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Murphy Toerner (pronounced—"Turner")

Counselor  I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Nationally Certified Counselor, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I have worked for 16 years in a private practice setting.  I received my Master’s Degree from Louisiana State University in May, 1992.  I am a Christian Counselor which means I integrate Christian principles and counseling theories.  Most of my clients are “people of faith”.  I have successfully counseled clients from a wide range of denominations ranging from Episcopalian and Catholic to Pentecostal and Full-Gospel to main line Protestant (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, etc.)denominations.  My goal is to help clients grow mentally, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. 

Supervisor I am a certified supervisor for Counselor Interns in the Sate of Louisiana.  I over see the process of them becoming Licensed Professional Counselors.  Also, I am a certified supervisor of supervisors for Marriage and Family Therapists, as well as a supervisor for MFTs as they become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. 

Christian  I have been a Christian for over 48 years.  I know that everything I am and every good thing in my life has come to me directly from the heart and hands of God, the Father.  In response to God’s love, grace, and mercy toward me, I desire to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  My constant hope is to faithfully represent Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Lord as I interact with others. I want to love people with His love and I want people to see that God is real, relevant, powerful, and present today!

Student  I love to learn.  I am constantly reading books on a variety of topics.  I love words and the art of communication.  I enjoy traveling and being exposed to other cultures/people.  I enjoy greeting people in their own language (and seeing them smile.)  I graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education.  I taught for five years in the East Baton Rouge Parish school system.  I left teaching to pursue a full-time position with Young Life, an international, evangelical ministry to high school students.  While my children were young, I was a stay-at-home mom.

Speaker/Retreats  For the last thirteen years, I have had the privilege of leading women’s retreats, teaching bible studies, presenting parenting seminars, and pre-marriage/marriage seminars (with my husband, Mike).  My desire is for God’s people (Christians) to KNOW God better and to know His ways more thoroughly.  It is by knowing God that we grow in our love and spiritual maturity.  I enjoy leading people to Christ because Jesus Christ is the key to enjoying healthy, loving, fulfilling relationships and the abundant life He desires for us.

Wife/Mother  Last, but far from least, God has eternally blessed me through my marriage of 27 years to Dr. Michael Toerner, PhD.  God has equally blessed me with two wonderful sons:  Cal (age 23) and Jon (age 20).  The love, acceptance, respect, and fellowship we experience as a family is unique.  These three “men” in my life create a wonderful home-base for me.  God has specifically used all three of these “dear ones” to teach me how to love deeply, to accept/forgive readily, to relate authentically, and to mature continuously.  I thank God every day for each of them.