We Help Families
As a partner of a lawyer or a judge, or a parent of a law student, you are typically the first person to suspect that something is wrong with your husband, wife or child.
Judges, lawyers and law students are all under an extreme amount of pressure and deal with exhausting levels of stress that come from:
- Client problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Competition
- High-stake jobs
- Loneliness
- Meeting deadlines
- Seeing trauma
- Working long hours
Judges, lawyers and law students alike may turn to alcohol, drugs or gambling to numb their anxiety, depression or anger.
It can be devastating to witness your loved one deal with mental health issues, alcohol, drug or gambling problems. What’s worse is when they start to affect the family as a whole.
Mental Health
Mental health is our emotional, psychological and social well-being that affects how we think, feel and act. Mental health determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices.
Some common mental health problems include:
Anger Management
Anger management is the inability to express anger in a healthy way. Chronic, explosive anger has serious consequences for your relationships, your health and your state of mind. Anger oftentimes masks other feelings, such as insecurity and vulnerability.
Anxiety
People with anxiety disorders experience constant, intrusive and unrelenting worry that dominates their thoughts and perceptions. This level of anxiety can interfere with daily responsibilities, job performance and relationships.
Depression & Suicide
We all feel sad from time to time, but clinical depression is an illness that greatly impacts one’s quality of life.
Stress & Burnout
Burnout is a state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress and anxiety. Burnout occurs when one feels overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands.
Addiction
Addiction is a complex disease affecting the functioning of the brain and body. Studies suggest people diagnosed with mood or anxiety disorders are about twice as likely as the general population to also suffer from a substance use disorder.
Process Addictions
When we think of addiction, we usually think of drugs and alcohol. However, it also refers to compulsive behaviors like gambling, sex, eating and spending money. A process addiction follows a destructive path. When left untreated, it will impact a judge’s ability to practice law. Process addictions are often coupled with mental health issues such as anxiety.
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Drug or alcohol abuse is defined by having two or three symptoms of addiction. Many people experience alcohol or drug abuse problems but are able to stop using or change their patterns without progressing to addiction. The most severe form of substance abuse is addiction: a physical, chronic disease that typically requires long-term treatment. Types of addiction include: Nicotine, alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription drugs.
Wellness
Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. It is more than being free from illness; it is a dynamic process of change and growth.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is the cumulative physical, emotional and psychological effects of continual exposure to traumatic or distressing events when working in a helping capacity. Exposure to client distress and trauma is one of the largest factors of compassion fatigue.
Grief & Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss. Grief can also be a normal response to change because change in life brings loss in some form, whether big or small. Grief usually throws us off balance and into chaos. Unfortunately, the world does not stop to allow us adequate time to grieve. We have to continue on life’s path while simultaneously grieving. The good news is that you are not alone. Everyone suffers loss. Grief counseling can help.
Over-Functioning
Lawyers and judges want to make the community a better place. They want to serve justice to those who deserve it. What can happen over time is that they may over identify with the “rescuer” role. This role then bleeds into other areas of their life. They begin to place such a low emphasis on their needs and wants and only focus on the needs of others around them. They may even feel guilty when they want to do something for themselves.
How We Help
Have you tried confronting your loved one? Have your love, concern, anger, insistence and repeated confrontations left you worse off than you were before? You may feel like you now have to suffer in silence.
You are not alone. We can help you break your loved one’s destructive cycle.
We understand you may not want to report your loved one. Our services are 100% confidential and non disciplinary.
We can also help if you are a family member who is suffering second handedly from the extreme pressure your loved one is under.
If you are a lawyer or judge who thinks one of your loved ones is suffering from mental health issues or addiction, we can help you, too.