In working with law students, lawyers, and judges we are often confronted by the high internal and external expectations that legal professionals face and set for themselves in their professional and personal lives. Maladaptive perfectionism is a term that embodies the “refusal to accept any standard short of perfection” (Oxford Dictionary), viewed clinically as a multidimensional concept with several different components.

Maybe you have head the word codependent. Maybe your child, spouse, colleague, co-worker or friend is struggling with addiction to something like alcohol, drugs, gambling or sex. Maybe you have agonized along with them in struggle. Maybe you have found it’s difficult to help them and you have become bitter and frustrated. Maybe you have wondered if that word codependent applies to you. Maybe you’re asking what that even means. LAP Clinical Cast Manager Joe Scally, MA., JD., authors an article featured in the Lake County Docket on codependency and how it relates to you.

Throwing out the standard “how are you” script in an effort to move beyond mental health stigma. Identify, consider, align and validate your communication in your personal and professional life when it comes to well-being.

Munoz’s involvement with LAP is a natural outgrowth. Before she became a lawyer, she wanted to be a psychologist so she could help people.