About Me

Bio & Experience

Dr. Murray Erlich Certified Life Coach in Toronto Canada
Dr. Murray Erlich

I am a certified life coach and recently retired psychiatrist. (A certified life coach is someone who has gone through rigorous training and has passed the certification exam provided by the International Coaching Federation.)

As a psychiatrist, I specialized in the treatment of anxiety disorders. My areas of expertise included Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, mindfulness training, and assertiveness training. Along with my 27 years of private practice, I worked at CAMH, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital, and the University of Toronto Student Psychiatric Service.

For the last 7 years of my psychiatric practice, I focused my work primarily on the treatment of a variety of professionals. I had a very strong working relationship with the Physician Health Program of the Ontario Medical Association. I also worked with the Ontario Lawyer Assistance Program, a part of the Law Society of Ontario. I have worked with a large number of dentists, nurses, other professionals, and a wide variety of business and academic leaders.

As a life coach, my main areas of interest include healthy and personally sustainable career development, prevention and healing of burnout, and career transitions. I am also very experienced at helping people with many other types of individual and interpersonal concerns, such as work-life balance, healthy self-confidence, and healthy interpersonal relationships.

I have developed a series of group coaching sessions focusing on wellness and resilience. The OMA Physician Health Program is partnering with me in offering these groups to physicians. The wellness/resilience groups are also available to, and applicable to, a wide variety of professions and work environments.

My Approach

From my life coach training (at the Adler School), I bring the philosophy that each of us is whole, creative, self-guiding, and meaning-making. Each of us has unique strengths and gifts with which we can create a life of meaning. As your coach, I will help you explore these strengths and gifts to help you find your growth path.

From my work as a psychiatrist, I bring tools primarily from Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. This involves helping you learn to explore, question, and revise unhelpful beliefs, assumptions, and negative self-talk (“the inner critic”). I bring the ability to help you reflect deeply on yourself and your life. I also bring a respectful, supportive and nonjudgmental approach to our work.

From my work as a spiritual director, I help you pay attention to your inner compass or “true north”; the values and meaning that guide your life. I can help you explore what it means for you to best live a spiritual life, in the way that fits with your personal understanding of spirituality. 

Murray has been coaching me on career change and helping me find my "calling". He has been helping me figure out how to tap into my potential, release fears, and follow my dreams. His psychiatrist background gives him a deep understanding of people and enables him to provide insightful perspectives. Murray is an excellent Life Coach and his coaching has been instrumental in helping me find direction. If you hire Murray as your Life Coach, you are hiring the best!
Bryan
Enterprise Software Executive/Entrepreneur
I am deeply grateful for Murray's support and coaching when I face situations that require change,but don't know how to help myself move forward. He creates a safe compassionate space where I can talk honestly without fear of judgement, and he is empathic and makes me feel that he sincerely cares about my well being. He honours my goals, and structures our time together to reflect my concerns and priorities. I have benefited greatly from his wise and patient guidance.
M. G.
TEACHER

Contact me for a 15-minute no-obligation call