Ryan Murphy, MSW, joins United Counseling Service as Director of Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Services

United Counseling Service (UCS) welcomes Ryan Murphy, MSW, as its new Director of Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Murphy comes to UCS with over 20 years of experience working in the mental health and substance use services field, most recently working for the State of Vermont as District Director of the Rutland Area Office of Child Protection Services. He earned his Master of Social Work from Simmons College in Boston, MA, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Boston University. Murphy will serve as the head of UCS’ Outpatient Mental Health program, which provides counseling services, Equine Assisted Therapy, therapy groups, and mental health and disability evaluations, to residents of Bennington County. He will also lead the Substance Use Services division, which includes a medication assisted treatment program, intensive outpatient program, individual and group therapy, and case management services.

 “I hope to share and give back, support and uplift those who are struggling with ongoing needs and addiction and provide them with mental health support, says Murphy. “I look forward to having the ability to impact the community in which I live in a positive way.”

Murphy worked in several management roles in the child protection sphere in the United Kingdom for 14 years before returning with his family to the United States in 2022 to resume his lifelong passion of working within adult mental health and substance use services. Murphy says, “I look forward to strengthening the networks and partnerships that UCS has already built, and I hope to increase and expand those as well.”