About Dr. Murphy
About Dr. Murphy (she/her)
Hi, I’m Lexa! My journey to child psychology began as a camp counselor. As a teen, I began volunteering at Paul Newman’s Serious Fun camps for children with chronic illnesses and their families. I was inspired by the kids and parents that I met at camp, and was eager to better understand how to support these families through psychology research and clinical practice.
I earned a BA in Psychology from Emory University and a PhD in Clinical Psychological Science from Vanderbilt University. I completed my clinical internship in Child Psychology here in Washington at the University of Washington/Seattle Children’s Hospital and completed a two-year research fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
I view scientific research and clinical practice as working hand in hand to serve youth and families. I have authored over forty peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters on family adjustment to childhood chronic illness, including pediatric cancer, pediatric chronic pain, and pediatric gastrointestinal disorders. I also teach Child Development and Health Psychology at Seattle University and partner with Jefferson County’s Public Health to expand access to Autism services for youth. In 2022 I was the recipient of the Washington State Psychological Association’s Distinguished Psychologist Award.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my partner, our two kids, and too many pets.
Research
SMART Team
In partnership with Jefferson County Public Health, I serve as the COE of Jefferson County’s SMART Team, which is dedicated to removing barriers to accessing services for Autism.
The Benji Project
I’m proud to support this local organization, dedicated to resilience in our community’s youth.