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Linda Diaz-Murphy
Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Grief & Trauma CBT Specialist, Registered Play & Certified Sand Play Therapist
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Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Grief & Trauma CBT Specialist, Registered Play & Certified Sand Play Therapist
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist, specializing in Trauma Focused Play Therapy and Sand Play Therapy for children, teens and adults. I have my own counseling practice and offer effective outpatient, individualized, psychological care. I treat a number of mental health issues, and provide a neutral perspective to children, teens and adults. I provide individual, family, and couples therapy.
I am a certified grief counselor for the Victim Witness Assistance Program Office of Military Commissions assisting 9/11 victim family members (VFM) and others who have experienced loss.
I have visited Puerto Rico where my family is from and shared my book, The Wounded Yellow Butterfly and La Mariposa Amarilla Herida with the children affected by Hurricane Maria. I provided grief counseling to children harmed by Hurricane Maria.
I have donated copies of my Books,The Wounded Yellow Butterfly and La Mariposa Amarillo Herida, to victims of natural disasters in Puerto Rico, North Carolina, Texas, South Carolina and New Jersey. I have donated books to families of police officers killed in the line of duty and children who lost a family member due to a police shooting. I have donated toys and copies of my book in English and in Spanish to organizations helping children who have crossed the American Borders and children who have witnessed community violence.
I have been married for over 40 years to Brian, my wonderful husband. I am a mother, grandmother, and have two wonderful grandchildren who helped me write the book, The Wounded Yellow Butterfly, a story of a wounded butterfly that rebuilds with other insects and garden animals their peaceful garden after a terrible storm. I was inspired to write The Wounded Yellow Butterfly by a real wounded yellow butterfly, the children and families who have allowed me to come along on their healing journeys and my family who immigrated to the USA from Fascist Spain and Communist Cuba seeking political freedom.
Socialism and Fascism are rooted in Communism, a totalitarian system ruled by one person and an indiscriminate military that is in opposition to democracy, free speech, private property, financial independence and artistic expression. Communism is marked by massive surveillance while imposing state terrorism, personality cultism, anti-LGBT, state control of reproduction, anti-parents, anti- motherhood, pro-abortion, pro-genocide, pro-euthanasia, pro-infanticide, anti-family, state control of medical and psychological decisions, anti-feeling, pro-dysfunctional thinking, anti-religion, sexists, racists, political repression, kidnapping of children, mass incarceration, torture, violence, enslavement and death. It also includes an all-encompassing propaganda campaign broadcasted by the state-owned controlled mass media that turns friends against friends, neighbors against neighbors, children against parents, non-religious persons against religious persons, students against professors, Blacks against Whites, women against men and you against yourself. It is a system that destroys the past, controls the present, and denies you a future.
Counseling is available to those suffering from post political trauma. I am offering 10 free counseling sessions to those without insurance or any means to pay who have experienced political repression.
Therapy is about finding your own voice. Therapy is democratic. Therapy is liberating. Therapy is free speech. Therapy helps you discover your authentic self. Therapy is caring. Therapy is about visiting the past in order to free us to move forward. Therapy allows us "...the freedom to experience spontaneous feelings.” ― Alice Miller, The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self
I am providing free downloads of my books and audio/videos in Spanish and in English with captions of The Wounded Yellow Butterfly and La Mariposa Amarilla Herida on this website and on u-tube.
Full Circle is when something "comes full circle"; it completes a cycle, returns to its beginnings. "We can go from optimism to pessimism and back to optimism again in our lives". It is also an “expression of the moment”. You may find these and other definitions on the Web and Webster's Dictionary
Wishing you all the best, Linda
The focus of therapy is to help children, teens and adults become aware of their inner strengths to help each individual grow from their struggles, heal from their pain, and move forward to where each person wants to be in his or her life. To achieve this, each person is provided a neutral safe space from the start in the safe space waiting room where trust can develop and healing can begin.
I will be there for you every step of your healing journey. Your journey may include feeling safe, expressing your feelings, learning to cope with strong feelings, telling your personal story and making closer connections with others.
Initially children, teens and adults may feel shock. It may seem unreal. You may experience denial, as if nothing happened.
After a tragic event or loss, children, teens and adults may have trouble functioning at home, work and/or school. We may feel and/or experience fear, anxiety, or depression. We may have an inability to form or keep relationships, withdrawing from others. We may experience terrifying memories, nightmares and/or flashbacks, and may avoid
After a tragic event or loss, children, teens and adults may have trouble functioning at home, work and/or school. We may feel and/or experience fear, anxiety, or depression. We may have an inability to form or keep relationships, withdrawing from others. We may experience terrifying memories, nightmares and/or flashbacks, and may avoid things or triggers that remind us of the traumatic event. We may also regress and act out uncharacteristically. We may experience physical problems including fatigue, being startled easily, poor concentrating, racing heartbeat, edginess and agitation, aches and pains, muscle tension, nausea, and headaches.
A loss or traumatic event may cause a feeling of hopelessness or meaninglessness of life. We may ask, "Why did this happen to me?".
We all need consistency in our lives. We want to feel in control and make sense of our lives and the world around us. When something tragic happens we want to know “Why?”.
Healing may take weeks, months and even years. Each person is different and his or her healing time should be respected.
Counseling helps you feel safe again, to express and cope with feelings, to tell your personal stories and reconnect with others.
You may experience grief due to the loss of a spouse, a betrayal, divorce, human or natural disaster, environmental contamination, war, rioting, bullying, loss of your home, rape, abortion, discrimination, raci
Counseling helps you feel safe again, to express and cope with feelings, to tell your personal stories and reconnect with others.
You may experience grief due to the loss of a spouse, a betrayal, divorce, human or natural disaster, environmental contamination, war, rioting, bullying, loss of your home, rape, abortion, discrimination, racism, assault, kidnapping, human trafficking and other traumatic losses.
It has been my experience and those of the men, women, and children who have or are healing from loss to report the following stages and symptoms:
Stage 1 and possible symptoms
Stage 2 and possible symptoms
Stage 3 and possible associated symptoms
•Struggling to make sense of trauma event
Stage 4 and possible trauma symptoms
Stage 5
Stage 6
Finding Meaning
Somatic Symptoms
To help understand somatic symptoms please read, "The Body Never Lies", by Alice Miller, a world-renowned psychoanalyst who examined the long-ranged consequences of childhood abuse on the body. She shows how physical and psychological abuse or trauma manifests in adult illnesses.
The Wounded Yellow Butterfly is a perfect story book for children to help understand the process of grief.
There are several points of view on the grieving process and the number of stages of grief. It is believed that there are 6 stages of grief. The first 5 grief stages were introduced to us by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. The 6th stage, "Finding Meaning" is offered to us by David Kessler.
Counseling will help define your role, find comfort, support and confidence with the choices you make.
Counseling helps you make reproductive choices including having children if you are poor. Counseling EMPOWERS poor and working class women into making choices to have children and not to abort their unborn child. Being poor doesn't disqualify you from being a mother!
Counseling provides a safe place to share the loss of a pregnancy or infant and to gain a better understanding of the normal grieving and healing process.
Counseling provides a safe place for sharing your loss after an abortion and to gain a better understanding of the normal grieving and healing process. 10 free post abortion trauma counseling sessions are being offered to those without insurance or other means to pay.
Counseling is also available by community agencies for those without insurance or other means to pay. Please call 201-320-9907 for a referral.
Counseling can provide you and your loved ones a safe place to explore what being safe is, who are the safe and unsafe people, and how to keep yourself and others you love safe.
Counseling is beneficial to everyone seeking to empower themselves and strengthen their commitment in facing injustices i.e., domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment/being told to perform sex to keep your job or to advance in your career (safer to look for another job and/or file a complaint against perpetrators), hate crimes, violence against you for your political affiliation, accusations of sexual assault w/out due process, forced abortion, etc.
You may need to explore enabling behavior and find the courage to correct injustices, not tolerating, enabling or excusing them. You can learn to feel empowered and not "look the other way."
Victims of crimes are strongly advised to seek medical, psychological and spiritual support as well as filing a police report. You may call this office for assistance to the police department to file sexual assault charges and accompaniment to the hospital for a rape kit exam.
Walking away or removing yourself from unsafe people or a dangerous situation is empowering yourself!
Counseling can help you understand yourself better and establish a stronger self identity. If you are asking, "Who am I?", let's talk about it. Not having a strong sense of self or struggling with identity issues such as with your religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation, gender, race, ethnicity, career choice, or other may lead to anxiety and insecurity. An identity crisis may occur due to a big change or stressors in your life.
Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that children, teens and adults may experience at some point in their lives. Through sand play therapy, children, teens and adults may recover motivation, perspective, and joy that they once had in their lives.
Many children and teens can experience symptoms associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger after traumatic events. Children and teens can overcome these symptoms and helped with caring guidance through the process of grief and healing.
Family counseling can be beneficial to all members in the family looking to strengthen their emotional connections. Therapy sessions are held with family members in a supportive environment to discuss issues and solutions to better relate to one another.
Couples Counseling helps to understand the process of grief, forgiveness and reconciliation (optional) after a betrayal. The elements of reconciliation includes a sincere examination of conscience, honesty, reparations and forgiveness.
Therapy helps you find hope and balance in your life!
Therapy can help you feel safe again.
Therapy can help you cope with your loss.
Therapy can help you express your feelings.
Therapy can help you feel closer to others.
Therapy provides a safe place to tell your story.
Play Therapy helps your child find his or her balance in life!
Mother and child said, "Attending therapy helped us feel as if we had built a kaleidoscope as the animals and insects in the story had done after the storm. We have picked up the pieces of broken glass, built our kaleidoscope and saw a new way to care for ourselves by attending another school which helped us move on with our lives." -Karen and Fran
I realized in therapy, "I may be wounded like the wounded yellow butterfly, but I too can still fly even after the abuse.
I found that once I redefined the language that kept me stuck in the a Self Blame/Guilt and Shame Cycle after Abuse, I was able to heal. I stopped believing I was "guilty" for a crime I did not commit. I learned to redefine the term "guilt" as a legal term reserved for the perpetrator of abuse or a crime and not about me at all. - Anne
"Therapy helped me find peace living in two homes just like the butterfly, the animals and insects rebuilt and found peace in their garden." -Joanna
"Losing my pet was like going through the terrible storm like in the story. But I feel better today. Therapy helped me through the sad days and to remember the happy days just like the garden insects and animals remembered things in the past." - Frank
"In therapy I learned I am lovable and have value even if both of my parents neglected and abused me. I am with a new family now and it is a new day just like the new day in the peaceful garden where the the wounded yellow butterfly, the
rainbow butterflies and bird family live.
I got a second chance just like
the wounded yellow butterfly." - Pedro
"I thought I was loved by my abusers because after beating me and sexually abusing me, they fed me, cuddled with me to watch my favorite movie and tucked me in at bedtime. They bought me nice clothes so I would look nice for school and bought me ice cream with colorful sprinkles. But I learned that I needed to build relationships with healthy people just like the animals and insects in the story when they built loving friendships. Therapy helped me understand the effects of my abuse when I was a child growing up. I am older now and learning to think for myself and make my own healthy decisions. I am like the wounded yellow butterfly, rebuilding my life after profound confusion, abuse and loss. " - Jennifer
Drug Use and Abuse of Street Drugs and Prescription Medication
The use of drugs without a prescription including marijuana is illegal. Using street drugs is a sign of a problem! Teach your children and teens that there is no such thing as "experimentation". Abusing prescription drugs is harmful. Using illegal drugs and the abuse of medication may cause medical problems, coma and/or death.
Marijuana may cause psychosis, suicidal ideation, paranoia, brain damage and other problems.
Using alcohol is a sign there is a problem! Teach your children and teens that there is no such thing as "experimentation". Drinking may cause medical problems, coma and/or death.
Early sexual behavior may be a sign of sexual abuse. Early sexual behavior is not "experimentation" but a sign there may be a problem. If you suspect sexual abuse of children or teens, report immediately to the police and/or your local children's protective services.
Linda is trained in school mediation and family and community conflict resolution and Nonviolence activism w/the Quakers and other religious and non religious groups. The Children's Non-violent Peace and Justice Program promotes love and respect for the poor, working class, middle class and rich persons, Asian, African Americans, White, Indigenous and Biracial persons, persons of different ethnicities and nationalities, religious and nonreligious persons, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual persons, the unborn persons, disabled persons and persons who may find themselves the target of discrimination, bigotry, hate, racism and violence. We are a members of several groups, and always an individual with full personhood.
PEACE AND JUSTICE THEMES
AFFIRMATION
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
COOPERATION
CULTURAL APPRECIATION-
We do this by sharing our food, sharing our customs, sharing our traditional clothing, sharing our stories, sharing our way of life, sharing our values and beliefs, sharing our religions, and sharing our lives. We validate and acknowledge one another and promote personhood for each and everyone of us including ALL unborn babies with immeasurable potential!
Sharing is caring!
DEMOCRACY
Special Message
African American men, women and children, descendants of the enslaved have struggled to belong in a country that has inflicted one of the most horrific crimes against humanity. Against all odds most African American men, women and children have advanced, making great strides due to their own initiatives. Some African American men, women and children still remain behind due to no fault of their own.
I am committed to the process of forgiveness. Much has been done to heal the wounds and pain, and there is more we can do together.
The healing process for descendants must include a formal apology from the US government ( S. Con. Res.26-A concurrent resolution apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans), property reparations, psychological healing, and debt cancellation.
I am offering 10 free Counseling sessions to those suffering with trauma related to their family slave history, racism and discrimination, if there is no insurance or other means to pay for services. Unresolved trauma and loss causes anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns that can prevent us from feeling hopeful. Without hope, we remain angry and unfulfilled.
Counseling also helps to understand the process of grief, forgiveness and possible reconciliation ( an option ) after the slave betrayal. The elements of forgiveness includes a sincere examination of conscience, honesty, and reparations.
I am also committed to giving 2.5 acres of land to one family or individual. I want to promote moral responsibility. I want to be the "change" I wish to see our government make and to see each American make, keeping the promise made to African American men, women and children years ago. You may have many reasons why you don't think reparations is the way to resolve loss. You may think it is not fair to hold those who didn't take part in enslaving men, woman and children responsible. You are absolutely right! We should not be blamed for the crimes committed by others.
But let me say, we need an ethical and moral approach to reparations. It must be compassionate and empathic. We must care enough to help each person feel a sense of belonging. People today are not to blame for enslavement, but we are morally responsible to our neighbor and our friend. We are responsible for one another. We need to continue building a society in which personhood applies to everyone and is validated.
I also want to encourage everyone to use loving words and language and refrain from using derogatory words toward African American men, women and children. We also need to stop calling each other "racist" and using expressions such as "White Privilege", "marginalized people", "minority" and other demoralizing words and phrases that may cause shame, anger, shyness, withdrawal from others, poor school performance, lowered self-esteem, sense of inferiority, and defensiveness which creates more division and separation from one another. These are not words of love, appreciation and inclusion. There are however nonviolent words to describe people based on race, ethnicity, economic status, age, etc. that don't offend but are factual.
One last word, the expression "person of color" must be reserved for African American men, women and children only to keep the focus on their unique experience. No other group should ride on the coat-tails of African Americans and their personal slave experience, robbing them again of what is due to them just to advance a political agenda. This is unconscionable and fraudulent.
African Americans is the only group of people not to have received reparations in the US. The failure to provide PROPERTY reparations over the last 150 years speaks volumes of our hypocrisy and lack of commitment to racial equality and justice.
Property Reparations began during Lincoln's Presidency and ended after his death.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for property reparations, school vouchers for a better and equal education, and 100% employment opportunities for African Americans to advance toward equality with other Americans, knowing the healing it would bring to African Americans.
The Five Themes of Trauma Focused Play Therapy Developed/Created by Linda Diaz-Murphy Copyright 2010
Photography and videos by Linda Diaz-Murphy Copyright 1990-2020
Contact Linda Diaz-Murphy for an appointment, referral, for assistance and accompaniment to the police department and/or hospital, and with questions. comments and/or concerns.
You are welcome and safe here!
135 Fort Lee Road, Leonia, Suite LL4, NJ 07605
Call and leave your message on my confidential voice mail 201-320-9907
Open today | 04:00 pm – 08:00 pm |
MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED
The biller will file claims for you.
SLIDING SCALE OPTION between $10.00-$250.00 per hr based on income.
Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning, afternoon and evening hours.
Sessions are available via Zoom and by phone.
Office is closed due to pandemic. Sessions will continue to be offered via phone and zoom.
Copyright © 2020 Full Circle Mediation and Counseling Center - All Rights Reserved.
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