Posted by Do you find yourself interacting with traumatized clients with any degree of frequency? Even if your representation has nothing to do with that trauma, you still might be at risk of developing secondary trauma as a result of your interaction with them. In fact, legal professionals carry the second-highest risk of developing secondary trauma. It impacts daily life and mental health, and can make any hope of achieving a work-life balance evaporate.
In the upcoming Law Practice Management and Technology CLE December 12 seminar, “Preserving Your Mental Health in the Wake of Client Trauma,” we’ll explore how client trauma can take a toll on your mental health. Panelists from a variety of professional backgrounds will outline what trauma and secondary trauma look like both on a neurological level and in daily life, and explore how you can prevent it from taking hold of your life.
We’ll also discuss how legal proceedings can impact the mental health of your clients, and steps you can take to help minimize their risk of re-traumatization. We’ll be joined by several professionals with vast experience in the area to pair essential information with experiential testimony including: Anne Haag, CBA Law Practice Management Advisor; Dr. Gail Petrich, an attorney and psychologist; Tara Thomason, JD, LCSW, a psychotherapist working with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced complex trauma; and Sarah Layden, Director of Programs and Public Policy at Resilience.
The seminar will take place from 12:00-1:30 p.m. at The Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, IL 60604. A live Webcast will also be available at www.chicagobar.org. 1.5 IL PR-MCLE credit (mental health/substance abuse) will be provided (subject to approval). To learn more and register, call 312-554-2056 or visit www.chicagobar.org/cle.
An awareness of trauma and how it effects both you and your clients can give you the tools to not only become a healthier version of yourself, but to become a better, more mindful attorney.