Our Team
Meet John Murphy
I offer both executive coaching and professional counseling services at Music City Psych. I have a B.A. in Entertainment Industry Studies from Belmont University and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lipscomb University. I specialize in coaching and counseling high-achieving men who are dealing with burnout, disconnect, inertia, and lack of focus. I help my clients build more fulfilling careers and relationships by letting go of anger, stress, and high-achiever anxiety — without spending decades on the therapy couch.
My clinical work history is diverse, from counseling those in the Tennessee prison system to working in a university mental health clinic to operating my own private practice for five years before joining Music City Psych. Treating a wide variety of people has helped me become culturally sensitive and empathetic to struggles I have not personally experienced. So while I’ve seen the works, that doesn’t mean I know your story or get to make assumptions about who you are.
I continue to be excited to work with people from all creeds and cultures, supporting Entrepreneurial, Religious, Non-Religious, LGBTQ+, and Veteran populations. As a male therapist, coach, and fellow professional, I have special interest in supporting young men as they navigate their personal lives and careers in the unique challenges of today’s modern world.
Q & A with John
What are the top challenges you see among high-achieving clients seeking therapy?
A lot of high achievers arrive in my office feeling like they’re running on autopilot — they’re getting through busy days by sheer will, but not really living them. They tend to have burnout as the baseline, rarely resting or recovering, because performance has become their default state. Their relationships often become battlegrounds: they pull away or shut down to avoid conflict, but that only amplifies disconnection. Many tell me, “I’ve got everything by external measures — success, status, accolades — and yet I feel lost or numb.” They no longer feel like themselves; their values, desires, or emotional life have drifted. And finally, a lot of them have tried therapy before (or avoided it altogether) because it felt too clinical, distant, or misaligned with who they are. They don’t want to simply dissect the past: they want meaningful forward motion.
In short: autopilot living, chronic burnout, fractured relationships, identity erosion, and skepticism or discomfort with therapy itself are the key patterns I see.
What is your therapeutic approach?
I practice with an ‘Attachment Theory, Solution Focused Therapy, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Mindfulness Framework’ to conceptualize and treat clinical disorders. The overall model is a holistic approach that respects client’s values and assesses all areas of life to develop tailor made solutions.
My goal for each client includes attaining self-reliance and greater autonomy. That means intentionally climbing to a point of no longer needing coaching or therapeutic services. Though there is nothing wrong with check-ups as new problems arise, the final destination is to live life on your own terms.
How would you say your therapeutic work informs your executive coaching work?
I often meet clients who look like they’re “winning,” yet inside they feel unmoored, fragmented, or stuck, unable to move forward in their career or personal life. In my work as a coach, I lean heavily into clarifying values, defining what “success” really means for them (beyond titles or income), and building rhythms of intention and agency in daily life. We examine decision points: when to say “yes,” when to set a boundary, how to delegate, how to lead without losing self.
At the same time, we don’t leave the “inside work” behind. I draw from therapeutic practice to help them cultivate emotional resilience and identify and address underlying fears or mental blocks that often get buried under ambition. Solutions are built around what already works, amplified and extended into domains of career, leadership, and identity. My approach is pragmatic and integrative, working toward grounded influence, inner alignment, and sustainable fulfillment.
What can I expect in our first session?
Our first meeting is atypical of a standard session, but it’s a vital sequence to achieving lasting change. In this initial period, we review paperwork, begin to know one another, and gather a bird’s eye view of your current situation. This section also provides us with the goals you want to set.
I utilize SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time oriented) to help us create a roadmap for the rest of our time together. The initial intake also lets us know if we will be a good fit. If for some reason you should ever want a referral to a different coach or therapist, I’m more than happy to refer out.
