Lawrence Murphy is the founder of Worldwide Therapy Online, established in 1994 and recognized as the world’s first online clinical practice. With more than three decades of experience at the intersection of mental health and technology, he brings a longstanding perspective on the opportunities, ethical questions, and clinical responsibilities that accompany digital innovation.
In collaboration with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), Lawrence co-authored pioneering ethical standards for online counselling, helping to lay the groundwork for subsequent standards in technology-mediated clinical practice.
Through Therapy Online’s Research Institute, Lawrence has contributed extensively to the academic literature on technology-mediated therapy. His 1998 paper, When Writing Helps to Heal: Email as Therapy, explores the role of written communication in therapeutic relationships. Therapy Online has delivered two levels of training in cyber counselling and has trained more than 1,200 clinicians worldwide.
During the pandemic, Lawrence delivered 145 half-day webinars to 15,000 mental health professionals across Canada, supporting clinicians as they adapted to providing care online. His work combines clinical practice, research, and education, with a consistent focus on ethical, secure, and clinically responsible technology use.
In addition to its education and research activities, Therapy Online licenses clinical software to individuals and agencies delivering online mental health services.
Lawrence holds an MA in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and teaches in the Department of Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University. His experience informs his work on artificial intelligence, digital intimacy, and the evolving risks and responsibilities facing mental health professionals today.