We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Archinas-murphin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Hi Stephanie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The past five years have been filled with countless risks—both personally and professionally. But the biggest leap of all came when my husband and I made the life-changing decision for him to leave his full-time job. The pressure of both of us working full-time had become overwhelming, and we were no longer showing up as the parents we aspired to be. We had grown short-tempered and irritable with each other and our kids, a version of family life I never envisioned. After many difficult conversations, weighing the emotional and financial implications, we finally decided that my husband would stay home full-time with the kids while I continued running my private psychotherapy practice.

What we didn’t anticipate was just how much this shift in roles would challenge us. Coming from a traditional Filipino family where the husband was the primary provider, my husband struggled to adjust to being a full-time dad. Meanwhile, I was in my comfort zone, having grown up surrounded by women in the professional world. Like any couple, we had our ups and downs, but our experience in couples therapy helped us navigate disagreements and keep conflicts from escalating. While every day remains an adventure, we now feel better equipped to handle the challenges that came with taking this leap of faith.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Interestingly enough, I got into this industry by taking a big leap following a toxic work environment in LA. I quit that workplace and threw myself into the graduate program Counseling in Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy after browsing the university’s website. I found it interesting, followed my gut and immersed myself in the program for the next 30 mos.

Upon finishing my program, I worked at a domestic violence emergency shelter and witnessed the deep impact of trauma on children. It was then I realized my true calling was to support children and families. This led me to community mental health, where I spent several years working with kids and teens in their homes and schools. However, it wasn’t until I was introduced to Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) in 2021 that I fully grasped the profound power of attachment between parent and child. Since immersing myself in EFFT, I have dedicated my work to strengthening these connections, helping families heal and grow together. In addition to family therapy, I continue to support couples in reducing conflict and deepening their relationships, as well as individuals in doing transformative “inner child” work.

But at my core, my true calling is family therapy. There is nothing more powerful than witnessing familial relationships heal—helping kids and teens express themselves and build their emotional vocabulary, guiding parents to truly hear their children without becoming overwhelmed, and teaching parents the emotional regulation skills they were never taught growing up. Some of the most profound work I do is helping adult children reconnect with their parents after years of distance and pain. Many clients seek me out to navigate the deep cultural and generational divides within immigrant families—something I am uniquely equipped to support, as I am fluent in both Tagalog and Bisaya. Family relationships are complex, but with the right tools and understanding, they can be repaired, strengthened, and transformed.

Recognizing the busy schedules of parents and kids, I offer late afternoon, evening, and weekend appointments virtually and in-person in Los Alamitos, CA. Moreover, I offer virtual appointments for clients in Nevada and Vermont. I also provide intensives—longer sessions with wider intervals between appointments—to allow for deeper, more meaningful work without the added stress of weekly sessions.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Growing up, I was an overachiever who was incredibly hard on myself. Any mistake I made would linger in my mind for days, sometimes even weeks. I held myself to impossibly high standards, even when no one else expected the same from me. This pattern followed me into my professional life, showing up in every job I had, and I didn’t know how to break free from it. When I started my private practice, the adjustment was overwhelming—there was no safety net, no fallback, just me.

I had to learn to reconnect with my younger self and offer her the grace she had long needed—especially that little third grader who carried the weight of perfectionism. Through practicing self-compassion and surrounding myself with a community of fellow therapist moms, I slowly learned to be kinder to myself. While it’s still a work in progress, I am much better at practicing positive affirmations and reminding myself that, at the end of the day, my best is always enough.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

The most powerful tool in therapy is simple: genuine connection. At the end of the day, we are all human—seeking to be heard, seen, and understood. While training and experience are valuable, true healing begins when I connect with the person in front of me. Early in my career, I often overthought interventions, techniques, and finding the “right” supervisor. But I’ve learned that what clients need most is a safe space where they feel valued. When that happens, the transformation is profound—they gain confidence, reassurance, and the motivation to move forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nurtureandhealcounseling.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurtureandhealcounseling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nurture-and-Heal-Counseling-100070726094589/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nurture-and-heal-counseling-los-alamitos
• Other: tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nurture_and_heal

Image Credits

Dr. Nicole Enrique, Megan Concepcion Photography