Brooke Nelson Murphy, PhD LPC-S
Program Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Assistant Professor of PsychologyEducation
- Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision – University of the Cumberlands
- M.S., Counseling and Psychology – Troy University
- B.S., Biological Sciences; Minor in Chemistry – Athens State University
Licensure & Credentials
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) – Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
- Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) – Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling
- National Certified Counselor (NCC) – National Board for Certified Counselors
Biography
Dr. Brooke Nelson Murphy joined Athens State University after more than a decade of experience in the mental health field. She is the founder and owner of Vallis Mental Health, a private practice in Madison, Alabama, where she provides psychotherapy and clinical supervision to counselors working toward independent licensure. She is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and her clinical experience includes the assessment and treatment of trauma- and stressor-related disorders, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders.
In addition to her clinical practice, Dr. Murphy has extensive experience in the education, supervision, and clinical training of future mental health professionals. She has served as an internship site director and clinical supervisor for undergraduate and graduate students across psychology and clinical mental health counseling programs. Her teaching experience spans postsecondary allied health career education, undergraduate behavioral sciences education, and graduate-level counselor education. Her teaching areas have included pharmacy technician and medical assisting education, professional identity, counseling skills and techniques, group counseling, psychopharmacology and addiction, and couples and family counseling.
An Athens State alumna, Dr. Murphy returned to the University to serve as Program Director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and to teach within the Behavioral Sciences Division. In her undergraduate teaching, she has a particular interest in helping students connect their education to future professional opportunities by exploring post-baccalaureate career pathways, graduate and professional training, and the development of professional identity. As Program Director, Dr. Murphy is leading the development of Athens State’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Drawing from her experience in clinical practice, supervision, and counselor education, she is focused on developing a graduate program that prepares future counselors for ethical, evidence-based, and collaborative clinical mental health practice.
Dr. Murphy has authored peer-reviewed research and contributed to scholarly texts related to counselor education and online teaching. She has presented her work at professional conferences on topics including counselor self-care and wellness, supervision, online education, multiculturalism, trauma-informed practice, and student success. Her research and professional interests include counselor education and supervision, clinical supervision practices, online education and training, professional gatekeeping, counselor self-care and wellness, counselor retention and career satisfaction, advocacy for the clinical mental health counseling profession, and multidisciplinary approaches to mental health care.
