How talking helps – what I’ve learnt about lawyers from volunteering with LawCare

I began volunteering with LawCare in 2014. It was a natural step for me as a qualified psychologist with a particular interest in lawyers and depression. Prior to qualifying as a psychologist I worked in both the Law Society of Ireland and the Law Institute of Victoria, Australia and conducted a master’s degree research on depression in the legal profession in both of these jurisdictions. 

In my time manning the phones for LawCare as well as working as a therapist in private practice with lawyers I have made a few observations which seem to be common amongst this group.

• Thinking ‘worst case scenario’ makes for a really good lawyer – but it can be problematic when practised in personal life.  Is it possible to recognise the use of ‘worst case scenario’ as an effective professional strategy but develop a more balanced narrative in your personal life?

• Anxiety and depression are conditions of the nervous system and their management is often very practical. Managing the physiological response and reframing one’s thinking can bring relief in both conditions. For example:
  
  - managing the physiological stress response through diaphragmatic breathing, exercise, use of a mindfulness app, improving sleep and diet (alcohol, sugar and caffeine are known to increase anxiety and depression), a medical checkup can rule out physical conditions which may be contributing to the problem.
  
  - reframing negative and critical self talk – how much of your thinking is based in reality and how much is fear-driven? Reality check your thoughts and balance your self-talk by including the positive aspects of your situation as well as the negative.

• Processing of emotion is not a use of logic; connecting with emotion and working with it through the body can be challenging for professionals trained to use rationality and mental acuity to problem-solve. Be prepared to use body work (in addition to making sense of thoughts and feelings)
  
  -be very present with the distress - name the emotion; locate where it is held in your body; ‘make room’ for the distress and breathe into it; with your mind’s eye watch it as if you are an interested and compassionate observer – you may be surprised at how quickly distress dissipates this way, compared with when you are trying to avoid.

• Depression doesn’t develop overnight – it often develops by degrees and individuals are not always aware until it becomes very pervasive.  If, over a two week period or longer, you notice a change in your usual work practice or loss of interest in daily activities, experience continued feelings of hopelessness and overwhelm or thoughts of self harm, seek medical or therapeutic assistance without delay.

As lawyers are solution-oriented, the framework within which LawCare provides assistance is one that lawyers respond well to. Talking through an issue, exploring options and deciding on a course of action is a pragmatic approach which many callers to LawCare find helpful. 

Consultation has many benefits:

To remind individuals of their strengths, resources and capabilities:
Consultation can provide an individual with the clarity to see their way forward. Solutions to problems often lie in the hands of the individual – it sometimes just takes a conversation to recognise these. ‘Chaotic activity is better than orderly inactivity’ - confidence may be quickly regained when one begins to take control of the situation.

To prevent isolation:
Financial and professional advice, specialist interest groups, mentoring – there are many lawyers working to support their colleagues. LawCare can signpost the possible sources of information and help.

For individuals concerned about their substance or alcohol use, taking advantage of the peer and other supports is proactive and helps many get their lives back on track. Lawyers respond well to other lawyers: knowing that their colleagues experience similar difficulties and manage to effect change in their lives can be very encouraging.

To normalise the conversation about wellbeing:
Some professions are at higher risk of stress and depression than others. In those jurisdictions where this has been studied, disproportionately high levels of stress and depression amongst lawyers compared with other professional groups and the general population are recorded. This appears to start in law school and is seen in all levels of practice thereafter.  The risk of vicarious trauma in some lawyers (for example amongst criminal and immigration lawyers) is increasingly being recognised.  

How to normalise the practice of consultation and supervision to support lawyers’ wellbeing would appear to be a necessary conversation, to remind individuals that stress is a normal response to a stressful work environment, and that they are by no means on their own in this.

On a final note, psychologists are also in a high-risk profession; regular supervision is a requirement of a psychologist’s practice and debriefing/peer consultations are common practice to clarify issues and alleviate the emotional impact of client work. Law could do well to follow a similar model.

Sharon Hanson is a Psychologist in private practice in Dublin, Ireland.  She can be contacted at seahanson@gmail.com and at +353 86 0373820.