Caitlin Murray
Hi! I’m Caitlin Murray, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I work with adults, couples, and teens to help them understand the patterns in their lives that no longer serve them and to discover new, healthier alternatives. I welcome clients from all backgrounds without judgment, as long as they have a desire to move their lives forward. My approach is warm and collaborative, grounded in the belief that everyone deserves to feel safe, seen, and accepted. I primarily utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing techniques. However, I incorporate methods from other modalities as necessary to help my clients identify the patterns that cause discomfort and establish healthier habits to replace them—all with a collaborative approach. At the end of the day, you are the expert on yourself. If something does not work, we will find a better approach.
I welcome clients from all backgrunds without judgment, as long as they have a desire to move forwrad, primarily utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing techniques. Let's find your patterns that are no longer serving you, and make some new ones!
First session
We will go over the logistics of therapy and what your expectations are, and I will ask all the questions about your history. We will talk about your goals and perhaps even start finding ways to start achieving them.
Strengths
I have been described as pretty calm. I think my greatest strength is taking every session as its own entity. They are informed by the past, but if you come in and need to vent and rant for 30 minutes, you can do that, and we will process it, and you will leave at least breathing a little bit steadier and hopefully have a plan to handle the frustration better the next time it comes up. If you are a person who needs structure and a strict treatment plan or topic list, we can do that as well. You are the expert; we will do whatever works best for you, and if something does not work, we will try something new. I believe my greatest strengths are the judgment-free space and the honesty of "You can say whatever it is you need to say; you are not going to offend me."
Ideal clients
I began my career working with adolescents and substance abuse, and that has transformed into clients who are generally questioning their patterns and habits, trying to adjust to a new phase of life- these are transitions of any kind- and who are hungry for a new way to live. The clients who get the most out of my sessions are the ones who ask questions of themselves as well as of me. Curiosity is always welcomed, and almost required, to look at one's life and find what has helped and what needs to change. This is never easy, but it is always worth it. I am more of a guide or facilitator, and we will do the work together, but you have to be willing to be uncomfortable for a bit.
Origin story
I was always the kid that my friends and family came to when they needed someone to talk to- whether for advice, comfort, or venting. When I discovered my school was going to make me sing German Opera for 2 years before getting to sing jazz, I pivoted to learning how to actually help people when they needed to talk, rather than just be a good "ear" or "shoulder." I initially studied under the substance-abuse concentration because of losing people and life experience, and that turned into working with life transitions and trauma as well as substance use. It turns out, I now get to help lots of people, not just friends and family, in an empirically-based way, and I still get to sing jazz in my free time. So far, I think my choice has turned out well; no disrespect intended towards German Opera.
Ongoing work together
We will meet as often as we need to, and as there is less to speak about each week, and there are fewer symptoms each session, we will start meeting less often. When you feel you are in a good place, you will be encouraged to go live your life. If you ever need to come back to work through a life event or if you find there is more work to be done, you are always welcome. But at the end of the day, my job is to help you feel you are living well enough to fly on your own!
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Simply put, we do what we think about. We all have patterns of thinking, and if we do not like how we are behaving, the first habit to change is what we are telling ourselves. I utilize various CBT methods to help you find a more helpful way to think for your life and your goals.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
There is very little in life that is clear-cut or black and white, and DBT gives us practical skills that we can start using from day 1 for better emotional regulation, behavioral changes, and a better ease of listening to our wise mind, rather than our in-the-moment desires.
Motivational Interviewing
This is more the "therapist in the movies" approach and yes, I might ask you how you are feeling about something, but these are the quesitosn that helps us get to the root of the isse most of the time!
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions3411 Dayton Blvd, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- TennesseeLicense 10110