San Diego Therapy for Lawyers
When people depend on you to be prepared, decisive, and composed, it can be difficult to acknowledge the personal cost of staying that way.
At Dr. Cassidy & Co, our San Diego therapists for lawyers help attorneys address anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and the strain that sustained professional pressure can place on your health, relationships, and sense of self.
Who we work with
Lawyers are trained to anticipate problems, manage risk, and advocate effectively under pressure. Those strengths can become difficult to switch off, especially when the demands of the profession begin affecting life outside of work. We often work with:
The litigator who reviews every decision long after the matter is closed
The attorney-parent managing deadlines, caregiving, and an unrelenting mental load
The associate who feels depleted but worries that slowing down will jeopardize future opportunities
The high performer whose anxiety has become harder to contain or justify
The partner whose responsibilities leave little time or energy for the relationships that matter outside of work
If you recognize yourself in any of these, you don't have to white-knuckle it alone. A therapist for lawyers can help you step out of survival mode and make space for your own needs, too.
Meet our San Diego therapists for lawyers
Julie Kraft
Hi, I’m Julie. I’m a published author and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 12 years of experience helping driven professionals quiet the inner critic behind anxiety, burnout, and self-doubt.
Lawyers choose me for a warm, collaborative style that blends practical tools from ACT and CBT with deeper relationship work, Motivational Interviewing, and a little humor.
I also offer judgment-free support when work stress intersects with parenting, partnership challenges, depression, or alcohol use.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #51864
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, depression, burnout, life transitions, couples
Dr. Niki Sarrafian
Hi, I’m Dr. Niki. I’m a clinical psychologist who helps lawyers protect their relationships and sense of self when work has begun taking up all the available space.
With doctoral research focused on social support, marital satisfaction, and life satisfaction, I bring specialized insight to communication, connection, and major identity transitions.
Lawyers choose me when they want thoughtful individual or couples therapy that addresses not only career stress, but how it affects the people and life that matter most.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Psychologist #33628
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, trauma, couples, work-life boundaries
Mackenna Minehan
Hi, I’m Mackenna! I gave a TEDx talk on overcoming anxiety one thought at a time, and that practical, step-by-step mindset shapes how I work with lawyers.
My CBT-grounded approach tends to resonate with people who are used to analyzing every angle: we identify the thought patterns keeping you in worst-case-scenario mode and build tools you can actually use.
I’m licensed in both California and New York, which also allows lawyers who travel between the two states to maintain continuity in therapy.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California #117772 and New York #095993
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, depression, life transitions, couples, trauma, working parents
Dr. Cassidy Freitas
Hi, I’m Dr. Cassidy! I’m a Ph.D.-level therapist, author, and founder of Dr. Cassidy & Co., with more than a decade of experience helping high-achieving professionals work through anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout.
I also come from a family of lawyers, so I understand the culture and demands of the profession firsthand. Lawyers often choose to work with me for practical strategies they can use right away, with space to move into deeper work as trust builds.
My approach to counseling for lawyers is focused, depth-oriented, and designed to create meaningful progress, including through in-person EMDR intensives in San Diego that fit the realities of a demanding legal career.
Credentials: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #91256
Specialty Areas: Anxiety, perfectionism, EMDR & EMDR intensives, parenting, relationships
How therapy for lawyers can help
Quiet the anxiety without losing your edge
Many lawyers worry that if they stop running on anxiety, they’ll lose the ambition that helped them succeed. Therapy for lawyers can help you separate healthy motivation from fear, hypervigilance, and constant pressure, so you can keep showing up fully without asking your nervous system to carry the cost.
Loosen perfectionism's grip
Rereading emails, replaying conversations, and feeling like one mistake could undo everything is exhausting. Together, we can explore where those patterns began and help you respond to yourself with more flexibility, so “good enough” no longer feels like failure.
Be more present outside of work
You may be sitting at dinner while mentally preparing for tomorrow’s hearing. Counseling for lawyers can help you create clearer boundaries, reconnect with the people you care about, and remember who you’re beyond your workload, performance, and professional title.
Process what the work leaves behind
High-conflict cases, difficult clients, workplace pressure, and years of chronic stress can leave a lasting imprint. Through approaches such as EMDR, your therapist can help you process what you’ve been carrying instead of only managing the symptoms it creates.
Common reasons why lawyers seek therapy
Waking up at 2 a.m. mentally rearguing a hearing, rewriting an email, or decoding a partner’s tone
Feeling like a fraud even when your résumé says otherwise
Walking through the door already depleted, then taking the day out on the people you love
Pouring a drink, opening an app, or buying something you don’t need just to shut your brain off
Realizing billable hours have started crowding out your marriage, friendships, or family life
Spending Sunday (or sometimes Saturday) already bracing for Monday
Carrying stress in your jaw, shoulders, stomach, or chest long after work is over
Suspecting law school did not create the anxiety and overworking so much as give them somewhere to thrive
What to expect from the therapy process
1. Schedule a free consultation
Start with a brief 15-minute phone call to share what has been going on, ask questions, and get a feel for the practice. There is no pressure to commit—this is simply a chance to see whether therapy feels like the right next step.
2. Get matched with the right therapist
We’ll consider your goals, schedule, preferences, and the kind of support you’re looking for. Whether you need EMDR, help with anxiety or OCD, couples therapy, or sessions that fit around court dates, we’ll connect you with the clinician who best fits your needs.
3. Begin sessions on your schedule
Meet virtually from your home or office, or in person with Dr. Cassidy in San Diego on Wednesdays. You and your therapist will set clear goals, track progress, and make sure the work continues to feel useful and worth your time.
FAQs about counseling for lawyers
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Therapy is confidential, with a few limited legal exceptions that your therapist will explain before you begin. Seeking support for anxiety, stress, burnout, or relationship concerns is not something you need to report to the bar association, and it’s a proactive way to care for both your well-being and your ability to keep doing demanding work.
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Many clients begin with weekly or biweekly sessions, then adjust as their needs change. Some lawyers come in for focused support during a particularly demanding season, while others benefit from longer-term therapy. EMDR intensives may also be an option for clients who want to do deeper work in a more concentrated format.
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You’re not alone. Many lawyers are used to being the person others turn to and may feel unsure about what it is like to ask for support themselves. Your therapist will guide you through the process, and the free consultation gives you a low-pressure place to ask questions and see whether the fit feels right.
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We’re an out-of-network practice, which means we don’t work with insurance providers. However, we can provide superbills for possible reimbursement, accept HSA and FSA cards, and partner with Mentaya to help clients use out-of-network benefits with less paperwork.
Start working with a San Diego therapist for Lawyers today
