Heather Murphy, LCSW

Heather Murphy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, self-esteem concerns, depression, career questions, relationship and family struggles, trauma and abuse, and parenting challenges. She also supports those dealing with intimacy-related issues, eating and body image concerns, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and life transitions.

She earned a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons College and a Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy from Emmanuel College. Heather has practiced in a range of mental health settings over the past 13 years. That experience informs a practical, steady approach to difficult moments.

Her style is warm and interactive. She mixes kindness, humor, creativity, and clear thinking to make sessions feel straightforward and human. Heather leans on client-centered principles to follow each person’s pace and priorities.

She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing when those approaches fit a person’s goals. In sessions she focuses on building skills, coping tools, and clearer ways to handle emotions and behaviors.

Heather emphasizes a trusting, collaborative relationship. She aims to help people recognize what matters to them, set concrete steps, and try small changes that add up. People work at their own speed, with guidance tailored to their needs and life situation.

Therapeutic approaches and online options

Heather commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns by practicing specific skills and experiments. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying personal values and learning to act on what matters, even when difficult feelings are present.

Heather treats finding the right approach as a collaborative process. She will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan as needed based on how things are going.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful when visual connection helps learning and practice, while phone sessions can be a good shorter check-in or a lower-bandwidth option. Live chat or text messaging can work for brief check-ins, skill reminders, or ongoing support between longer sessions. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy life.