Dr. Alisa Murray

My clients express appreciation for my style of communicating with warmth and clarity; I don't beat around the bush. They tell me that they truly feel heard and understood on a deeper level. They also like that I give them specific tools they can use and I use stories and metaphors to make information memorable. As someone who has worked in fitness and medical settings as well, I think beyond basic talk therapy and take a more holistic approach. I especially work well with people with ADHD and creative, busy minds who want to work on activities between appointments that promote their personal growth and improve their executive functions.

I draw from mindfulness-based and cognitive therapy approaches, particularly acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). ACT acknowledges that we can't shut off negative thoughts, so we use defusion strategies to help you put less focus on your worries and more toward the activities that are most important to you. I'll teach you to identify your priorities, manage your time to include these front and center, and confidently and respectfully communicate limits with others. I also believe that learning to regularly listen to yourself with curiosity and not judgment and to care for yourself with kindness is essential; this is mindfulness at its core. Therapy sessions are active and collaborative. I like to bring in vivid examples and humor as appropriate to help you remember and apply concepts.

It may feel a little nerve-wracking to talk with a stranger, but usually clients tell me that they feel relieved and happy to get started by the end. I'll ask you questions to try to get a sense of who you are and your background, and what kinds of activities are more likely to be a good fit. We then work together to define your goals and strategies that I believe will be useful. This is always a collaborative process. At the end, we agree on a first homework activity for you to try. The entire first appointment takes 60-70 minutes, as compared to 50-55 minutes for a typical therapy session.