Alex Murphy, LPC, LAC, ADS

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), State of Colorado

Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC), State of Colorado

Acudetox Specialist, National Acupuncture Detoxification Association

MA in Counseling, Denver Seminary

Certificate of Completion from ReStory™ Institute Level I

BA in Asian Studies, University of Texas

Certified Empowered Relief Instructor, Stanford University

You matter. Your story matters. You can flourish. This is where we begin in our work together.

Kintsugi is a great metaphor for the work we do. It is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. It is characterized by the veins of gold that line the repaired work’s fracture lines. The trauma of the pottery’s past is where it's artisan brings forth surprising beauty.

Like the pieces of ceramics that are presented to the artisan, it is important to take stock of where you are right now. I work hard to partner with you to craft a path forward based on this. There are any number of theoretical frameworks we can pull from, but the most important component is the pain you currently feel and what you want to do with it. From here we can look at the next chapter of life and the path toward it. On this path it is helpful to consider your current experience, the factors and relationships from the past that might guide us, and if there are some quick wins we can capitalize on right now while we prepare the ground for the deeper work.

Additionally, it is important that your God-given strengths -- and you do have them -- are not overlooked as you journey forward. These and your unique personality are incredibly important in giving shape to the healed person God is revealing. Just as every piece of ceramics in Kintsugi is uniquely finished by the artisan, your story of healing and growth will be uniquely crafted by the Father.

From an official theoretical perspective, my tools are existential, cognitive behavioral (CBT), attachment, and narrative frameworks. Motivational Interviewing often weaves into sessions too.

God has continuously taken me where I did not anticipate going. Counseling is only something that I came to in my 30’s after 10 years in full-time ministry abroad. Even prior to that I was set on being an architect.

When I started college, architecture was my thing. I thoroughly enjoyed the field of study, but after a mission trip to East Asia with CRU, my life changed as God tapped into a deeper passion for bringing hope to people. Halfway through my architecture program, I switched my degree to Asian Studies with the intent of living the rest of my life in Asia, partnering with the church to bring healing to a broken world. While I engaged in this work my wife and I met and started a family.

Stress built with the increase of responsibilities and life melted down for me. I became depressed and my marriage crumbled as my wounds and broken ways of living became more and more visible and impacted the people around me. In desperation, my wife, children, and I left the country to engage in intensive counseling. In this, I found the beginnings of healing and hope.

As I explored my depression, walls between me and God came down and I found a new level of life. I began to live in His grace and with a whole new quality of relationship with Him. Henri Nouwen in The Inner Voice of Love said, “You need to let your wounds go down to your heart. Then you can live through them and discover that they will not destroy you. Your heart is greater than your wounds.” I found this in God’s presence and power.

My desire to bring healing to a broken world bloomed into a passion for helping others find this deeper life in God. It is an extension of the passion that drew me out of designing buildings and into college ministry. Everyone is on a journey with God and I get to come alongside them and explore what He is doing. It is an unexpected place that I find myself and I am thrilled to be here.

Prior to my work with Restoration Counseling, I enjoyed working in a community mental health agency where I helped people experiencing addiction to drugs and alcohol, adult survivors of child abuse, survivors of intimate partner abuse, family dysfunction, mood disorders, and various forms of depression and anxiety.