Lindsay Murray

My Story

Welcome to counseling! My name is Lindsay Murray. I hope your counseling journey has been positive thus far. However, if you are entering counseling for the first time or you have not had a fulfilling counseling experience in the past, rest assured, you are in the right place. 

As humans, we already have most of the tools we need to heal our own mental health. Wait, so why do we need to pay counselors for what we already possess? Unfortunately, having the right tools does not also mean we have the insight to heal on our own. The way to gain insight and understanding into ourselves is through the presence of another human. As a trained counselor, I will use evidence based skills, techniques, and interventions to support you in building a sturdy foundation for positive mental health. I will also work to be the empathetic therapeutic presence your personal story deserves and help you to truly feel seen. 

Through increased self-awareness, you can begin to find self-acceptance. Acceptance can support you in the process of integrating those parts that may have caused you guilt or shame in the past. Therapy also provides time and space to grieve pain and loss of what once was or could have been. Integration of our most tender parts allows us to become whole. When we feel more ourselves, we are better able to engage and improve the relational parts of lives and move towards connection.  

What I have shared thus far has been informed by my current credentials. I am a master's level counseling intern with Lenoir-Rhyne University. For the last three years I have worked in the mental health sector in a residential care facility supporting those dealing with trauma and substance abuse. I have held multiple roles in the mental health sector including clinical staff, direct care staff, and wilderness guide. For the last four years, I have been a fellow with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. I have also received training and consultation from Asheville Analytic Thought.  

My counseling approach is primarily psychodynamic. Psychodynamic counseling is a fancy term meaning gaining understanding into the relationships and environments that have made us into who we are today. I am also trained in using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills, which I will bring in as needed. Art is another tool I use to support emotional release and increased insight. Above all, I believe sharing your story in the presence of another to be the most important part of the work and that it is truly the balm to begin healing your pain. 

Living in Asheville has also taught me about the majestic beauty of living in the mountains. The sharp dichotomies found in nature inspire me to always look a little deeper. The winter in the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains can feel cold and exposing, but the painstaking effort to persevere makes the fires feel warmer and the food more nourishing. Winter also gives the space to dream about the lush greenery, colorful blooms, and abundance that awaits us in spring. 

I specialize in:

• Trauma, Grief (loss or change)

• Mood Disorders (eg depression, anxiety)

• Personality Disorders

• Addiction (behavioral or substance related)