Keynote Speaker

John J. Murphy, Ph.D.John J. Murphy, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized trainer and practitioner of brief therapy approaches with young people, families, and school problems. He is a former finalist for NASP School Psychologist of the Year and author of several books including Brief Intervention for School Problems (with Barry Duncan), the award-winning Solution-Focused Counseling in Schools and a brand new book entitled, Conducting Student-Driven Interviews.

John began his career as a high school teacher, where he learned about the value of a positive student—teacher relationship in preventing and managing classroom behavior problems. The power of relationships was reinforced in his training at the University of Cincinnati with its emphasis on consultation and collaboration. He completed post-doctoral training in family therapy with Barry Duncan at the Dayton Institute of Family Therapy, where he learned how to put clients first in the intervention process. John worked as a full-time school psychologist for 13 years with Covington Public Schools, a community that was considered one of the most economically depressed areas in the country. Lessons learned from the resilient students and families of Covington led to an abiding faith in people’s ability to improve their lives against tremendous odds when they are treated with dignity and when their unique resources are recognized and applied toward school solutions. John’s constant belief in people’s ability to change, and in the power of the helping process, is central to his client-driven, solution-focused approach to school problems and the people who experience them.

Dr. Murphy is currently a Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Arkansas, Behavior Interventionist to school districts in central Arkansas, and Consultant/Trainer with school districts, mental health agencies, and professional organizations in the United States and overseas. He continues to work regularly in schools and his work has been featured in several contemporary venues including the New York Times bestseller Switch. John is a sought after workshop presenter who has trained thousands of school psychologists, counselors, teachers, parents, and school administrators throughout the United States and many other countries. His passion for helping young people and caregivers change in dignified ways is central to his writings and training workshops.