Laura McMurray

Masters Level Student Intern; Supervised by Murphy Foster, M.A., L.P.C.

Dallas, Texas Therapist Specializing in Adult, Adolescents, Young Adult, Couples, Families, Infertility, Parenting Issues

I believe it takes strength to seek counseling, and every person is worthy of feeling heard, respected, and supported. I practice from a client-centered approach valuing clients’ unique personalities, needs, cultures, and life experiences. Additionally, my approach encourages me to meet my clients where they are, teaming together to support and guide them to reach their preferred counseling goals. Whether working with a child, adolescent, group, couple, or family, I believe in providing nonjudgmental compassionate support for all my clients.

I am a counseling student in training at Lamar University. I spent 16 years working in the field of education after graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, specializing in early childhood to fourth grade. Most of my career was as an elementary school teacher in which I supported young children academically and emotionally. I spent the latter part of my career in education as a Multisensory Teaching Approach (MTA) Certified Dyslexia Specialist for middle schoolers.

I have learned that children of all ages and all needs learn, experience, and sort out feelings best in the context of safe, nurturing, and creative environments.  I enjoy working to accomplish this through client-centered play therapy for younger children and often times through activity therapy when working with adolescents.  Through teaching, I have also become intimately aware of the reality that human beings, regardless of age, are unique. I hope to bring the ability that I gained in the classroom to identify and accommodate an individual’s distinct needs into my counseling office as we formulate a therapeutic plan that honors you, your current position, and your unique goals.

Family is important to me, and I believe that family members do not exist in isolation but rather as an emotional unit that functions together. My family counseling goal is to ensure that all family members feel heard while communicating needs and gaining new perspectives. I am also distinctly passionate about supporting couples emotionally through infertility, pregnancy, and parenting challenges.

When I am not working, I enjoy outdoor adventures with my husband and two children, that are ten and five years old. I also find it cathartic to run long distances while listening to podcasts.

My rate is $65 for a 50-minute session. Click here to request an appointment.

A quote that resonates with me:

"Human freedom involves our capacity to pause between the stimulus and response and, in that pause, to choose the one response toward which we wish to throw out weight. The capacity to create ourselves, based upon this freedom, is inseparable from consciousness or self-awareness." -- Rollo May