Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock (LCSW)

I’ve been working as a social worker for the past 13 years. I’m a big believer in strength-centered therapy. My goal is be 100% in your corner. It’s the coolest thing. When you have someone that is 100% in your corner, with no judgment- then that gives you a new kind of freedom. Being free to really figure out all this …stuff… Why we are the way we are, why we self-sabotage, why we feel guilty or ashamed. Then we can get on to the good stuff – how do we change. Just thinking of being a different way feels overwhelming right? Well it all comes down to Baby Steps. Just like in building a muscle, we put it under a little more stress than it’s used to, (or time under tension as I like to think about it) and then give it space and time to relax. Most of us struggle in these two areas. Either we feel flattened by the huge amount of stress were under, or we feel utterly incapable of handling the littlest thing. Very few of us are in the perimeter of eustress (that desirable and elusive point of positive, challenging, rewarding stress). And what about time for recovery?! Without time built in for recovery, our muscles work themselves until they break apart. But with too much time in recovery, they get lethargic and weak. We are exactly the same way. We keep justifying pushing ourselves a little harder a little longer and unto a myriad of physical and emotional problems. I get it. I’ve been there. Some days I’m still there. Anyway, where was I? Right yup I remember. (Clears throat) I also practice motivational interviewing, basically the skill to help you figure out what you’re going to do, and then do it. It really just speeds up the natural process by like 6 months. I’m a trauma therapist specialized in IRRT (Imaging rescripting reprocessing therapy). Which is great for feelings of shame, guilt, abuse, nightmares, and kids. Sometimes when you do trauma therapy there are unintentional skeletons that come out. IRRT is good at minimizing this. It’s also good at getting results, often in as little as one session. Let’s see what else, I’m very visual, I’m very ADHD, I use a lot of metaphors. In my mind if I can see it, then I can explain it, and I can also remember it forever. Not everyone else operates like this, but a good portion of us do. Lastly, I want you to know that this is not just a job for me. Nor is it a calling. It’s kind of… Well, Fun. We are all journeying through our own life puzzles. And there are so many clues just everywhere to help us find our way!