Addiction therapists & psychiatrists in Knoxville, TN

With over 30 years of experience as a therapist, I bring both deep expertise and genuine compassion to every client I work with. I specialize in helping individuals navigate anxiety, trauma, alcohol and substance use, and relationship challenges.

I believe that healing begins in a space where you feel truly heard. My approach is rooted in warmth, patience, and a deep respect for your unique story. Whether you're carrying the weight of past experiences, struggling with how you cope day to day, or feeling disconnected in your relationships, you don't have to figure it out alone.

We all have things we're afraid to talk about, but we also have a lot more control over these fears than we realize. I hope to help you unlock the courage to tackle these fears and take control of them.

I work best with driven people experiencing a big change. Perhaps, despite your best efforts, things aren’t working out as you’d hoped. Or perhaps you’ve gotten all you wanted and it doesn’t satisfy. I work often with D1 athletes & pros (as well as their family members). I love supporting the romantic partners of people in the public eye. Though I often work with athletes I am not a Sports Psych. In fact, I don’t even follow sports! I’m here for the rest of your life and identity.

With over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, I've had the privilege of working across a wide range of treatment settings, including acute care, non-acute care, residential treatment, and outpatient therapy. I work with adolescents and adults and have experience providing individual and couples therapy.

My primary areas of focus include relationship counseling using the Gottman Method, chronic pain and chronic illness through Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), addiction treatment informed by the work of Dr. Carl Hart, and Borderline Personality Disorder using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

In addition to these specialty areas, I frequently help clients navigate anxiety, panic attacks, depression, life transitions, adjustment disorders, parenting challenges, workplace stress, and the everyday demands that can leave us all feeling overwhelmed!

I became an LCSW after starting my career as a community-based social worker, supporting individuals and families navigating complex, real-life challenges. That work taught me the value of showing up with presence, respect, and a deep understanding of the systems that impact people’s lives.

My path to becoming a therapist was also shaped by my own experiences with healing and growth. I know what it’s like to do the inner work—to sit with discomfort, learn new tools, and slowly build something stronger from within. That personal insight informs how I show up in the therapy room: with empathy, curiosity, and compassion.

Motherhood has further deepened my approach. It’s taught me about vulnerability, patience, and the ongoing process of becoming—qualities I carry into my work with clients. I believe healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens in safe, supportive relationships, and I’m honored to offer that space to others.

Dr. Murphy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 40 years of experience in counseling individuals and families. She specializes in various areas of psychotherapy in including – Christian focused, Trauma focused, Addiction and recovery, Veteran PTSD and Military sexual trauma, depression/anxiety/bipolar disorder, Grief and victims of abuse.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Michigan in Flint, MI.

Master Social Work from Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, MI.

Doctorate in Behavioral Health and Integrated Primary Care from Arizona State University

Additional Credentials - Certified Master Addiction Counselor (PMAC), Certified Process therapy – trauma focused (CPT), Cognitive Behavioral Treatment in Chronic Pain (CBT-CP)

Unresolved childhood trauma, neglect, and attachment wounds can turn into long-lasting mental health conditions in adulthood.

As a mental health professional with many years of biomedical research experience, I have a deeper understanding of the neuro-developmental mechanisms underlying trauma, addiction, and mental health disorders. I specialize in diagnosing and treating complex traumas, attachment disorders, addictive behaviors, Autism, and personality disorders.