Anna Murphy, LMHC
Compassionate counselor focused on practical change
Details
| Name | Anna Murphy |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMHC |
| Based in | Iowa |
| Licensed in | Iowa |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 9 |
About Anna
Anna Murphy is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa with nine years of clinical experience. She meets people where they are and focuses on clear, practical steps to ease stress, anxiety, grief, and other worries. Her tone is warm and straightforward, and she aims to make therapy feel understandable and doable.
Before her current practice she has worked in psychiatric hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, and personal agencies.
Background and approach
Those settings exposed her to a wide range of concerns such as mood disorders, trauma, substance use, and chronic mental health conditions. She also has experience helping people navigate life transitions and caregiver stress. Anna earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Studio Arts with a Sociology minor from the University of Iowa in 2012.
She completed a Master of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling from The College of New Rochelle in 2015. Her training informs a flexible way of working that blends talk and creative methods when that fits a person’s needs. Her style centers on collaboration.
She treats each person’s story as the starting point and helps identify coping skills that match daily life. She draws on narrative approaches alongside cognitive and behavioral strategies to help people reframe struggles and build practical routines. Sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules.
Anna works in English and practices in Iowa. The process begins by completing a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time that works for the client.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief among the things Anna works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Anna among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Anna directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Anna directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and Behavioral Tools Work Online
Anna uses Narrative Therapy to help people examine the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships, then looks for alternative plots that fit their values and goals. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to clarify what matters most and to build small actions that move toward those values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thought patterns and testing practical changes in behavior to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they will try methods that feel like a good fit and adjust plans based on what helps in day-to-day life.
Online therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. Video calls allow more face-to-face interaction, phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited, live chat is a good option for shorter check-ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options help people fit therapy into work breaks, caregiving schedules, or when travel is difficult.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Anna commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, addictions, and relationship or intimacy-related issues.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm and client-centered, focusing on collaboration and practical strategies that fit each person’s life.
What is her clinical background?
She has nine years of experience working in psychiatric hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, and personal agencies.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds the credential LMHC and practices in the state of Iowa.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on client preference.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Anna are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Anna where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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