Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock, LCSW

Jonathan 'Riley' Murdock is a licensed clinical social worker who aims to be fully in a client's corner. He uses clear, practical language and short steps to help people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and other life challenges. Sessions focus on real-world changes rather than jargon. Riley keeps things visual and straightforward so people can remember and use what they learn.

Riley draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with client-centered and mindfulness approaches to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try small, manageable changes. He also uses motivational interviewing to clarify goals and boost follow-through. Sessions are guided by the person's needs and pace rather than a rigid script.

With four years of formal experience as an LCSW and a longer history in social work roles, he blends practical problem solving with warmth and some humor. He often uses metaphors and visualizations to make ideas stick. This style can help when feelings of shame, guilt, or overwhelm make change feel impossible.

Riley also includes narrative techniques when it helps people reframe stories they tell themselves. He pays attention to sleep, parenting stress, relationship patterns, and issues that show up with chronic illness or body image concerns. His goal is steady progress through small, repeatable steps.

People may choose video, phone, chat, or text-based messaging for sessions. Riley accepts English-speaking clients in Idaho and is open to working with international clients when scheduling allows.

How Riley Uses Practical Approaches Online

Jonathan uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. CBT breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions so someone can test small changes and notice what works. He also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening, reflecting, and letting the person set the pace and priorities for change.

Mindfulness Therapy is another tool he uses to help people notice present-moment experience without getting swept away. Mindfulness skills can help with anxiety, sleep troubles, anger, and stress by building brief, repeatable practices someone can use between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. He will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels doable. Together they try methods, review what helps, and adjust the plan over time so the work fits real life.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let the therapist and client work face-to-face when schedules or distances make in-person visits difficult. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a lunch break. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, homework, and ongoing tracking between sessions. These options make it easier to keep momentum and practice small changes consistently.