Do you take insurance?

At Murrell Counseling Service, we want therapy to stay focused on you, not on what your insurance company allows or dictates.  We also prioritize your privacy in your treatment.  All of our therapy is conducted online using the Spruce Medical Communication app for both cell phone and computer communication.  No one can know anything about you without your explicit permission.  If you choose to use your insurance, we can provide guidance on how to present the bill to them if you opt for that route.

Are all of our sessions going to be by phone or computer connection?

Yes.  Experience gained since the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that clients feel much safer participating in telehealth services rather than having to physically drive to an office and go through the conventional paperwork, not to mention waiting to be served, when they can instead have immediate access to therapy from the comfort of their own home.

What if I am not techy enough to use my computer or phone to know how to make the electronic connection?

That is never a problem.  We will go over how to make the connection so that you will be online and comfortably communicating within a minute after logging on. Here are more details about how to use Telehealth.

How long does a session last?

Sessions are 50 minutes long unless other arrangements are made.   Some clients find that they prefer longer sessions, which allow for more in-depth discussions and more intensive therapy techniques.

My physician recommended Dr. Murrell because he is a certified EMDR therapist.  What exactly is EMDR, and what is it used for?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing.  It was developed in the late 1980s specifically for the treatment of PTSD.  At that time, there was no effective treatment for PTSD, and many veterans were coming back from Vietnam with symptoms that defied treatment, leaving our service members frightened and both socially and occupationally impaired.  EMDR has been modified since that time to treat a variety of traumas that occur to civilians, including motor vehicle accidents, abusive relationships, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder.

How will I know if I will be comfortable in therapy?

It is essential that a client has a comfortable relationship with their therapist.  For that reason, Dr. Murrell offers a free 15-minute chat session to allow both parties to get acquainted and see how it feels to talk with each other.  Also at that time, clients go over their free check-up for possible symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.  These three screens are also offered, at no charge, to prospective clients who want to learn more about their symptoms and possible techniques to alleviate them.