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About Megan Murray, LCSW

I strive to empower students, athletes, and teachers (ages 12 and up) to gain confidence, balance, and peace of mind.

Seeking out therapy is a courageous step and trying to find the right mental health therapist can be overwhelming. You're probably very busy, so I hope to make this process as easy as possible for you.

You’ve definitely come to the right place if you’re in school, playing sports, teaching, or coaching at the middle school, high school, college, or professional levels. I've had great success helping such individuals face the unique and difficult challenges of working, studying, or competing within academic and athletic environments. As a former student-athlete, high school social worker, and basketball coach, I know what these endeavors are like and that you CAN achieve your goals

“Obstacles don’t block the path; they are the path.”
– Zen Proverb

Mission & Beliefs

My mission is to help hard-working students, athletes, teachers, and coaches overcome the numerous challenges that go along with academics and sports.

By providing a compassionate and holistic approach to therapy and using sports psychology methods, I'll strive to empower you with the skills you need for reaching your goals and improving your overall well-being. Whether you're struggling with performance anxiety, stress management, burnout, depression, or low self-esteem, I believe that with the right mindset, habits, and support, anyone has the potential to transform their hardships into positive growth and change. As such, therapy is not about avoiding or completely eliminating difficult feelings and experiences; it's about becoming empowered to cope with and learn from them effectively. I can't wait to help you realize your potential!


My Background
(The Nitty Gritty)

Credentials

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a decade of experience. 

I’m also a Licensed School Social Worker, a Certified Human Kinetics Coach, and a Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist.

I have a Master's in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Illinois.

Athletics/Coaching

I was a competitive athlete in both high school and college. I played varsity basketball, volleyball, and soccer in high school. I competed on the UIUC Women’s Club Basketball team in college. 

I went on to coach girls’ varsity and AAU basketball for six years in Chicago. I still love to play in competitive women’s basketball leagues.

School Social Work

I worked as a high school social worker for six years on the Near West Side of Chicago, where I also coached varsity girls’ basketball, led professional development for social workers, and operated a program for students in transitional living situations. 

Private Practice

I worked as a mental health therapist for a group private practice in Chicago for three years, where I provided individual and family therapy for adolescents and adults. 

I’ve owned and operated my own solo private practice for three years, offering therapy for student-athletes and teachers as well as parents, coaches, and other hardworking professionals. 

Why I Do What I Do

My values and motivation as a therapist stem from both my personal and professional experiences. Like many of my clients, I experienced the intense mental and physical demands of playing multiple competitive sports while taking rigorous classes. I lived through the highs and lows of winning, losing, exhaustion, injuries, awards, criticism, and eventually making the difficult transition out of high level competition. Throughout these experiences, my innate interest and passion for psychology and helping other people grew.

This led me to pursue a career as a school social worker and basketball coach in Chicago. In this setting, I witnessed and experienced the stress, trauma, and pressures that students, athletes, teachers, and other academic professionals deal with on a daily basis. I became increasingly frustrated and burned out by the constraints of the school system and the lack of support for the well-being of students and staff. 

Megan Murray, LCSW, coaching athletes in basketball

When the pandemic hit, I realized how important it was to create the work-life balance I needed for my own health and, in turn, my ability to effectively help others. I also saw the benefits of online therapy, providing convenience and accessibility for those with busy lifestyles or inadequate mental health resources in their communities. All of this motivated me more than ever to start a therapy practice that supports academic and athletic communities in need.

Throughout this journey, I’ve seen so many of my clients face adversity and accomplish their goals. From overcoming anxiety, improving grades, and performing better in sports, to creating more balance and finding fulfillment at work again, they were able to achieve it. I’m excited to help you do the same! If you have questions about therapy, feel free to check out my FAQs page or keep scrolling to learn about my approach.

Approach

What you can expect in therapy with me...

Teamwork

THERAPY IS A TEAM EFFORT. You are the expert of your own life, and my role is to learn about you and to support you in reaching your full potential. We will work together in building trust, facing your most difficult challenges, and pursuing your largest aspirations. We’re in this together.

Compassion

I strive to create a culturally competent, trauma-informed, and compassionate space where you can process your thoughts and feelings openly. I genuinely want to understand what you’re experiencing (good or bad), and I will offer a nonjudgemental ear. JUDGEMENT HAS NO PLACE IN THERAPY.

Authenticity

I’m constantly learning and flawed just like everyone else. I don’t claim to know all of the answers. What I bring to the table is MY AUTHENTIC SELF; someone who is sincerely passionate about helping people, empathetic, calm, and open-minded. I’ll let you know when I can relate to you, which is probably often. I’ll most likely share a few relevant (and hopefully interesting) stories, metaphors, or tips about the things I love, like sports, yoga, reading, nutrition, and binge-worthy TV shows :). 

Accountability

I will encourage you to find the balance between PERSONAL ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT TO CHANGE. While therapy is meant to be a place where you can relieve stress and feel empowered, this can only happen fully when there is a dedicated and consistent effort on both ends. I will kindly let you know when I see room for growth and will support you in navigating your barriers. I also encourage you to let me know if you have questions or concerns about my approach. 

Evidence-Based Methods

I incorporate evidence-based treatment modalities that are TAILORED TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral TherapyDialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Sports Psychology. I also incorporate specialized guidance on nutrition and its role in optimizing your mental health. These approaches are strengths-based and will involve a mixture of empathetic and reflective listening and thoughtful feedback. They will help you develop new perspectives and science-backed tools for overcoming the challenges you face, such as performance anxiety, stress management, burnout, depression, and more.

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Reach out to me today!

Please complete the form below to request a 15-minute complimentary consultation call. This will be an opportunity to discuss your goals and expectations for therapy and to determine if we're a good fit.

By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.