Lauren Kirk Murry

My name is Lauren Kirk Murry and I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) working with clients via telehealth in California. I work with individuals and families from a collaborative humanistic perspective, specializing in issues such as anxiety, depression, substance use/addiction, neurodivergence, LGBTQIA+ matters, challenging life transitions, relationship concerns, pre/postnatal support, and trauma. Using person-centered therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, feminist therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy, I will support you as we navigate toward resolving your concerns and accomplishing your goals while practicing mindfulness of the present moment and uncovering your true potential.

My approach

I will work with you in a collaborative manner to determine what theoretical approach is going to be most supportive of your concerns. As every person has a unique perspective on life, we will utilize therapies such as person-centered therapy, narrative therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, feminist therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, play and art therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to learn and practice strategies and skills, be present with challenging emotions, and access your inner strength and wisdom to heal and grow.

My focus

My expertise lends to working well with adults of all ages and families. I specialize in supporting individuals towards resolving issues of anxiety, depression, and difficult life transitions, addressing relationship stressors, and neurodivergence (ADHD, ADD, autism) concerns. I am an advocate and offer support for the LGBTQIA+ population, along with addressing issues concerning substance use and addiction. Being a mother myself, I have experiences with pre/postpartum issues and I am able to offer support in navigating these topics. I will also help you to identify your strengths and resources and to develop strategies for coping with difficult emotions and situations.

My communication style

A calm, grounded, loving, and supportive environment is created through our telehealth connection by my ability to hold the space we share with compassion, radical acceptance, and unconditional positive regard. I will listen and guide with a non-judgemental approach that recognizes your own unique and valid inner direction that many times is in need of being discovered and strengthened by our time together.

My journey to mental healthcare

Many of my family members are employed in professions of helping people to engage in a more productive life, including teachers, pastors, social workers, and therapists. I always knew I would follow in their footsteps and be a part of the change I wish to see in the world. I have been involved in supporting others over the years through my work as a preschool teacher, birth doula, meditation guide, certified yoga instructor, and substance abuse counselor. I now utilize this comprehensive knowledge in my approach as a mental health therapist. I believe that everyone has the inner strength and wisdom to heal and grow and that we are meant to do so with collaborative support, helping one another in community.

My goals for you

I rely on you, the client, to determine the goals of therapy. I believe therapy to be a space to empower yourself to make new choices and practice new behaviors and thought processes, as you gain new perspectives on how you view yourself, your life, and those around you. We will continue to check in with the topics and issues we are working on, as you navigate this process of becoming more in tune with your authentic self and your path forward.

My first session with you

In our first session, we will begin by talking about your concerns that brought you to therapy. We will discuss how you have been feeling recently, and any current problem-solving strategies you have already been using to support yourself, while offering some alternative strategies that may be more effective for you. I understand the importance of creating and strengthening our connection and want to help you feel comfortable opening up with me, as being vulnerable with a new person can sometimes be challenging. I treat every client as a unique individual with specific needs and goals, so getting to know you while you begin to feel safe with me in our telehealth bubble, helps me to understand how to create a collaborative treatment plan for our time together.