A billion people around the world have a mental health disorder. That's a true number and research says one in two people are going to have a mental health disorder at some point in their life.
Wendy Chaite is a psychotherapist who brings a world of wisdom and compassion to the table. In honor of World Mental Health Day I felt it was a good time to talk about mental wellness and loss and the importance of asking for help.
Wendy is not your everyday psychotherapist. She's a former attorney, a career counselor for law students, and a national advocate for those living with chronic or terminal illnesses. Her work spans from helping the legal community manage stress and anxiety to guiding those dealing with grief and bereavement.
Did You Know That A Disproportionate Number of Lawyers and Law Students Suffer from Mental Illness?
Wendy said,
"Fortunately, there's been a trend in the legal profession itself, recognizing the disproportionate number of lawyers and law students that suffer from mental illness, primarily depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. And given the stress and the pressures of the field, that's understandable and there's also those that believe that also certain type personalities are attracted to the field. For example, people that are perfectionists or overachievers and that could also add to the stress of an individual experiences."
"There's are also the demands depending on the environment in which you work. If you work in a big law firm like I had, you have the expectations of very demanding hours where you're working till 2 o'clock in the morning, your time is not your own. Also, just very often in different areas of law, there can be secondary trauma, let's say you're dealing with domestic violence clients, or other, you know, criminal related matters, that can be very traumatic, even for the attorney or the law student that's experiencing that. "
"And there's also quite a bit of competitiveness within, certainly during law school, I saw this as a big issue when I was working, I worked for a decade at a law school and the pressures of being able to compete. And very often, law students define themselves through external validation, whether that's getting accepted onto law review or getting a big prestigious job."
I asked Wendy the Big Question: *How Do You Know When You Need a Psychotherapist?
Her answer was simple but loud.
"I would say it's when your private suffering impacts your life, whether it be at work or your personal life, and it's interrupting your ability to function. And it does not have to be a severe dysfunction. It could even be a mild dysfunction, but where it interferes and you're finding yourself suffering."
Wendy also shared her journey through personal loss, particularly the tragic passing of her daughter, Melanie Rose at 26, who battled a rare lymphatic disease.
Wendy didn't just face this tragedy—she transformed it into action by founding the Lymphatic Research Foundation which has had extraordinary worldwide impact. This is a testament to her resilience, and her choosing to lean into the difficult parts of life rather than shy away from them.
Many of us have a long tail of pain from those we've lost on this planet. Bereavement and grief are such heavy issues, and some people just can't get past the pain.
Often a Psychotherapist like Wendy Can Help.
Wendy said,
"Well, I've been very successful working with my clients and not only just clients, but just people also that I meet in my day-to-day life that aren't clients. I too am part of a bereavement group of other mothers that have lost their children. You had mentioned that I created the foundation because my daughter passed away. I created it during her lifetime, not after she passed so that hopefully she could benefit from the medical discoveries and millions of others as well."
"it's not uncommon for people to put their head in the sand, you know, because these are difficult things and you want to avoid it, you don't want to deal with it. Instead, I recognized the importance of leaning into it, and not being afraid. And so, I educated myself on the death and dying process so that I could be of support to her. And I became a trained death and dying doula. I even took her to conferences and workshops on death and dying. And so, for a young woman facing mortality, we were able to journey through that in a very profound and beautiful way."
I think Wendy's message of embracing life's challenges is powerful. Her personal experiences were profound.
Whether it's the pressures of being a lawyer or law student or the struggles of grieving a lost loved one – it's important to know it's healthy to ask for help.
Wendy's work is a beacon for anyone in need of support. She's proof that even in the darkest of times, there's always a way forward.
If you or someone you know could benefit from her expertise, please get in touch with her. Her website at WendyChaite.com
