Google scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=WD5esBUAAAAJ&hl=en

Dr. Murphy is accepting new graduate students for Fall 2026. Information for prospective students thinking about applying to Mississippi State's clinical psychology program is located here: https://www.psychology.msstate.edu/graduate-programs/clinical-psychology-program/information-applicants. Graduate and undergraduate students interested in the Murphy lab are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Murphy via email at stm316@msstate.edu.

Research Interests

Dr. Murphy's research focuses on evaluating the benefits of psychotherapies, with a particular emphasis on experimental comparisons of psychotherapies and therapy strategies using randomized controlled trials and small-scale analogue comparisons. This line of research has mainly focused on cognitive behavioral therapies, including cognitive therapy for depression and dialectical behavior therapy. His research also includes studies focused on personality disorders and serious mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder and schizophrenia). Dr. Murphy's research has an additional focus on rural mental health. This research includes evaluations of mental health needs in rural communities and efforts to develop psychological interventions to address unmet needs for psychological services in these areas.

Education

A.A., Psychology, Solano Community College

B.S., Psychology, Sociology, Montana State University

M.A., Psychology, Ohio State University

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Ohio State University

Doctoral Internship, Underserved Populations Track, University of Kansas Medical Center

Representative Publications 

Murphy, S. T., Cheavens, J. S., & Strunk, D. R. (2024). The friends and family for mental health program: A pilot study of a cognitive behavioral therapy skills intervention for rural adults. Rural and Remote Health, 24, 9066. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH9066

Murphy, S. T., Vittorio, L. N., & Strunk, D. R. (2023). Vindicating Pollyanna? An experimental test of cognitive restructuring and positive thinking interventions. Psychotherapy Research, 33, 696-703. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2152397

Murphy, S. T., Cooper, A. A., Hollars, S. N., & Strunk, D. R. (2021). Who benefits from a cognitive vs. behavioral approach to treating depression? A pilot study of prescriptive predictors. Behavior Therapy, 52, 1433-1448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2021.03.012