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 consult to Jefferson Healthcare. 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
The Benji Project
I’m proud to be a part of this local organization, dedicated to resilience in our community’s youth.