Somatic therapy for people in
tech + high-pressure careers.
On paper, things are good. So
why don’t you feel better?
Get unstuck. Feel more alive.
Schedule a free consultation
Testimonials
What clients are saying.
★★★★★
"Working with John felt different from talk therapy I'd done before. We didn't just talk through everything. He helped me slow down and notice what was actually happening for me. I'm more honest with myself now, and it's changed how I show up in my relationships."
Luke★★★★★
"John helped me see patterns I didn't even realize were there. I was always overthinking, saying yes, and trying to keep the peace. Now I can catch myself sooner and have a better sense of what I actually feel and need."
Courtney★★★★★
"I came to John feeling stuck and not really like myself. He helped me notice when I was shutting down or just pushing through. I never felt judged or rushed, and I feel more present in my life now."
TroyTestimonials shared with permission. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. Individual experiences vary.
Is this you?
What other people see is not always the whole story.
Underneath, it may feel more like this:
Your brain never clocks out.
Every decision becomes a full investigation. Even when work stops, your mind keeps going.
The finish line keeps moving.
You reach a goal, feel good for five minutes, then start thinking about what comes next.
You don’t quite feel like yourself.
Some days you feel anxious and on edge. Other days you feel flat, disconnected, or unsure whether the life you built is actually what you want.
You’ve analyzed the hell out of it. You’re still stuck.
What can change
More choice. Less pressure.
You can stop second-guessing every damn decision.
Think it through, make a choice, and move forward without reopening that email or text 37 times.
You can slow down without the guilt hangover.
Rest does not have to become another opportunity to criticize yourself for everything you “should” be doing.
You can feel good about who you are, not just what you accomplish.
A hard day, missed goal, or someone else’s opinion does not have to decide how you feel about yourself.
You can actually enjoy your life, not just manage it.
More room for relationships, curiosity, fun, and the parts of you that have nothing to do with being productive.
How I work
What therapy actually looks like here.
We’ll talk about what brings you in. We’ll also slow down enough to notice what happens as you talk, including tension, speeding up, going blank, pulling away, or reaching for the polished answer you think you are supposed to give.
You do not need to understand somatic therapy or be good at naming what you feel. “I don’t know. Something just feels off” is a perfectly good place to begin.
Somatic therapy Body, breath, and mindful awareness.
We slow things down enough to notice when you tense, speed up, go blank, or shut down. That gives us something real to work with in the moment, instead of only analyzing it afterward.
Gestalt therapy Present-moment, experiential work.
Gestalt therapy brings the work into the present moment. We pay attention to what gets said, what gets held back, what happens between us, and what becomes difficult to feel, need, or express.
Attachment-informed therapy How old patterns shape present ones.
Attachment-informed therapy looks at how patterns formed in relationship. We explore what you learned about closeness, trust, conflict, needs, and vulnerability, then notice how those patterns affect the way you relate to other people and yourself.
Parts Work Getting to know the parts that protect you.
The inner critic, achiever, pleaser, and other parts of you usually developed for a reason. Instead of trying to get rid of them, we explore what they are protecting and create more choice in how you respond.
From a fellow clinician
“John pays attention to what is happening beneath the surface, not just what is being said. His work is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply human.”
About
I was not always a therapist.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent more than a decade working in tech startups and corporate environments.
I know the pace, the pressure, the pivots, and the strange way a career can become both a source of pride and a major part of your identity. I also know how easy it is to look like you are doing well while feeling anxious, disconnected, or deeply unsure of yourself underneath it all.
My own therapy helped me understand a lot about myself. Somatic and experiential therapy helped me start actually processing and integrating patterns and trauma I had spent years thinking around. That experience shapes how I work now.
You don’t have to perform in therapy.
If you are used to being prepared, articulate, and competent, therapy can quietly become one more place to perform. You give the polished update. You explain the pattern. You try to be a good client. We can work with that too.
I am not a blank-screen therapist. I ask real questions, share what I notice, laugh when something is actually funny, and occasionally swear when the moment calls for it.
You can say, “I don’t know.” You can change your mind. You can tell me when something does not fit.
We can start with, “Something just feels off.”
I hold a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling from Naropa University, and I see clients in Boulder and online throughout Colorado.
John Murray, MA, LPCC
What to expect
Starting therapy together.
Book a free consultation
A free 20-minute phone or video call. Nothing to prepare.
More on step 1Less
Tell me a little about what has been going on and ask whatever questions you have. You do not need to arrive with a polished explanation.
See if we click
We talk about what you are looking for and whether I may be a good fit.
More on step 2Less
The point is to see whether working together makes sense, not to talk you into it. If it does not feel like a fit, there is no pressure to schedule.
Begin the work
We get clearer about what brings you in and start moving beyond the polished version.
More on step 3Less
From the beginning, I pay attention to what is happening in the present moment, help us slow down when something important shows up, and work at a pace your nervous system can handle. You do not need a perfect goal or your entire life story prepared.
Fees
What sessions cost
That's the full private-pay rate. If you have out-of-network health insurance benefits, your actual cost is often lower once your deductible is met.
Private-pay keeps your care confidential and directed entirely by what you need. We can talk it through during the free consultation.
Out-of-network benefits checker
Wondering what your insurance might cover?
Check your out-of-network insurance benefits. It takes about 60 seconds.
No calls, no commitment.
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Location
In-person in Boulder. Online across Colorado.
I offer in-person therapy in Boulder and online therapy throughout Colorado.
Serving Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette, Superior, Broomfield, Arvada, Denver, and greater Colorado through online therapy.
FAQ
Good things to know
Do I need to work in tech?
No. I work with adults in many kinds of demanding work and life situations. Tech is a world I know well from more than a decade inside it. The same pressure, high standards, overthinking, and tendency to tie your identity to work can show up across many fields.
What if I don’t know what I’m feeling or what to talk about?
That is a common place to start. Many people begin therapy with a general sense that something is not working. We can start with, “I don’t know. Something just feels off,” and slow down enough to find out together.
Does somatic therapy mean we won’t talk?
No. We’ll talk about what brings you in and what is happening in your life. We’ll also pay attention to what happens as you talk, including tension, emotion, the urge to pull away, or the moment you go blank. The work does not stop at understanding the problem.
Do I need to identify with trauma?
My work is informed by developmental trauma, relational trauma, attachment wounding, and nervous system awareness, but you do not need to identify with the word trauma to begin. We can work with the patterns affecting you now without forcing a label that does not feel right.
How long does therapy take?
It depends on what you are working on and what you want from therapy. Some people come for a focused period of time, and others stay with longer-term work. We talk about what you are hoping for and revisit it as we go, so the pace stays yours.
Do you offer in-person and online therapy?
Yes. Sessions are available in person at 1650 38th Street, Suite 100E, Boulder, CO 80301, and online throughout Colorado.
What does therapy cost?
Standard sessions are 50 to 55 minutes at $175 per session. Longer sessions and therapy intensives may be available on request.
I am a private-pay practice, which keeps your care confidential and directed entirely by what you need. If you have out-of-network benefits, your actual cost is often lower once your deductible is met.
Check my out-of-network benefitsAbout 60 seconds. Powered by Thrizer. No calls, no commitment.
Book a time
Schedule your free introductory call.
Free 20-minute call. No pressure, no commitment.
Not ready to schedule a call? Send me a private, secure message.