Hello!

Thank you for your interest in learning more about my counseling services! 

The main focus of my counseling practice is working with individuals who are healing and recovering from unhealthy, toxic, and/or abusive relationships and other settings (e.g., workplaces). Additional information about the client populations I serve can be found below.

Life and relationships are full of many twists and turns. Seeking support from a counselor as you navigate the expected and unexpected challenges in life is a tremendously courageous act! If we are a good fit for me to become your counselor, my goal will be to collaborate with you to support your progress toward your goals.

Below, you can find a lot of information to help you decide if I might be a good fit as your counselor at this point in your life.

Currently, I offer virtual-only counseling services via the Grow Therapy platform, working with clients living anywhere in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. 

Please click here to view my Provider Profile on Grow Therapy.

Please click here if you're ready to book an appointment with me through the Grow Therapy platform.

Feel free to reach out using my Counseling Services Inquiry Form if you have further questions about my approach and qualifications.

Sincerely,

Christine Murray

Frequently Asked Questions - Counseling Services:

Which client populations do you serve?

I’m dedicated to providing supportive, strengths-based counseling services to diverse clients who are facing unique challenges in their relationships and other areas of life.

My counseling practice specializes primarily in working with individuals who are on a journey toward healing and growth following unhealthy, toxic, and/or abusive relationships in any area of life.

Below you'll find a list of the main client populations I work with:

Survivors of Abusive Relationships:  A large focus of my career has focused on work related to domestic and intimate partner violence, and working with survivors of abusive relationships is a passion of mine.

As I share in the online resource I created, The Source for Survivors, my understanding of domestic violence, trauma, and abuse recovery has been informed by my professional career, as well as my own journey of healing from past abuse. I understand at a deep level that each survivor’s journey is unique, and therefore it’s important for clients’ needs to guide and inform the counseling process.

Clients recovering from other relationship hurts and disappointments in different areas of life:  In addition to a focus on working with survivors of domestic violence, I also specialize in working with clients who have faced disappointment, hurt, abuse, and/or toxic stress in relationships in other areas of life. This may include their family-of-origin, their chosen family as an adult, friendships, and workplaces. Regardless of where harmful relationships occurred, healing is possible.

Other clients facing life transitions :  Beyond my primary specialty areas, I also work with a limited number of clients who are navigating general life transitions and struggles. Although I work primarily with individuals, as a trained marriage and family therapist, I also work with couples and families.

What are your credentials?

In addition to the information below, please check out the About Christine Murray section of this website to learn more about my work experiences.

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, License #1113) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC, License #5596) in North Carolina. Also, I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT; License #MF00435) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC; License #PC003649 in Pennsylvania)

In 2004, I received my Ph.D. in Counselor Education with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling from the University of Florida. Prior to that, I obtained my Master of Education and Specialist in Education degrees from the University of Florida in 2002. My undergraduate education was completed at Duke University, where I double-majored in Psychology and Sociology.

In 2024, I retired from a 19-year career at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. From 2005-2024, I worked at UNC Greensboro (UNCG) as a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development, as well as served as the Director of the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships from 2019-2023. In August 2024, I began working in the Townsend Institute for Leadership & Counseling as a Professor of Counseling.

Some examples of the work-related initiatives I've been involved with include the following:
  • Serving on the Planning Committee, Executive Committee, and Data and Evaluation Committee for the Guilford County Family Justice Center.
  • Co-Founding the See the Triumph campaign, which is a research-based campaign to offer support to survivors of abusive relationships and challenge the stigma surrounding intimate partner violence. 
  • Leading the team that developed and implemented the Healthy Relationships Initiative, which offers resources and information to promote happy, healthy, and safe relationships of all kinds.
  • Most recently, launching The Source for Survivors, which is a free online resource with a mission of offering survivors of abusive relationships and the community supports around them an overarching framework and practical tools to foster hope and healing. 

I know we are in the middle of a major mental health crisis in the United States, and so I look forward to this new phase of serving counseling clients, as well as supporting community organizations through my consulting work. 

How do you offer counseling services?

My approach to counseling is based on trauma-informed, solution-oriented services, and I blend interventions from other approaches (e.g., Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) as appropriate.

Currently, I offer virtual-only counseling services via the Grow Therapy platform, working with clients living anywhere in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. 

Please click here to view my Provider Profile on Grow Therapy.

Please click here if you're ready to book an appointment with me through the Grow Therapy platform.

My standard rate for counseling services is $200/hour. However, I accept coverage from many health insurance providers through Grow Therapy. I am committed to limiting clients’ out-of-pocket expenses to their maximum copay, when applicable and available through the Grow Therapy platform. 

Is there anything else prospective clients should know about you?

I’m a big fan of “fun facts” as a way to get to know about people. Here are a few fun facts I’ll share with you so you can learn a little more about my life outside of work. After all, a well-balanced life helps keep me in my best shape for serving counseling and consulting clients!
  • I’m a twin. My (fraternal) twin sister lives in Pittsburgh. I’m convinced I’ve been fascinated by relationships since birth since I only had 8 minutes in this world on my own!
  • I’ve got two teenage sons. When I’m not working, you’ll often find me on the sidelines of their various activities cheering them on, or (more often these days) running errands and cleaning up after them!
  • I’m not a big “animal person,” but we have a 4.5-pound Chihuahua named Duke who has captured my heart and is named after my alma mater. 
  • I am a very high-energy person most days. I've completed 6 marathons, and I’ve also done two Make-A-Wish Trailblaze Challenge Hikes, which are 28.3-mile, one-day hikes benefiting Make-A-Wish of Central and Western NC. My most recent Trailblaze Challenge was in October 2023, and it was quite an adventure. I face-planted around Mile 14 and broke my nose. A post-hike surgery got me all put back together, thankfully!
  • Finally, I'm a huge fan of everything tea-related: Drinking it, collecting teacups and saucers (and a few teapots), and hosting tea parties with friends. My favorite caffeinated tea is Earl Gray, and chamomile is my current decaf choice. 

Conclusion

If you've read this far, thank you! I imagine that reading all of this information is a sign that you’re seriously contemplating making a change in your life and considering if I may be a good fit as your counseling.

There are so many wonderful mental health professionals in the world right now. Take your time to decide who is the best fit for you. If you’d like to learn more, please reach out via my Counseling Services Inquiry Form!

Regardless of whether we work together now or in the future, I wish you all the best in your journey toward healing, hope, and personal growth!

Christine