Straightforward answers about OWCP claims, evaluations, and telehealth counseling. If your question isn’t covered here, reach out — we’re happy to talk it through.
OWCP stands for the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, part of the U.S. Department of Labor. It administers the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA), which provides wage replacement, medical care, and other benefits to federal employees who are injured or become ill because of their job. If you’re a USPS worker or other federal employee dealing with a job-related emotional injury, OWCP is the program your claim moves through.
Generally speaking, a claim starts with reporting the incident to your employing agency and filing the appropriate claim form. OWCP then reviews the medical and employment evidence to decide whether to accept the claim. For emotional injury claims specifically, this almost always requires documented medical evidence connecting a diagnosed condition to what happened on the job — which is where a psychological evaluation comes in. We’re not attorneys and don’t handle the legal filing process itself, but we provide the clinical documentation your claim needs to move forward.
Yes. Federal law sets time limits for reporting an injury and filing a claim, and missing them can affect your eligibility for benefits. The exact rules have some nuance and exceptions depending on your situation, so we always recommend confirming specific deadlines directly with OWCP or with an attorney experienced in federal workers’ compensation claims. What we can tell you clearly: don’t wait to start the process if you think you have a claim.
Most private-sector and state government employees are covered by their state’s workers’ compensation system. Federal employees are covered differently — through FECA, administered federally by OWCP rather than any state agency. It’s a separate system with its own forms, rules, and claims examiners.
The evaluation is a formal psychological assessment that documents whether you have a diagnosable condition connected to a work-related incident — this is the clinical evidence that supports your OWCP claim. Counseling is the ongoing care you receive after a claim is accepted, working with a licensed counselor to actually treat the condition. Many people need both: the evaluation to get the claim moving, and counseling for the recovery itself.
The evaluation is typically completed in a single session, usually lasting between one and one and a half hours.
No. Depending on your symptoms and what happened on the job, several conditions can support a claim — including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, chronic pain’s psychological toll, adjustment disorders, and CTSR. What matters is whether your symptoms are genuinely connected to a work-related incident, not which specific diagnosis they fall under.
Yes. Telehealth is a recognized way to deliver both evaluations and ongoing counseling for OWCP claims. Dr. Currin holds PSYPACT authority to practice telepsychology across 45+ states, which is what allows this practice to serve federal workers wherever they live, not just in Texas or Louisiana.
Yes. While Dr. Currin is individually licensed in Texas and Louisiana, PSYPACT authority allows this practice to provide telehealth services to clients in 45+ states. If you’re a federal worker dealing with a job-related emotional injury, there’s a good chance we can work with you regardless of where you live.
If a claim is denied, you generally have options, including requesting reconsideration or appealing through OWCP’s process. Since that’s a legal and procedural matter, we recommend working with OWCP directly or an attorney experienced in federal workers’ compensation appeals. Our role is to make sure your claim starts with thorough, well-documented psychological evidence in the first place — which matters whether or not an appeal ever becomes necessary.
Many people do continue working while their claim moves forward. Whether that’s advisable for you specifically depends on your symptoms and your treating providers’ recommendations — it’s something we can talk through directly during your evaluation.
Having a prior diagnosis doesn’t automatically rule out a claim. OWCP claims often come down to whether a work-related incident caused a new condition, or significantly worsened an existing one — a legal and clinical concept sometimes called aggravation. A thorough evaluation can help clarify that distinction for your specific situation.
Your employing agency is typically involved at some level in the claims process, since they need to confirm basic facts like your employment and the reported incident. That said, the specific details of your medical and psychological records carry privacy protections under federal law. We’re happy to talk through what that means for your specific situation before you begin.
Psychiatrist: A medical doctor (MD or DO) who can prescribe medication and often focuses on medication management, sometimes alongside therapy.
Psychologist: Holds a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) with training in psychological assessment, testing, diagnosis, and therapy. Psychologists are typically the ones who conduct formal psychological evaluations — this is Dr. Currin’s role in your claim.
Counselor: Holds a master’s-level license (such as an LPC) and provides ongoing therapy and counseling. Counselors generally don’t conduct formal psychological evaluations or prescribe medication.
In this practice, Dr. Currin performs the psychological evaluation, and licensed counselors in our telehealth network provide your ongoing counseling once your claim is accepted.
Counseling sessions typically run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Multiple research reviews, including large-scale meta-analyses, have found telehealth therapy to be about as effective as in-person therapy for depression, anxiety, and PTSD specifically — with comparable satisfaction and therapeutic connection between client and provider. For many people, telehealth also removes real barriers: travel time, taking time off work, and finding a qualified provider nearby who understands OWCP claims specifically.
Our counselors draw on evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), and other trauma-informed methods. Each counselor brings their own style, techniques, and areas of competency, so the specific approach used in your care is something you and your counselor will shape together.
A note on legal questions: We’re a psychological evaluation and counseling practice, not a law firm. For claim filing, deadlines, denials, or appeals, we always recommend confirming specifics with OWCP directly or with an attorney experienced in federal workers’ compensation.
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