Guest Article by Grace Chanin, LCL Board Member
Trauma is a word we hear often, but do we truly understand what it means and how it affects us? As lawyers, we are trained to advocate for others, often at the expense of our own wellbeing. But what happens when we carry unprocessed trauma? How does it impact our ability to serve our clients, navigate our careers, and find personal fulfillment?
I recently attended a program on trauma-informed lawyering that helped me better understand trauma’s profound effects on the brain and body. When we acknowledge how trauma influences our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors (as well as our clients’), we can better support both ourselves and our clients, ultimately driving better outcomes in our cases.
As Bessel van der Kolk writes in The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, “We have learned that trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body. This imprint has ongoing consequences for how the human organism manages to survive in the present. Trauma results in a fundamental reorganization of the way mind and brain manage perceptions. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think.”
On a recent episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, Dr. Sara Szal, a Harvard- and MIT-trained physician, spoke about the recent rise in autoimmune disorders and its connection to trauma. When asked about the most important action one could take, she responded, “Deal with your trauma. Assess your trauma. Deal with it. Resolve it. A lot of people think they are stuck with their trauma. And I would say you are not. Make the choice to resolve it.” That message resonated deeply with me. For so long, I thought my trauma was something I just had to live with. But now I know that healing my trauma is possible.
So, how do we release trauma from our bodies and minds? Releasing trauma requires creating safety within our nervous systems. This does not mean avoiding difficult emotions—it means learning how to regulate them so they no longer control us. For me, this has involved a combination of physical movement, mindfulness, and professional help (including therapy). I love all kinds of fitness classes. But hot yoga classes allow me the opportunity to practice being quiet and controlling my breath and my thoughts (in rooms that sometimes reach over 100 degrees). And, recently, I started going for “positive affirmation” walks outside where I repeat healing messages to myself like “I can trust myself and my body;” “I am exactly where I am supposed to be;” or “I can let go of things that no longer serve me.” I have found that engaging in these practices helps me better regulate my emotions and feel safe. It’s okay if hot yoga isn’t your thing. Find what works for you—maybe cold plunging, journaling, gardening, or art therapy.
Therapy has played a major role in my healing journey. When I was younger, I was skeptical of therapy’s benefits. But as an adult, I realized that therapy could be transformative—if I was honest with myself and I found the right therapist. Talk therapy has taught me so much about myself and enabled me to better participate in the world around me. But I reached a point where I knew I needed something more than just talk therapy, as I was still experiencing trauma responses (automatic, self-protective reactions connected to my past trauma). That is when I discovered Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR works by stimulating both sides of the brain through rapid eye movements or other bilateral stimulation, helping the brain naturally process and reintegrate traumatic memories. At first, I was skeptical. But after 18 months of EMDR, I feel like a different person. The weight of trauma I have been carrying for years is disintegrating, and I feel lighter and freer than ever before.
There are many paths to healing trauma, and what works for one person may not work for another. I am not a doctor, just someone navigating my own trauma and healing journey. If you are carrying trauma—whether from childhood, your legal career, or life in general—I encourage you to get curious about ways to release it. Seek out professional support, try different healing modalities, and find what resonates with you. Your future self will thank you.
LCL can provide referrals to begin therapy, including EMDR. LCL provides up to four free sessions along with guidance for longer-term support. help@mnlcl.org.