For Employment Attorneys
Help for clients that are hurting, even when the law is limited.
It’s uncomfortable to sit across from someone who is visibly distressed by their employment situation and have to tell them that their terrible circumstances don’t meet the bar of a hostile work environment, discrimination, or retaliation.
The research on workplace bullying shows that chronic exposure to disrespect, instability, and exclusion is linked to anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and burnout, even when it never meets the threshold for a successful legal claim. Studies on job insecurity and prolonged workplace conflict also find that ongoing uncertainty itself can drive psychological distress and impair decision‑making and concentration, and further erode someone’s sense of security. It’s a vicious cycle that requires specialized support.
I’m a Connecticut-based burnout therapist who specializes in these kinds of cases. I understand the complex interpersonal landscape of organizational systems and my work helps clients stabilize and repair the emotional and physiological damage caused by these systems, whether they have a viable legal case or not.
When I’m a good fit.
I work best with leaders and senior professionals who are in emotionally damaging workplaces. Many of the people I see have cases that may be difficult to prove, not yet ripe for a claim, or are unlikely to meet the legal standard even though the psychological impact is severe. Others are moving forward with a case or negotiating a departure, and the prolonged uncertainty, conflict, and job insecurity are taking a visible toll on their mental health and functioning.
You might think of me when you’re working with clients who:
-
Are in politically complex roles and have stayed in an unhealthy environment far longer than is good for them.
-
Are describing what sounds like bullying, exclusion, or psychological abuse, but the facts may not meet the legal threshold for hostile work environment or discrimination.
-
Have taken, or are considering, medical leave for burnout, anxiety, or what they describe as a “breakdown,” and are unsure whether they can realistically return.
-
Struggle to sleep, concentrate, or make decisions because they are constantly “on,” monitoring email, messages, and meetings for the next blow‑up or criticism.
I am a resource you can offer that is not part of the legal strategy. I provide a separate therapeutic space where your clients can process what they’re going through, understand and shift how it’s affecting their nervous system and decision‑making, and make choices that protect both their long‑term career and their health.
How I work with your clients.
When I first meet with clients, they’re often exhausted, wired, and feeling quite cynical about work in general. We typically start by mapping their nervous system and exploring the reasons they can’t shut off, why it’s so easy for them to snap or shut down in meetings, and why their sleep and focus have fallen apart. Helping them understand that this is an adaptive response to prolonged stress and not a personality flaw is often a breath of relief.
From there, my work is very practical and change‑oriented. Research on work stress shows that nervous systems can and do recalibrate and improve with the right supports, including therapy, skills for stress management, and concrete changes in how someone works and rests. In therapy, I typically help your clients:
-
Stabilize and reduce symptoms. We use evidence‑informed strategies to improve sleep, lower baseline anxiety, and decrease that “on edge” feeling so they can think and plan more clearly.
-
Regain perspective. As their system settles, they’re better able to see patterns at work, remember what they value outside of the job, and weigh options without collapsing into worst‑case scenarios.
- Make sustainable decisions. We look at their current capacity and health, then support them in choosing next steps. That might mean staying where they are with clearer limits and new skills, ot it might mean planning an exit and rebuilding after a departure.
-
Rebuild a life beyond crisis. Over time, clients report more energy, better concentration, and more feeling like themselves again.
For a broader overview of how I approach burnout and recovery, you can read more here: Burnout Recovery.
Throughout this process, I stay in a support role. I don’t assess the merits of a claim or design legal strategy. I am a resource to help your clients move from survival mode back into a state where they can re-engage with their own lives.
FAQ
Am I part of a legal team?
No. I’m not part of the legal team, and I don’t offer opinions on whether clients’ experiences are legally actionable. I focus on your client’s mental health, functioning, and ability to make thoughtful decisions about work and life, so that you can focus on their legal claims.
Do I provide expert testimony or forensic evaluations?
No. I don’t conduct forensic evaluations, independent medical exams, or fitness‑for‑duty assessments. My role is strictly therapeutic.
Will I write letters or documentation for your client’s case?
Occasionally, I may provide brief, neutral clinical documentation (for example, a treatment summary or confirmation of attendance) with the client’s consent. I do not craft language to support a legal argument or to offer opinions on whether an employer’s behavior was unlawful.
What kinds of clients are a good fit (and not a good fit) for my work?
I work best with executives, leaders, and senior professionals facing burnout, workplace bullying, chronic work stress, and toxic or politically complex workplaces.
I’m not the right provider when the primary needs involve substance use treatment, active psychosis, significant and imminent suicidality, workers’ compensation claims, or disability evaluations.
How do referrals work, and where do I practice?
You can share this page or my contact information directly with your client.
I’m licensed in Connecticut, offer telehealth to clients located in CT, and am an out‑of‑network provider who offers superbills for possible reimbursement.