods.

Karen works from a respectful, nonjudgmental stance and provides affirming care for LGBTQIA2S+ and neurodivergent clients, and for people in polyamorous and kink communities. She often provides educational resources to extend learning between sessions and partners with clients to identify limiting beliefs, strengthen coping skills, and access creative and intuitive capacities for growth. She describes her work as collaborative and encourages prospective clients to reach out to see if the fit feels right.

Therapeutic Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Karen uses attachment-based therapy to explore how early and ongoing relationships shape emotional responses and patterns - this approach can help with relationship struggles, intimacy issues, and attachment concerns by strengthening awareness and relational safety. She also draws on client-centered therapy, which emphasizes listening, empathy, and the client's own goals to create a collaborative and nonjudgmental space for growth. For trauma and distress that benefit from targeted processing, she incorporates EMDR techniques to help people work through painful memories and reduce their emotional intensity.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Karen works together with each client to identify goals, preferences, and practical needs, and then tailors interventions so they fit the person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model. This collaborative stance helps clients try methods and adjust as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with Karen is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to make care more accessible and flexible. These options allow clients to engage from different locations and schedules, access support between sessions, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable while working toward their goals.