Elizabeth McMurray, MA

Clinical Director

Beth earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Rhode Island, and a Master of Arts in both Art Therapy and Marriage and Family Therapy from the Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, California. She is a Psychodrama facilitator and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. She came to Alabama to direct ACED.

Beth joins us from southern California, where she was a Primary Therapist at the Eating Disorder Center of California, a well-respected day-treatment program similar to the ACED. While there, she also developed and led therapeutic groups, such as family therapy, spirituality, primary-process, experiential, art therapy, body image and dialectical-behavioral therapy.

Beth carved out a professional niche in eating disorders as a school therapist for kindergarteners to eighth-graders, for whom she created programs promoting positive body image, self-esteem and media literacy. A large part of her work at the school was family counseling, as well as the promotion of community awareness and the prevention of eating disorders.

She is most proud of raising two healthy, well-adjusted daughters.

Like everyone here, Beth is excited to be part of our mission to share lifelong recovery with those suffering from an eating disorder. She adds to our team a sense of humor, an uncanny ability to connect with people, and wisdom gained in her own recovery from an eating disorder.

Despite her Northeastern childhood, the free-spirited Beth loves southern rock, grits and greens.

“I bring myself into a room,” she says. “I’ve found it helps to be as real as possible.”