About Dr. Rachael J. Murphy, MD

Psychiatric care rooted in collaboration and respect

Why I Do This

I founded RiverStep Health with a single intention: to create a place where healing isn't about labels, quick fixes, or pharmaceutical dependency, but about finding real solutions instead of trading your original symptoms for medication side effects.

As a psychiatrist licensed in New York and Pennsylvania, I specialize in safe, strategic tapering of psychiatric medications, with a strong emphasis on root-cause investigation of the underlying physiological factors that drive certain mental health symptoms. My approach bridges neuroscience, therapy, lifestyle medicine, and real-world practicality—without losing sight of your story, your values, or your autonomy.

I'm not here to pathologize you or add another diagnosis. I'm here to help you understand what's happening in your mind and body, so we can address the real sources of your struggles and support your recovery.

To Private Practice

My studies began with neuroscience and psychology at Boston University. I was fascinated by consciousness and how the brain, body, and experience connect. This led me to medical school at St. George's University, where I initially focused on neurology because I loved the precision behind understanding how the brain works.

During my residency at Lehigh Valley Health Network, I found myself more drawn to the human side of medicine—the stories and complexity of what makes people struggle and heal. So I switched to psychiatry, though I was skeptical about the heavy medication focus from the start. I trained with incredible physicians who genuinely care about their patients.

What troubled me was the system itself. Patients often get arbitary diagnoses and leave with prescriptions that have side effects, cycling through treatments for years on end. As someone who needs to understand things deeply, a surface-level approach didn't align with how I wanted to practice.

There should be more opportunties for people to explore moving beyond psychiatric treatment.

That's why I decided to start something different.

What I Believe

Every person's experience is unique—that's where we start.

  1. Psychiatric medications can be useful in crisis, but long-term use deserves careful thought, expert strategy, and honest conversation about what comes next.

  2. Every symptom has a story. Often, that story begins in chronic stress, lifestyle imbalances (such as sleep, diet, relationships), or nervous system dysregulation, not a chemical deficiency that requires lifelong medication.

  3. Deprescribing is specialized medicine. Withdrawal symptoms are real, can be severe, and require expert medical guidance. Tapering must be hyper-individualized at your pace, with proper support, and with full understanding of what to expect.

  4. Tapering is recovery work, not quitting. We're not just getting you off medication. We're treating underlying causes, managing withdrawal symptoms, and helping you get your life back.

My Approach

My work is collaborative. I value autonomy; I see you as a person to support, with wisdom of your own.

My job isn't to make you dependent on this care. We're partners in this. I'll share specialized medical expertise, alongside my prescribing capabilities, but you're also the expert on your own experience.

I provide full transparency about all treatment options, from different pharmaceutical risks vs. benefits to natural interventions—so you can make informed decisions that align with your goals. Every choice we make happens together. I give a recommended plan with full respect for what feels right for you.

The goal is always your independence. When you're ready to move forward on your own, that's exactly what should happen. There’s never pressure to stay, no guilt about leaving. That's how you know the medical support is actually helping you.

What I Specialize In

Working together to find the right approach for you

  • Safe Psychiatric Medication Tapering

  • Medication Dependence & Withdrawal Support

  • Dissociation & Nervous System Dysregulation

  • Root Cause Investigation & Testing

  • Natural Alternatives to Psychiatric Medications

FAQs

  • Yes — but it has to be done right. Abrupt withdrawal is dangerous and can cause intense symptoms. I use slow, evidence-based and body-informed tapering that gives your nervous system time to recalibrate gently and sustainably.

  • Absolutely. Many of my patients are on 3–4+ psychiatric meds. I specialize in managing complex polypharmacy cases, tapering medications one at a time while watching for withdrawal, drug interactions, and mental health changes.

  • Yes! I work with people who want to avoid medications altogether. We explore root causes like trauma, inflammation, nutrient/hormonal imbalances, and use lifestyle, therapy, and nervous system regulation techniques to support healing naturally.

Ready to see if we're a good fit?

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation,

or email Dr. Rachael with any questions.