Dr. John Murphy is an internationally recognized practitioner, author, and trainer of solution-focused therapy in schools and elsewhere. He began his career as a high school teacher, where he first experienced the positive effect of focusing on what is right with students rather than what is wrong with them. He spent 13 years as a school psychologist in Covington Public Schools, a densely populated urban district in northern Kentucky that was considered the most economically depressed area in the United States. The students and families of Covington taught him many lessons about helping people change—lessons on the power of resilience and perseverance, and on the impact of systems, language, and dialogue on the way people view themselves and their possibilities. These experiences continue to shape his clinical practice, writing, and training. 

Dr. Murphy has also worked as a university professor, school administrator, psychotherapist, and consultant/trainer to mental health agencies and school districts around the world. The latest of his nine books include Solution-Focused Therapy (2024, American Psychological Association) and the award-winning Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools, 4th edition (2023, American Counseling Association). His work is featured in two DVD training series (Child Therapy with the Experts and APA’s Psychotherapy in Practice), psychotherapy and counseling textbooks, and the NY Times bestsellers Switch and Reset. He has received numerous awards that include the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Writer of the Year, NASP School Psychologist of the Year Finalist, Kentucky Best Practices in Counseling Award, Arkansas Mental Health Advocate of the Year, and others. He has presented keynotes and workshops for professional and public audiences in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, Vietnam, and other countries. Dr. Murphy’s presentations are known for their passion and practicality, and he views it as a privilege to assist practitioners from around the world in their efforts to help people change with dignity.