Katie Murphy, LMHC

Katie Murphy is a Massachusetts-based therapist who focuses on supporting people through the unique pain of losing a cherished pet. She centers pet loss grief work within her clinical practice and combines personal experience with professional training to understand the complex emotions that follow the death of a companion animal. Katie creates a compassionate environment where clients can tell their stories, honor their bonds, and process sorrow at a pace that feels manageable.

With warmth, empathy, and steady presence, she meets people of different ages who are navigating bereavement, loneliness, or the ripple effects of a major life change after a pet loss. Sessions are offered through telehealth, allowing individuals to access support from home while maintaining continuity of care during a difficult time. Katie draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and a client-centered approach to help clients find meaning, manage intense emotions, and build coping strategies for day-to-day life.

Katie holds the LMHC credential, which stands for Licensed Mental Health Counselor and indicates formal training and licensure to provide mental health services. Her practice emphasizes respectful listening, practical guidance, and emotional validation to accompany each person through the healing process following the loss of a furry friend.

Grief-focused approaches and online support

Katie Murphy uses grief-focused methods that help people name and process the feelings that follow the loss of a pet. These approaches create space to remember the relationship, acknowledge pain, and work through rituals or decisions related to saying goodbye. They are intended to help with intense sadness, longing, and the disruption that often follows a beloved companion's death.

She also uses skills-based coping strategies that teach practical tools for managing stress, anxiety, and daily routines while grieving. These techniques can include breathing and grounding practices, emotional regulation tools, and strategies to rebuild structure and purpose after a loss.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Katie works collaboratively with each person to determine what best fits their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they review progress and adjust methods to support healing and resilience.

Online therapy offers flexible access to care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. This range of options makes it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, to receive support from home during sensitive times, and to maintain continuity of care when in-person visits are not feasible. Licensed professionals can tailor the format to each person so therapy is both accessible and responsive to individual circumstances.