The Therapist Down the Hall a Look Into Hogan Lovells’ On-Site Counseling Program

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The Therapist Down the Hall A look into Hogan Lovells’ on-site counseling program

BY DOUG CHARTIER their mind,” Rosenthal said. Today the a law firm office. Convenience is another barrier LAW WEEK COLORADO clinical psychologist is a familiar face By rolling out an on-site therapy that can keep attorneys out of at the Hogan Lovells Denver location program, the firm wanted to reduce counselors’ offices, and one that is Off in a corner of Hogan Lovells’ of around 100 attorneys — something the stigma of needing mental health addressed by having one down the Denver office, there’s a small that would have been unheard of for support — to send the message to hall where they work. conference room reserved for Dr. Rob any BigLaw office years ago. employees that “it’s O.K., and in fact On-site counseling through Rosenthal. During his weekly visits, it’s preferable, for someone to ask for an EAP goes a step beyond having attorneys and staff come talk to him ASK ROB help prior to a crisis,” Harris said. professionals seek EAP-network about their concerns — and not just It’s common for law firms to Attorneys are especially at risk for help on their own. The American those related to work, but also their offer an EAP program through which mental health crises, according to a Psychological Association noted that personal lives, from family or romantic attorneys can see outside private landmark 2016 study. Research from while an estimated 97 percent of relationship issues to bereavement. therapists and even a counselor to the American Bar Association and companies — law firms or otherwise — Hogan Lovells initially contracted come meet with attorneys for a stint Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation found with more than 5,000 employees use Rosenthal, a licensed psychologist, in after a tragic event or crisis. 28 percent of attorneys in the U.S. an EAP, and 75 percent of companies September 2017 through its employee But less common is what Hogan struggled with depression and one in between 250 and 1,000 employees assistance program, shortened to EAP, Lovells is doing. The 3,000-plus- five lawyers showed signs of “problem have one, only 5 percent of employees to come in twice a month for a half-day attorney firm provides regularly drinking.” actually use EAP services. each visit. His slots quickly filled up to scheduled on-site therapists in its The study also reported that Investing in an on-site counselor the end of the year. The office then Denver; Washington, D.C.; New York; while attorneys experience a higher makes good business sense for a bumped up Rosenthal’s engagement Baltimore; and Louisville offices as rate of depression and problems law firm, according to Cole Finegan, to weekly visits to meet demand. part of its “Ask” program. For the with substance use than other highly Hogan Lovells’ regional managing “It seemed like a lot of people Denver location’s “Ask Rob” program, educated professionals, they’re unlikely partner at its Denver office. He likens wanted a counselor on site to talk to,” Rosenthal provides 45-minute to seek help for those problems. the on-site counseling benefit to how Rosenthal said. He added that more individual counseling sessions. He Rosenthal, who is quite familiar the office offers other amenities that people in the office began setting also gives group presentations at with the ABA/Hazelden report, support its employees in their work, appointments with him through word- the office on various topics, from said attorneys’ concerns with like ergonomic furniture or updated of-mouth — it got around that he keeps stress management to psychological confidentiality and privacy, not to technology. If anything, providing discussions completely confidential approaches for negotiation. mention the inconvenience of having wellness services goes straight to the and that he “gets” lawyers. “It was just the right thing to do,” to go see a clinician outside of work, core of what makes a law firm function, “I think the more that’s gotten out, said Alaiki Harris, Hogan Lovells’ often dissuade them from seeking he explained. the more the staff here know that, the benefits director who is based in the mental health support. “In the end, really our only assets are attorneys here know that, the more firm’s D.C. office. She said the firm is “And all of that is overcome by all of us walking around and what skills comfortable they are about coming in “probably on the forefront” in the U.S. actually having somebody who's on- we can bring — mentally, emotionally, and talking to me about whatever is on for providing an in-house therapist at site that they know,” he said. physically — to any task or assignment

“We wanted to [tell attorneys and staff] we have a highly qualified individual on site that you can ask a question — any question — and that question is confidential.

— Alaiki Harris, Hogan Lovells benefits director FEBRUARY 4, 2019 | 13 BUSINESS OF LAW

Dr. Rob Rosenthal meets with attorneys and staff once a week in a conference room the Hogan Lovells Denver office sets aside for counseling sessions. / DOUG CHARTIER, LAW WEEK

or goal that our clients have for us and the increased awareness of mental tell him or anyone else at the law attorneys achieve some work-life for themselves,” Finegan said. “And so health in the workplace, she added. firm which employees he’s talking to balance, for example. when you think about it that way, you Employees are more likely to notice or what they’re talking about in their Rosenthal grew up with lawyers really do understand that investing in signs their colleagues might not being sessions. But Rosenthal can tell the in his family and among his closest mental health and in wellness makes doing well and reach out to them to office’s leadership, when it’s pertinent, friends. He said he particularly likes sense in every way possible.” offer support. what general trends he’s observed working with attorneys, who can Harris echoed the sentiment. But not everyone is comfortable throughout the office regarding how generally be “bright people who “When you look at trying to remove with being seen walking into a session employees are feeling or coping, often know themselves quite well, barriers and stigmas, and making it with a therapist, even by their own Finegan noted. but sometimes aren't able to utilize okay to say, ‘I'm struggling here a little firm colleagues. Also, attorneys might When the Denver office met with some of the things they know.” Being bit, I need someone to talk to,’ and prefer more separation between the tragedy, it helped to have a familiar analytical people by nature, attorneys adding that convenience so we don't counselor they divulge their troubles counselor to talk to, Finegan said. The tend to know how to help themselves hit the crisis point with that individual, to and their employer, even if that firm brought Rosenthal in for extended through difficult times, “but they can you really can't put a price tag on it,” counselor is technically employed by hours to provide grief counseling after get in their own way,” Rosenthal said. she said. the EAP. Myers said she’s gotten calls the unexpected death of one of its He added that oftentimes it just helps Attorneys have other resources from attorneys who preferred to pay associates, Sierra Russell, last February. to give them a space to talk things out. they can reach out to for mental out-of-pocket for therapy, if they had Rosenthal, who got his master’s Finegan said it’s important for health support, including the Colorado the resources, rather than use programs degree and doctorate in clinical a law firm to address the stigma of Lawyer Assistance Program. COLAP is offered through their employer such as psychology from University of Denver, seeking counseling. a free, independent and confidential their health care insurance. is also an assistant clinical professor at “I mean, I think we try to be as program that assists lawyers, judges Hogan Lovells was aware that it would Anschutz Medical School. He currently open about this as possible,” he said. and law students with emotional have to present the program a certain spends half his time at An “And if someone asked me, I'd say, health, substance use and other issues. way in order to encourage attorneys to schutz and the other half in private Sure, I've seen a psychiatrist, I've The program often provides referrals meet with on-site therapists. practice, which includes his hours at talked to therapists. There's a lot of to therapists for mental health or “When we marketed this program Hogan Lovells. stress in modern life and a lot of strain, addiction issues. … we didn’t want to just say, ‘The Another advantage to having a and I don’t think anybody should be counselor’s in,’” Harris said. “We regular therapist at the firm is they’re embarrassed about the fact that we all ADDRESSING THE STIGMA wanted to say we have a highly qualified familiar with lawyers as a population, need help.” An organization providing on-site individual on site that you can ask a Rosenthal said. It helps for a clinician More and more firms will provide counseling “sends a really powerful question — any question — and that to understand the high pressure and on-site counseling over time, he message” to its employees that it question is confidential. And so by “the incredible hour demands” that expects, “because the strain and stress values their wellbeing, said COLAP doing that, I think we removed some come with private legal practice and of life is not letting up, and the strain executive director Sarah Myers. of the anxiety around approaching our the hierarchical nature of law firms. and stress of practicing law is certainly Even employees who don’t sit down counselors like Dr. Rob.” A clinician can suggest more realistic not letting up.” • with the therapist can benefit from Finegan said Rosenthal doesn’t solutions to help time-constrained — Doug Chartier, [email protected]