Empathy and Connections

Empathy, the ability to understand and feel the emotions of others, is an essential tool for our mental health peer support individuals. However, it is something that we all can utilize to connect with others.

While the legal profession is considered an adversarial system, it doesn’t have to be one devoid of connection. Indeed, as working professionals, we have a duty not just to the clients, but to the profession as whole. Part of that can involve practicing empathy with one another. Studies have shown that fostering connections this way can increase mental well-being, which could go a long way toward combating the mental health epidemic in the legal profession.

Additionally, practicing empathy with your colleagues will allow more and more legal professionals to understand the mental health challenges faced by those in the profession, and can help people realize that mental health struggles are not a weakness. It can also help you realize that if you or someone you know is dealing with a mental health challenge, you are not alone.

Lastly, practicing empathy can help with your clients. Individuals may seek legal counsel for a variety of reasons, but many of those reasons can be during times of increased emotional vulnerability or stress. Being able to understand and connect with the emotions your clients are experiencing can go a long way towards building trust in you and in the profession as a whole.

If you would like to learn more about how you can practice empathy, or if you want to see empathy in action by talking to one of our peer support specialists, let us know. We are here to help.