I graduated from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska with a BA in psychology. I went on to attend California State University Bakersfield and received myMS in Psychology in 1982. I was licensed in 1985 as a Marriage and Family Therapist and am a member in good standing with California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). I have been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past 26 years.

I have seen a wide variety of mental health settings ranging from outpatient mental health clinics serving both rural and urban populations, incarcerated individuals, private practice settings, a hospital setting and was Clinical Director of Bakersfield Family Medical Center's Counseling Department in the late 1990's.

Following BFMC, I joined Dr. Manohara's staff in April 1999 where I worked with individuals, groups, couples and families in conjunction with a group of psychiatrists and psychologists, and then went into private practice. 

With the exception of a brief 2 year period in Oregon, I have worked and resided in Kern County all of my professional career. I have been married for 29 years and have 2 adult children.  Although my legal name is John W. Murphy (insurance companies know me by this name), I prefer my nickname, Bill Murphy.