Be a Path to Healing Your Client’s Trauma
When a client calls, what's your initial reaction?
Take a moment and describe your typical client in three words. Any three words. Don't read any further until you do. I'll wait.
Be honest with yourself.
In my younger days, my three words might often have been… “a time vampire.”
Too many of us fall into the trap of viewing clients as burdens. I've been there. I've seen the number of that "needy" client flash across my screen—the one who always seems to call precisely when I'm swamped. As I picked up the phone, I’d think, "Here we go, client so-and-so needs to retell the same story of their misery since their injury," or "Here's the client who needs their weekly cry."
My new three words: "Trauma needs healing."
Let's first define trauma. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, crime, natural disaster, physical or emotional abuse, neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, death of a loved one, war, and more."
Clients come to you burdened with trauma. They are individuals seeking help after a "terrible event," often one of an overwhelming nature. Perhaps a frightening car collision, a terrifying dog attack, a degrading sexual assault, a device that has mutilated their body, or they are a burn victim of a fire or explosion. Some are family members of an injured person, seeking your guidance following the funeral of a loved one.
These are events that immediately trigger a literal body-wide physical response, typically stored in the emotional and memory centers of our brains. These matters need attention.
Not only should we help our clients in their time of raw emotional need, but some would also argue our ethical rules require it.
The American Bar Association and Pennsylvania Professional Rule of Responsibility 2.1 espouse essentially the same guidance:
“In representing a client, a lawyer shall exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice. In rendering advice, a lawyer may refer not only to law but to other considerations such as moral, economic, social and political factors, that may be relevant to the client’s situation.”
We are advised to be sensitive to our client’s world—beyond the investigation and facts of the case. So, instead of simply offering a barrage of words and promises, let your client have the microphone. Instead of rushing to the next task, consider sitting back in your chair and truly opening your ears.
Be attuned to your client’s mental state, listen for hallmark signs of ongoing trauma, and strive to understand their anguish and torment. Acknowledge their pain and trauma. Be ready to suggest or urge them to seek professional counseling or other emotional solutions.
If you've been kind enough to read this far, I'll offer a strategic consideration. Isn't trauma at the very core of a client’s pain and suffering damages? Isn't understanding the details of your client’s trauma a fundamental factual resource for proving those damages? Wouldn't it be in your client’s best interests if you sought to understand precisely how the trauma creeps into their lives, haunts their minds, and makes their bodies stiff with fear? Wouldn't a jury be more interested in the specifics of your client’s trauma journey over an unending series of "and how did that make you feel" questions?
Be a path to healing your client’s trauma.
“Awareness is the first step in healing.” – Dean Ornish, MD
To assist you in recognizing trauma, I am providing some common human responses, as suggested by the APA:
Intense or unpredictable feelings. A person may be anxious, nervous, overwhelmed, or grief-stricken, or feel more irritable or moody than usual.
Changes to thoughts and behavior patterns. Repeated and vivid memories of the event. It may be difficult to concentrate or make decisions. Sleep and eating patterns also can be disrupted—some people may overeat and oversleep, while others experience a loss of sleep and appetite.
Sensitivity to environmental factors. Sensations like sound or smell may stimulate memories of the disaster, creating heightened anxiety. These “triggers” may be accompanied by fears that the stressful event will be repeated.
Strained interpersonal relationships. Increased conflict, such as more frequent disagreements with family members and coworkers, can occur. People may become withdrawn, isolated, or disengaged from usual social activities.
Stress-related physical symptoms. Headaches, nausea, and chest pain may occur and could require medical attention. Preexisting medical conditions could be affected by disaster-related stress.
This is just the beginning of our conversation on this important topic. Stay tuned for more in this series of blogs about client trauma.
