Helping People Find Their Way Forward.
Why I’ve Chosen to Focus on Workers’ Compensation Trauma Care
I’m Dr. Michael Murrell.
For more than four decades, my work has centered on helping people recover from PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and panic.
As my practice evolved, I found myself working more often with injured workers and the nurse case managers coordinating their care. Those relationships opened my eyes to a very specific need within workers’ compensation: patients were being referred for psychological care at a point when recovery had become more complicated, and case managers needed experienced clinicians they could trust to step in, communicate clearly, and help move that recovery forward.
I found that work deeply meaningful.
It allowed me to bring together the areas I have spent my career developing—trauma treatment, anxiety care, EMDR, careful assessment, and strong one-on-one clinical relationships—with a system that depends on collaboration and responsiveness.
Today, that is where I have chosen to focus my practice.
I work primarily with workers’ compensation patients referred by nurse case managers and other authorized professionals. My role is not only to provide specialized psychological treatment, but to become a reliable part of the broader recovery team.
That means being available when a referral is made. Understanding the expectations surrounding a workers’ compensation case. Communicating with the professionals involved. Providing clear documentation. And, throughout all of it, never losing sight of the individual who is trying to get their life back.
I believe patients do better when they feel understood, respected, and actively involved in their own recovery. I also believe case managers do their jobs more effectively when they know the psychologist caring for their patient will be accessible, responsive, and focused on meaningful progress.
That combination—excellent clinical care for the patient and dependable partnership for the case manager—is what I want my practice to provide.
—Dr. Murrell, Psy.D
What is Your Life Story?
If you think of your life has a story, then what kind of story is it ? Every story as a beginning, a middle and an end. Where are you in your journey? Do you still have a child-like excitement for your life? Do you feel like the hero or the victim of your life? Are you struggling with anxiety, worry, insomnia and physical tension? Are you having panic attacks? Do you have issues that you are afraid to face? Are you struggling with depression and a pessimistic view of your life? Now can be a time to make a significant change in direction. Take a deep breath. Calm your body and mind. Change your focus from thinking about what you don’t want to a vision of what you most want. What specifically do you want your life to look and feel like next month? Next year? Then ask, “How do I make this vision a reality”? You don’t have to figure this out all by yourself. Two heads are better than one. If you want, we can work together to step by step bring your vision into reality. Why not increase your hope for the future, learn new techniques to engage and overcome challenges, and build your confidence to accomplish new goals? You have nothing to lose but your pain. Help is only a phone call or text away.
— Dr. Michael Murrell
A Little More About Me...
I grew up with traditional conservative values. At age 17, I was awarded my Eagle Scout Badge. From age 22 to 28, I was a Medic in the Army Reserves. I served proudly in the 325 Field Hospital located in Kansas City, MO. I completed my Master's Degree at Missouri State University before working as director of the Wellness program at Mercy Hospital for six years. I wrote a column for a local paper entitled "Because You're Worth It."
I started my private practice, Murrell Counseling Service LLC, in 1987 and returned to school at Forest Institute for my doctorate while working part-time in private practice. I began working with men and groups of men at Lakeland Regional Psychiatric Hospital. I earned my Psy. D. in 1996 and was licensed in 1997. My practice blossomed, and I added a psychiatrist and several other psychologists in the 1990s.
In 1996, I went through the training in EMDR to work specifically with clients who struggled with PTSD and Panic Disorder. EMDR is an unusually effective means of treating long-standing issues with anxiety.
In 2006, I began conducting evaluations of Veterans for the VA and continue to do that work to this day. In 2022, I opened an office in The Villages, Florida, and received my license as a Florida psychologist. I can now practice psychology in MO, Florida, and the 40+ states covered in the PSYPACT agreements.
I now practice in almost every state in the nation. I love being a psychologist and get a thrill in helping my clients successfully overcome their darkest fears and reclaim the life they are meant to live.
Two Case Histories…
John was a young, home health physical therapist who was initially very successful in his profession. However, in his second year of work, he developed disabling panic attacks whenever he drove more than a block away from his home. His panic symptoms were severe chest pains, breathing difficulty, and the feeling that he was about to die. After only ten E.M.D.R. sessions, his Panic Disorder was resolved. Complex PTSD is more difficult to treat.
For example, Mary joined the Navy in order to serve her country. There she married a fellow sailor, and then bad things began to happen to Mary. Her husband turned out to be a brutally abusive psychopath. Her daughter was killed and then Mary was gang raped. Eventually, she married a genuinely nice man. However, she still suffered panic attacks, nightmares, suicidal thoughts. She was admitted to a psych ward, barely able to speak or think. She had thirty-two shock therapy treatments before she was referred to me. After twenty-three sessions of EMDR therapy, Mary is now stable, happily married, and now enjoys making quilts for her family. Her Complex PTSD symptoms are completely resolved.
To learn about EMDR, go to http://www.EMDRIA.org.
Mission Statement
I am dedicated to being the person you turn to for understanding and support when it comes to panic attacks and PTSD. I am here to help you when you feel alone, afraid, or overwhelmed by the fear of imminent danger. When you struggle to breathe deeply and your heart races uncontrollably, or when past trauma continues to haunt you, I will be the one who truly "gets it." I will walk with you out of darkness into the light of a fulfilling and happy life, helping you find hope, strength, and confidence. This is my life's work.