Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock , LCSW

Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who blends a strength-centered, practical approach with curiosity and a sense of humor. He aims to be fully in his clients' corner, offering nonjudgmental support that helps people explore why they feel stuck - from patterns of self-sabotage to feelings of guilt and shame - and then take manageable steps toward change. He emphasizes gradual progress, using the metaphor of muscle building to explain how small, consistent challenges plus time for recovery build resilience and capability.

Riley integrates motivational interviewing to help clients clarify their goals and follow through, and he works as a trauma therapist trained in IRRT, which he uses to address shame, guilt, abuse, nightmares, and work with children. He reports that IRRT can reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and sometimes produces meaningful shifts in a short number of sessions. He is visual in his teaching style and often uses metaphors and imagery to make insights easier to understand and remember. Riley describes himself as very visual and as having ADHD, which shapes how he communicates and connects with many clients.

For Riley, therapy is more than a profession - it is an engaging process he finds genuinely enjoyable. He approaches each person's life as a puzzle full of clues, partnering with them to discover practical, sustainable ways forward.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on building a collaborative and respectful relationship where the client's experience guides the work. It emphasizes empathy and active listening to help people explore their values and make meaningful choices, which can be helpful for issues like depression, relationship concerns, and self-esteem struggles.

Motivational Interviewing is a conversational style designed to help people resolve ambivalence and commit to change. It supports goal setting and follow-through, making it useful for addictions, behavior changes, and situations where motivation feels uncertain.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, stress, sleeping difficulties, and mood concerns, offering step-by-step strategies that clients can practice between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and therapists work collaboratively with each person to select methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock tailors interventions and adjusts pacing so clients feel supported while trying new steps.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility, with sessions available by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity when life changes, and choose the format that feels most comfortable for different moments in treatment.