Leah Murphy, Psy.D.

Since 2009, I have loved being an associate in this practice here in Doylestown. Collaborating with clients and their parents/guardians/families to set and reach mutually agreed upon therapy goals is an important feature of my treatment work. Areas of focus include ADHD/ADD, high-functioning autism, obsessive-compulsive issues, various types of anxiety, trauma/loss/grief, and ‘picky eating.’ I draw from cognitive-behavioral (CBT), mindfulness, motivational, acceptance-commitment (ACT), parenting skills, family, and group therapy approaches, as well as from neurodivergent/neurodiversity frameworks. Clients and I work together to build clients’ skills in tolerating and coping with multiple types of anxiety/stress and trauma/grief/loss, as well as address obsessive-compulsive issues. Additionally, clients and I develop and manage executive functions, build skills to regulate emotions/behaviors, grow abilities to adapt to their world/environment, develop and maintain meaningful connections/relationships with others, and address “picky eating” habits.

Similarly, parents and I work together to establish parenting strategies/skills which are effective for their particular child/teen. Likewise, collaboration with the child's school personnel, pediatrician, and any other professional (i.e., speech/language therapists, nurse practitioners, other psychotherapists, testing/assessment specialists, psychiatrists, medical doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists) to promote strategies that will help clients reach their treatment goals is an important component of our work together.

In addition, I am proficient in Spanish. Certifications in the clinical treatment of ADD/ADHD and Autism (ADHD Certified Clinical Services Provider and Certified Autism Spectrum Clinical Specialist) are part of my training as well. Being a member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the American Psychological Association, and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association is another aspect of my professional life.

I am a Pennsylvania Licensed Psychologist with 25 plus years of experience working with children and teens ages 3-early 20’s, parents/guardians, and families. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Colgate University in 1994. Subsequently, I earned my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) from NOVA Southeastern University and completed my clinical internship and post-doctoral supervision at Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital. 

Following my training, I enjoyed working as a therapist, Cognitive-Behavioral Consultant, and Instructor in Clinical Psychology in the Pediatric Psychiatry Department at Columbia/New York Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights, New York. During this time at Columbia/New York Presbyterian Hospital, I was part of the crisis response to the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks, and I assisted children, teens, parents, and families cope with these attacks. Working next as the Program Director of a School Based Mental Health Program and as an Associate Professor at Montefiore Medical Center/Public School 8 (PS 8) in the Bronx, New York was an incredible professional experience. As the Director, I worked closely with school staff to launch and implement a wide range of school based emotional, coping, social, and behavioral interventions, in addition to doing therapy with youths, their parents, and their families in the school clinic at PS 8.  I also simultaneously worked in my own independent private therapy practice in Manhattan, New York during this time from 2003-2009.