Dr. Murphy

"Mental health and exercise"

Dr. Murphy and his staff strive to provide mental health care of the highest quality to residents of Fallbrook and surrounding communities, with respect for the dignity and privacy of every patient.  In addition to direct patient care, the office serves as a source of information and support for the community seeking information and referral.  Through his activities in organized psychiatry, Dr. Murphy endeavors to reduce the stigma of mental illness, and to advance the availability of care.  Dr. Murphy shares the vision of a health care system that can address the psychiatric needs of all citizens.

After beginning his medical career as general practitioner in the United States Air Force, Dr. Murphy obtained his psychiatric training at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.  He has been in private practice in Fallbrook since 1986, where he also provided services for patients at Fallbrook Hospital until it closed in 2014.


Dr. Murphy has received numerous awards and commendations, and has on three occasions been named a "Top Doc" by San Diego Magazine. He has also held many leadership positions, recently completing a two-year term as President of the California Psychiatric Association.  He has also served as Chief of Staff of Fallbrook Hospital, Chair of the San Diego County Mental Health Board, and President of the San Diego Psychiatric Society.  His work in organized psychiatry has included service on the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association and the House of Delegates of the California Medical Association, where he serves on the Council for Science and Public Health, and as the Chair of the Specialty Delegation.

Services Provided:  Dr. Murphy performs diagnostic evaluations and ongoing care for children 6 years old and older, as well as adolescents, adults and seniors.  He has had extensive training and nearly 30 years of experience in psychopharmacology. Disorders treated include those involving anxiety, depression, inattention/hyperactivity, psychosis, addictive disorders and autism.  Although many patients come to Dr. Murphy for management of their psychiatric medications, Dr. Murphy believes that a full understanding of the patient is required to determine the proper role of medication.  Brief psychotherapy is part of most follow-up visits,  with referral to local therapists for those patients who would benefit from regular individual or family therapy.   

Kara Nossardi

"EMDR Basics"

Kara Nossardi, MA, LMFT is the Director of Training and Founder of the EMDR Education and Training Center (EETC), an Approved Consultant and Practicum Supervisor at Sonoma Psychotherapy Institute (Sonoma PTI), as well as a Practicum Facilitator for the EMDR Center of Southern California (ECSC) and the EMDR Center of Canada. Kara has been a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist since 2014 and currently practices in Temecula, California, where she specializes in using attachmentfocused EMDR Therapy in the treatment of complex Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), depression, and anxiety. Kara is an EMDRIA approved Trainer, Approved Consultant, and Certified EMDR Therapist. Kara’s skill and passion in providing EMDR Training and consultation is accentuated by her previous career as a college-level academician. To learn more about the professional services Kara offers, please visit her private practice website at www.karanossardi.com, and her EMDR training website at www.emdreducationandtrainingcenter.com.