⚠️ Recovering from Workplace Trauma: A Guide for Federal Employees

By: Dr. Jenn Merthe-Grayson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Workplace trauma can be sudden - like an accident or assault - or it can build slowly through chronic stress, repeated exposure to risk, or ongoing pressure. Federal employees, especially those in USPS, TSA, VA, DHS, and law enforcement, face unique occupational hazards that can deeply affect mental health.

If you’re struggling after a workplace incident, your reaction is real - and recovery is possible. 💛

🚨 What Counts as Workplace Trauma?

• Accidents or injuries

• Threats or assaults

• Witnessing traumatic events

• Chronic exposure to danger

• Hostile or high-stress environments

• Near-miss incidents

• Injury leading to chronic pain

Your body keeps the score, even when you push through.

📌 Common Emotional Signs of Workplace Trauma

• 😴 Sleep problems

• ⚡ Being easily startled

• 🙂 Emotional numbness

• 😞 Depression

• 😰 Anxiety

• 🚫 Avoiding reminders of the incident

• 🤯 Trouble concentrating

• 😤 Irritability or anger

These symptoms are normal trauma responses - not personal failures.

💙 OWCP Covers Trauma Therapy 100%

Many federal workers don’t know that OWCP fully covers therapy for trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, and emotional injury related to workplace events.

As an OWCP psychologist, I provide:

• CA-16 trauma treatment

• Therapy for workplace stress + emotional injury

• Documentation for OWCP claims

• Progress notes + treatment plans

• Narrative reports

Your healing is not an out-of-pocket burden.

🌿 How Therapy Helps You Heal

• Understand your trauma response

• Reduce symptoms that disrupt daily life

• Restore confidence and emotional strength

• Prepare for return-to-work when appropriate

• Reconnect with your identity beyond the injury

You deserve to feel safe, grounded, and whole again.

🔵 If you’ve experienced workplace trauma, you don't have to navigate recovery alone - OWCP covers the support you need.

Let’s start your healing process together.

🛡️ Why Mental Health Treatment Matters in OWCP Claims

By: Dr. Jenn Merthe-Grayson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

When federal employees think about OWCP claims, they often focus on physical injuries. But your emotional health plays a huge role in recovery - and OWCP recognizes this.
Mental health treatment is not only helpful… it can be essential. 🌿

🧠 Workplace Injury Isn’t Just Physical

After a work injury or traumatic incident, many federal workers experience:

• 😟 Anxiety or fear of returning to work

• 🌙 Sleep problems

• 💭 Intrusive thoughts

• 😞 Depression due to pain or limitations

• 🌀 Emotional numbness or irritability

• 🔥 Burnout or overwhelm

These symptoms can make physical healing harder and interfere with daily life - but they respond well to professional support.

📄 How Therapy Strengthens the OWCP Claim & Recovery Process

Seeing an OWCP-enrolled psychologist provides benefits such as:

1️⃣ Understanding the emotional effects of the injury

You get space to process what happened and why your body is responding this way.

2️⃣ Improved daily functioning

Therapy supports sleep, concentration, mood regulation, and stress management.

3️⃣ Smoother return-to-work planning

Address emotional blocks early to prevent long-term difficulties.

4️⃣ Proper OWCP documentation

I provide:

• CA-16 mental health evaluations

• Progress notes

• Treatment plans

• Narrative reports (required by OWCP)

Accurate documentation supports your claim and reflects the true scope of your injury.

💯 OWCP Covers Mental Health at No Cost to You

For approved claims, mental health treatment is 100% covered - no copays, no billing stress.

You deserve support that honors both your physical and emotional recovery.

🔵 If you're navigating an OWCP claim, therapy can support your healing, strengthen your case, and help you rebuild confidence.

You don’t have to do this alone. Contact me today!

💥 The Emotional Impact of Workplace Injury: What Federal Employees Need to Know

By: Dr. Jenn Merthe-Grayson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

A workplace injury changes more than your body - it can impact your identity, confidence, relationships, and mental well-being. For many federal employees, the emotional fallout is just as overwhelming as the physical recovery. The truth is: workplace injuries affect your nervous system, your sense of safety, and your day-to-day functioning.

If you’ve been injured on the job and feel anxious, depressed, stressed, or “not like yourself,” you’re not alone - and your symptoms are valid. 💛

😣 Workplace Injuries Affect More Than the Body

Federal employees often experience emotional reactions such as:

• 🧠 Anxiety or fear after the incident

• 😔 Depression or low motivation

• ⚡ Hypervigilance or increased startle response

• 😴 Trouble sleeping

• 🤯 Feeling overwhelmed by pain, paperwork, or uncertainty

• 🚫 Avoidance of reminders of the injury

These reactions are normal nervous system responses and are recognized by the OWCP (Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs) as legitimate consequences of workplace trauma.

🙈 Why Emotional Symptoms Get Overlooked

Federal workers tend to be helpers, protectors, and high-responsibility professionals. Many feel pressure to “handle it” or return to work quickly.

You might catch yourself thinking:

• “Others have it worse.”

• “I should be tougher.”

• “I don’t want to look weak.”

But emotional injuries need care just as much as physical ones. Ignoring them often makes recovery harder.

💡 Good News: OWCP Covers Mental Health Treatment 100%

OWCP recognizes that workplace injuries can cause stress, trauma, and psychological injury.
Mental health treatment - including therapy with an OWCP-enrolled psychologist - is fully covered for approved claims.

Covered emotional conditions include:

• 🧠 Stress or anxiety from the incident

• 💥 Trauma responses

• 🔄 Adjustment issues

• 😞 Depression linked to injury or chronic pain

As an OWCP psychologist in Ohio, I provide CA-16 mental health treatment, therapy tailored to federal employees, and all required documentation.

🌱 You Deserve Full, Holistic Recovery

Your injury didn’t just affect your body - it affected your life.
Your emotional healing matters just as much.

🔵 If you’re a federal employee struggling after a workplace injury, support is available - and fully covered by OWCP.

Let’s walk this path together. Contact me today!