Shelby Murphy

Qualifications & Experience

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Houston.

My Call to Christian Counseling

When I was in my 20s, I discerned that a mission statement for my professional life was to empower women to live life on purpose. Achieving that mission through counseling became the next obvious step in a career that has continually arched in that direction. Today, I have expanded that mission to empower all of my clients – including teens and couples – to live their lives according to God’s purpose for them.

More About Me/On a Personal Note

I married my high school sweetheart and together we have raised two now-adult children and have recently become grandparents, twice over. I love spending time with my family and my vocation as wife and mother will always be foremost in my life. I am a runner – completing countless races from 5ks to marathons, and even one ultra-marathon. I also enjoy hiking, traveling, cooking, and gardening. I am a voracious reader – primarily Christian, self-improvement, psychology, or sociology/cultural non-fiction.

Areas of Expertise/Specialties

• Abandonment and Neglect
• Aging and Geriatric Issues
• Anger Management
• Anxiety
• Coaching
• Counseling for Teens
• Couples Counseling
• Codependency
• Depression
• EMDR
• Family Counseling
• Grief and Loss
• Group Counseling
• Individual Counseling
• Infidelity and Affairs
• Lifespan Integration
• Marriage Counseling
• Online Counseling
• Personal Development
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Premarital Counseling
• Professional Development
• Relationship Issues
• Sex and Porn Addiction
• Sexual Abuse
• Spiritual Development
• Trauma
• Weight Loss
• Women’s Issues

Marriage Counseling / Couples Counseling / Infidelity and Affairs

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” – Genesis 2:18

As humans, we were designed to live in communion with each other and a fundamental part of human development is to learn to love and serve another above yourself. The dynamics of a relationship are complicated, however, and most people have never seen a healthy relationship modeled for them. Most couples need help figuring out how to create a common vision for their marriage, how to communicate their needs appropriately and lovingly meet the needs of their spouse, and how to enjoy each other as well as sacrifice for the relationship. Even more challenging, when one spouse has betrayed the other and all trust has been shattered, I can help you determine if you want to rebuild your relationship, how to live in truth rather than lies, and how to address the weaknesses that cracked the foundation of your marriage.

Teen Counseling / Family Counseling

. . . Do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4

Being a teen today is challenging in ways that past generations struggle to understand. Modern adolescents struggle with identity issues, the unhealthy influence of technology and social media, anxiety, depression, self-harm, social awkwardness, loneliness, family dysfunction/divorce, and a sexualized worldview. Well-meaning parents often just want their kids to be “fixed,” but quality counseling for teens combines individual and family therapy, as the parents have the most power in creating positive change. When the relationships between parents and child can be strengthened and the teenager can begin to see him/herself as a child of God, living into that calling, then adolescence becomes a period of growth, spiritual integration, and healthy identity development.

Women’s Issues / Depression / Lifespan Integration

“Daughter, your faith has healed you,” Jesus said. “Go in peace.” – Luke 8:48

As women, we were gifted with unique roles in our families and in the world – we are the bringers of life, of nurturing and care, and of relational wisdom. We also contribute to our home’s economy, we are often deeply curious and lovers of knowledge, and we crave love and respect that honors our individuality. The complexity of being a woman today – often combining work, motherhood, marriage, and our own personal development – can leave us feeling empty, inadequate, or exhausted. I can help you find your footing after past trauma, in dealing with depression, in parenting or relationship struggles, with bodily integrity, or with other phase-of-life issues. Whether you are a young woman or a seasoned matriarch, we will work to reintegrate a sense of self, learn to love your body, set and maintain healthy boundaries, build rational resilience, and develop radiant confidence.

Trauma / Sex Abuse / Moral Injury / EMDR

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

If a past trauma continues to darken your daily life, your spirit will not be free. I am trained in EMDR and use it as one effective tool in helping you reframe and process trauma. Along with the loving presence of God, we will free you from the chains of fear, grief, loathing, shame, and guilt left behind by trauma or moral injury (the strong cognitive and emotional response that can occur following events that violate a person’s moral or ethical code). We will together create a safe place for you to shed your burdens, reintegrate your body and soul, and move forward with a lightness of being.

Sessions: I offer 53-minute sessions. Sessions can be held more than once per week, weekly, or every other week. Scheduling options are discussed in greater detail during your Risk-Free Initial Session.

Availability (by office location):

• Stone Oak – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Online Counseling – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Fees: I offer a Risk-Free Initial Session for Individuals, Couples, and Groups looking to pursue counseling with me. Please note that there is a fee for the Risk-Free Initial Session as it is a clinical hour and reimbursable to most insurance companies, but if you choose not to reschedule and continue therapy after the initial session the entire fee for the session will be waived. For ongoing treatment the full fee per session is required at the time of service.

Insurance: As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), most insurance companies will reimburse for a portion of my services (as an Out of Network Provider). Please consult with your insurance provider as to whether they specifically cover adolescents, individuals and couples.

Receipts/Statements: In the event you require a printed or digital receipt, I will provide receipts for personal use, insurance reimbursement, Flex Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).

Payment options: Cash, Check, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & American Express). A fee of up to 4% per transaction may be added for credit card payments.