Dr Kathryn Murrell

Clinical Neuropsychologist and National Psychology Advisor, ABI Rehabilitation NZ

Kath has 20 years of experience working as a Clinical Neuropsychologist in New Zealand and the UK with both children, adults and whānau. She has been a neuropsychologist at ABI for 6 years and has been ABI’s National Psychology Advisor since August 2022. She has worked for health services at Te Toka Tumai including Starship Children’s Health, the National Metabolic Service, and at the Wilson Centre Paediatric Rehabilitation centre. Her specialism in neuropsychology has resulted in her clinical practice always being centered on neurodiversity.
Kath has a doctorate from Northwestern University, Chicago (2001) and originally trained as a psychologist at Auckland University (1993).
Kath is passionate about working to understand how the psychology profession can contribute while travelling alongside clients’ journeys through rehabilitation, disability and illness. Working as a clinician and as a professional lead allows ongoing awareness of practice while being engaged with exicting service development and strategy. Kath is a committee member on the NZSign neuropsychology special interest group. ​

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PTSD the Journey to Recovery

Co-occurence of PTSD and TBI is a complex area due to overlaps between symptoms, common causation, and issues related to diagnosis. This talk will present some common conundrums for clinicians to reflect on, highlight diagnostic issues that we should keep to the forefront, and encourage reflection about how PTSD and TBI Sx can both impact interventions. The journey of kiritaki after a traumatic brain injury is woven throughout to ensure identification as well as normalisation of recovery is included in our work.