Leah Murphy

• Stress and anxiety
• Trauma and abuse
• CBT and DBT techniques

About Leah

Leah Murphy helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and grief using a conversational, client-led style. She works in the United Kingdom and is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Leah has 21 years of professional experience.

She offers time to talk things through and to understand what is causing distress. Sessions focus on what the person brings, with ideas from client-centred counselling to make space for personal experience. Practical strategies from cognitive behavioural therapy are used to reduce unhelpful thoughts and day-to-day distress.

Leah also draws on principles from dialectical behaviour therapy to teach skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. When trauma or abuse is a feature, trauma-focused approaches guide the pacing and choice of interventions. The therapist adapts techniques to each person rather than following a fixed script.

Her work covers a wide range of concerns including mood problems, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting and family stress, work and career pressures, and difficulties with sleep or eating. Additional areas of focus include attachment and abandonment worries, neurodiversity-related challenges, chronic illness and caregiver stress, and issues around identity and sexuality.

Sessions are described simply and plainly, with an emphasis on practical steps and skills alongside open listening. People who choose to work with Leah can expect clear explanations of approaches, collaborative planning of goals, and strategies to use between sessions.

How Leah uses approaches in online work

Leah uses client-centred counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy in ways that fit everyday life. Client-centred counselling focuses on listening, reflecting and helping people make sense of their feelings. It helps when someone needs space to talk and to be heard without being led by a strict technique.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions and offers straightforward strategies to test and change unhelpful patterns. It can be useful for anxiety, low mood, sleep problems and managing stress. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) provides skills for emotion regulation and for improving communication in difficult relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Leah will discuss options with the person and agree what to try based on their needs, goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process and plans can change as the work progresses.

If you are considering remote sessions, please confirm current session options before booking as formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so people can access help from different locations.

Topics Leah lists

• Stress and anxiety
• Relationship issues
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Depression
• LGBT
• Family conflicts
• Intimacy-related issues
• Eating disorders
• Sleeping disorders
• Parenting issues
• Anger management
• Self-esteem
• Career difficulties
• Bipolar disorder
• Coping with life changes
• ADHD
• Abandonment
• Adoption and foster care
• Aging and geriatric issues
• Antisocial personality
• Attachment issues
• Autism and Asperger Syndrome
• Avoidant personality
• Body image
• Cancer
• Caregiver issues and stress
• Chronic pain, illness, and disability
• Co-morbidity
• Codependency
• Commitment issues
• Communication problems
• Control issues
• Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
• Dissociation
• Divorce and separation
• Domestic violence
• Eating and food-related issues
• Emptiness
• Family problems
• First responder issues
• Forgiveness
• Gender dysphoria
• Guilt and shame
• Hoarding
• Hospice and end-of-life counselling
• Impulsivity
• Infidelity
• Intellectual disability
• Isolation and loneliness
• Jealousy
• Life purpose
• Men's issues
• Midlife crisis
• Veteran and armed forces issues
• Money and financial issues
• Mood disorders
• Multicultural concerns
• Narcissism
• Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
• Panic disorder and panic attacks
• Paranoia
• Personality disorders
• Polyamory and non-monogamous relationships
• Post-traumatic stress
• Prejudice and discrimination
• 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

Ways of working

• Client-Centred Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
• Trauma-Focused Therapy

Questions about Leah

Does she work with anxiety?

Yes. Anxiety and stress are listed areas of focus and are commonly addressed in sessions.

What kind of counselling does she offer?

She practises client-centred counselling and uses cognitive behavioural therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy techniques, with trauma-focused approaches when needed.

How many years of experience does she have?

She has 21 years of professional experience working with a range of concerns.

Is she registered with a professional body in the UK?

She is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Can I have sessions in English?

Sessions are offered in English.

Do you accept international clients?

She accepts international clients according to the information provided.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I get started?

Click the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.