Navigating Perfectionism, Stigma, and Shame
A Lawyer-Therapist’s Perspective on Staying Well in Trauma-Exposed Work
About the Video
CONTENT WARNING: This discussion includes a brief mention of a high-profile Canadian criminal case.
Like many in the helping professions, lawyers strive for excellence and mastery in their work. These qualities enable us to do our work well, yet over time can quietly erode our well-being. When we hear difficult stories or see upsetting images as part of our work, this can further impact our ability to stay emotionally connected to the people we serve—clients, patients, families, victims of crime, and others.
Doron Gold is a psychotherapist and former practicing lawyer. His unique dual perspective—gained through years of working at the Ontario Lawyers’ Assistance Program (OLAP)—offers valuable insight into the emotional toll of trauma-exposed work. In this session, he will explore how high-stress work impacts our well-being and offer strategies to stay well.
Recorded in June 2025 as part of the CARE4YOU conference
Additional Resources
CARE4YOU 2025 Conference Resource Guide | » PDF
TheLawyerTherapist.ca | | » WEBSITE
Mental Health and Wellness in the Legal Profession, The Canadian Bar Association | » ONLINE COURSE
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, Kristin Neff, 2015 | » BOOK
The Age of Overwhelm: Strategies for the Long Haul by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, 2018 | » BOOK
About the Presenters
Françoise Mathieu
MEd, RP
Françoise Mathieu is an educator, speaker, and trauma-trained therapist. She is the author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook, founding member of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Consortium, and the Executive Director of TEND.
Doron Gold
BA, JD, MSW, RSW, CPC
Doron Gold is a registered social worker, a certified professional coach, and psychotherapist. He practiced law for 10 years, primarily as a family and civil litigator.
Where to go next?
Cultivating Moral Courage
CARE4YOU 2025 Closing Address
In this closing address for CARE4YOU 2025, Françoise Mathieu explores how to meet difficult situations with moral courage, act with integrity, and keep making decisions that align with our values, day by day, one decision at a time.
June 2025
Understanding the Basics of Psychological Trauma
Addressing Common Misconceptions
Françoise Mathieu provides an overview of psychological trauma, explores how trauma shapes our experience of the world, and offers strategies to incorporate trauma awareness into your work and life.
February 2025
Stress Reduction for Lawyers
A Conversation About Self-Care with Doron Gold
Doron Gold is a psychotherapist and former practicing lawyer, and this background gives him a unique and valuable perspective on the challenges faced by those in the legal profession. In this conversation, he shares his lessons learned about assisting lawyers to stay well and to cope during times of uncertainty.
August 2021