Therapy for Lawyers
Hours, salary, power and prestige reward the lawyer. Therapy is where we make space for the human being inside the lawyer.
Is Therapy Right for You?
You’re in Big Law, Medium Law or even Small Law, you’re in-house, work for the government, or practice solo. However…
✓ You’re successful on paper but internally exhausted, numb or unsettled
✓ You feel like you’re “constantly on,” overwhelmed or consumed with work
✓ You want to stay ambitious without sacrificing your health, relationships or sense of self
✓ You’re worried about your relationship with work, family, friends, substances or productivity
✓ You want to protect your time off and attend special occasions instead of saying “yes” to more work
Many lawyers hesitate to seek help because of stigma, concerns about their professional reputation or confidentiality worries. Or perhaps the commute takes up too much time.
Working virtually and privately with someone who understands the profession from the inside out can make a real difference, and it stays between us. The support you need is available now.
The Wellbeing Crisis in the Legal Profession
The legal field rewards hours, perfectionism and outcomes. It dismisses emotions and ‘being human,’ often treating attorneys as billing machines. Many lawyers struggle with:
Performance Costs:
Chronic stress, anxiety or panic
Burnout and performing with little sleep
Perfectionism and procrastination
Unable to say “no” to more work
Constant worry and “what if” thinking
Imposter syndrome (not good enough)
Slugging it out until unbearable
No time for health or exercise
Wanting to leave the practice
Work-life balance feels impossible to achieve
Emotional Costs:
Feeling alone and isolated
"Litigating" your personal relationships
Divorce, affairs and parenting struggles
Deep-seated anger or irritability
Stress spilling into all of life
Checking phones and email constantly
A growing sense of meaninglessness
Addictions (substances, gambling, food)
Experiencing a midlife crisis
Letting life slip you by
Clients often come to me to focus on work, which we address. However, this almost always expands into the whole spectrum of wellbeing: relationships, self-care, family, friends, hobbies, health and children.
I say this to validate not only you as a lawyer but also the person you are.
“Lawyers Are People Too”
Lawyers are skilled at spotting issues, arguing voraciously, thinking ahead, and planning for contingencies.
Those same strengths can make it harder to slow down, feel and ask for help. Behind the degrees and the billable hours, there’s often a person who needs:
Connection, not just compensation
Validation that isn't measured in reviews or rankings
Space to be honest about fear, anger, grief, anxiety, depression, stress or overwhelm
A chance to matter as a human, not just as a high performer
One of the most important “tools” I bring isn’t a technique. It’s the way I see and understand you as a lawyer and a human.
I’ve Sat Where You’re Sitting
Before becoming a therapist, I practiced law for 10 years, a vast majority of which was spent in Big Law and as in-house counsel (acting general counsel) for eMachines, a public company.
By way of context, when I practiced law, I consistently billed a ton, including over 400 hours in a single month. This required deduction, drive and persistence.
I was proud of my work ethic and my career. It came with validation, admiration, a feeling of importance and accomplishment—but it also came with a cost. Looking back, I can see how workaholism fueled my productivity and served as a way to avoid looking at my own life. Work was everything. My health, relationships and deeper needs came second.
I Know What It’s Like To:
Run deals, draft many documents, and coordinate teams under high pressure
Work around the clock to meet high-stakes deadlines
Problem-solve urgent issues while keeping demanding clients satisfied
Maintain elite performance on very little sleep, night after night
Miss birthdays, holidays , weddings and vacations due to work
Count every billable hour at the expense of my personal identity
Be rewarded for “limitless” stamina while dealing with stress and fatigue
Use productivity as a shield to avoid looking at any struggles or myself
Working With Me:
Think of therapy less like a performance review and more like strategic case-building for your life. My style is active, engaged and collaborative. I don’t just sit back and nod.
You will get confidential attuned support from someone who speaks “Lawyer” and “Human”.
Coaching vs. Therapy (Understanding the Difference)
Many lawyers gravitate toward coaching because it promises quick solutions and performance upgrades. “Buy this package and all will be well.”
But there is a significant difference between therapy and coaching.
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Coaching helps with strategy, time management and accountability. Therapy goes deeper to identify long-lasting goals and different ways of being.
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Coaching optimizes your calendar. Therapy helps you understand why you overfill it in the first place.
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Coaching helps you manage stress. Therapy examines what “stress” really represents in your life and how you've learned to cope.
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Coaching fixes symptoms while therapy explores root causes. Put another way, coaching provides external tools; therapy helps you develop internal tools that generally last longer.
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Coaching is about performance. Therapy is about protecting your most valuable asset — you. Coaching helps you sprint faster, but doesn't fix stress fractures in the foundation. Therapy protects your mind and longevity, ensuring you don't burn out before reaching your goals.
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Coaching is contractual. Therapy is confidential and legally protected. In professions where reputation is currency and vulnerability can be weaponized, therapy offers safety and legal confidentiality that coaching does not.
Ready to Write a Different Kind of Brief?
One that puts your wellbeing at the center—not at the bottom of the pile. If you’re ready to talk to someone who understands the world you’re navigating, reach out.
