--- title: "About John C. Murphy, LCMHC | Shepherd's Heart Counseling" description: "Meet John C. 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Parents play the most important role in a child's emotional growth. When you feel equipped, supported, and confident, the changes you make at home reach further than any hour spent in a therapy office ever could. Lasting change doesn't come from fixing the child. It comes from steady, well-supported parents — parents who understand what their child needs, respond without burning out, and lead a household that finally feels calm enough to grow in. “ > The name Shepherd's Heart reflects the philosophy at the center of our practice.The therapist isn't the shepherd — parents and caregivers are. Our role is to come alongside families, helping them better understand what their children need, respond with confidence, and build an environment where growth, healing, and connection can flourish. ![John C. Murphy, MA, LCMHC — Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Shepherd's Heart Counseling in Siler City, NC.](/__l5e/assets-v1/46471bdd-a7fc-4543-897c-fcc53561dcd5/john-murphy-portrait.jpg) John C. Murphy in his Siler City, NC office. Meet Your Counselor ## John Murphy, MA, LCMHC Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a focus on parents and families. I've spent more than a decade working with children, teens, parents, and adults — and along the way I've become convinced that the most meaningful, lasting change happens when parents have real support of their own. That's where I focus most of my energy today: alongside overwhelmed parents who are ready to lead their homes differently. My approach is informed by attachment theory, family systems thinking, trauma-informed care, emotional regulation strategies, and current child development research. In practice, that means we look at what's actually happening in your home, why it keeps happening, and what to try instead — with tools you can use on a Tuesday night, not just in a session. Before becoming a counselor, I worked as a paraprofessional and as a juvenile justice officer, trained in behavioral interventions for those roles at the time. That experience is water under the bridge in terms of credentials, but I still carry what it taught me: what actually helps families, and what doesn't, when a household is under pressure. My only active clinical credential is Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina. I am not a marriage and family therapist, a parenting coordinator, a couples counselor, or a legal expert of any kind. When those areas come up — and they often do — I address them within the scope of my LCMHC license and refer out when a different specialist is the right fit. - John C. Murphy, MA, LCMHC - NC LCMHC · License #15133 - Trained in EMDR Who I Work With ## Support for the people at the center of the home. - Children and teens with behavioral, emotional, or developmental challenges 01 - Parents navigating complex family dynamics 02 - Adults living with anxiety, depression, life transitions, or unresolved trauma 03 - Individuals seeking faith-informed counseling from a Christian perspective — never imposed, offered only when requested 04 ![A parent and child sitting together at a table, working through something quietly and patiently — the kind of ordinary moment where family patterns start to change.](/__l5e/assets-v1/74e53ad6-a0a3-4221-80cf-9100a4f92d4e/family-lesson-time.jpg) Family Patterns ## Helping Parents Break Unhelpful Family Patterns. Many of the parents I work with are quietly carrying the same thought: _I want something different for my kids than what I grew up with._ That desire is honest, and it's powerful — but on its own, it isn't enough to change what actually happens at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday. Together, we look at the patterns driving conflict in your home — the ones you inherited, the ones you're stuck in, and the ones you don't even realize are running the show. From there we build better communication, clearer boundaries, and the kind of steady connection that lets everyone in the house settle. You are not the problem. You are the person with the most leverage to change what happens next. A Note For ## NC Educators & State Employees Shepherd's Heart is in-network with Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina , and many North Carolina educators and state employees are covered through an Aetna-administered plan. John has worked closely with school systems and youth-serving organizations across North Carolina and brings firsthand understanding of the pressures teachers, faculty, and juvenile-justice professionals carry — both into the office and back home to their own families. [Our Services →](/our-services)[Contact →](/contact) Next step ## Ready to try something that works? A free 15-minute consultation. Send a request and John will get back to you with times that actually work — no pressure, no forms up front. [Request a Free Consultation](/contact) ![Shepherd's Heart Counseling logo — a stylized shepherd's heart mark.](/__l5e/assets-v1/b9227fbc-34f4-44c3-8036-7bb09497e4ce/shepherds-heart-icon.png) Shepherd's Heart Counseling Let's turn the chaos into clarity and create the family life you deserve. 209 S 2nd Ave · Siler City, NC 27344 [(828) 691-0218](tel:+18286910218)[jmurphy@shepherds-he.art](mailto:jmurphy@shepherds-he.art) [Verified · Psychology Today ](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/shepherd-s-heart-counseling-pllc-siler-city-nc/1355871 "Opens in a new tab") - [](https://instagram.com/sheperdsheartcounseling) - [](https://linkedin.com/in/john-murphy-ma-lcmhc-781966156) Practice - [Home](/) - [About](/about) - [Our Services](/our-services) - [Specialties](/specialties) - [Who We Help](/who-we-help) - [What to Expect](/what-to-expect) - [FAQ](/faq) - [Fees & Insurance](/fees-and-insurance) - [Contact](/contact) Services - [Parent Coaching](/service/parent-coaching) - [Parent Counseling](/service/parent-counseling) - [Children's Counseling](/service/childrens-counseling) - [Teen Counseling](/service/teen-counseling) - [Behavioral Coaching](/service/behavioral-coaching) - [Individual Therapy](/service/individual-therapy) - [PTSD & Trauma Counseling](/service/ptsd-trauma-counseling) - [EMDR Therapy](/service/emdr-therapy) - [Psychotherapy](/service/psychotherapy) Locations - [Siler City, NC](/locations/siler-city) - [Chatham County, NC](/locations/chatham-county) - [Telehealth across NC](/telehealth-north-carolina) Legal - [Privacy Policy](/privacy) - [Notice of Privacy Practices](/notice-of-privacy-practices) - [Good Faith Estimate](/good-faith-estimate) - [Accessibility](/accessibility) Contacting this practice does not establish a therapist–client relationship. This website is not a HIPAA-secure channel — please don't send protected health information through this form. Individual outcomes vary. Nothing on this site guarantees a specific clinical result. If you are in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911. John C. Murphy, LCMHC is licensed in North Carolina. Therapy can only be provided to clients physically located in North Carolina. © 2026 Shepherd's Heart Counseling, PLLC. All rights reserved. Website by Automaus.ai Chat with us