Hello! My name is Anna and I am a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Iowa with over five years of experience providing therapy services. Prior to and including these last nine or so years I have worked in various settings including psychiatric hospitals, schools, community mental health centers, and private agencies. I have experience with a wide variety of populations and ages ranging from three years old to geriatric. I have experience with persistent/chronic mental illness, life transitions, trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use, DHS involvement, codependency, grief and loss, and with individuals who are struggling with managing their emotions.
I received my Bachelors degree from the University of Iowa with majors in Psychology and Studio Arts, and a minor in Sociology in 2012. I then graduated from The college of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, New York with my Masters of Science in Art Therapy and Counseling in 2015. My approach to therapy is warm, interactive, and client centered. I believe individuals are experts on their stories and experiences and I am here to empower and support you. I aim to assist clients in learning the strategies and coping skills best tailored to their individual situation. I draw my approach from a combination of styles: trauma-informed, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution Focused. I also enjoy utilizing expressive therapy modalities if client's are open to these experiences.
Additional areas of focus: 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
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
IA LMHC 080832
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Anna Murphy. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Anna is amazing at replying and is very helpful
Written on Dec 20, 2022 after therapy with Anna for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and self esteem
I have been working with Anna for quite some time, and she is patient and conscientious in our sessions in messages, I highly recommend her!
Written on Dec 20, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 8 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and trauma and abuse
Very easy to work with and talk to, supports goals and helps learn new coping mechanisms. Honest. Lovely to find a therapist I feel comfortable with for the first time in a long time.
Written on Nov 29, 2021 after therapy with Anna for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and coping with life changes