Therapy for Lawyers
in California
Virtual therapy for attorneys across California — from a former lawyer who understands the culture, the pressure, and what it actually costs you.
Schedule a Consultation Meet YaelA therapist who actually knows what you're dealing with
I'm Yael Eiserike, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former lawyer. I passed the California Bar, practiced employment defense litigation, and made the decision to leave law for clinical work. That background isn't a talking point — it's why our work together can skip the part where you have to explain what billable hours feel like at 11pm, or what it means to be the one who never shows a crack.
I work with attorneys across California via telehealth — from associates in BigLaw to solo practitioners, public defenders, in-house counsel, and lawyers quietly wondering whether they still want to do this at all. Wherever you are in your legal career, the work is practical, direct, and built around your actual life.
All sessions are conducted via secure telehealth. You need a California address and a quiet place to talk.
Schedule a Consultation
What brings California lawyers to therapy
California's legal market is one of the most competitive in the country. BigLaw in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the tech-adjacent in-house world in Silicon Valley, the public interest sector stretched thin in every major city — the pressure looks different depending on where you practice, but the cost tends to feel the same.
Most of the lawyers I work with aren't in crisis when they reach out. They're functioning at a high level and quietly noticing that something is off. The work never feels meaningful the way it used to. Rest doesn't feel restorative. They've been telling themselves they'll slow down after the next case for the past two years.
Common reasons California attorneys start therapy with me:
Burnout
Still performing, but running on empty. Everything takes more effort than it used to and you can't remember the last time you felt genuinely energized by the work.
Anxiety
The kind that looks like conscientiousness from the outside — but internally it's relentless. Replaying conversations, catastrophizing outcomes, unable to fully switch off.
Career Questions
Wondering whether to stay at the firm, go in-house, leave law entirely, or make partner. Decisions that feel too big and too personal to think through alone.
Identity & Meaning
You've built the career you were supposed to want and it doesn't feel the way you expected. Something is missing and you're not sure what.
Perfectionism
The standard that got you here is now working against you. Difficulty delegating, inability to call anything done, constant self-criticism despite strong performance.
Insomnia
Your brain won't stop running cases at 2am. Sleep is light, unrestorative, or genuinely hard to come by. Yael is certified in CBT-I, the gold standard treatment for insomnia.
Serving lawyers across California
Because all sessions are conducted via telehealth, I work with attorneys anywhere in California. You don't need to be near a major city — you just need to be licensed or located in the state. That said, the majority of my California clients practice in:
What therapy with me actually looks like
I work primarily using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — an evidence-based approach that focuses on the connection between thought patterns, behaviors, and how you feel. For lawyers, this tends to land well. It's structured, logical, and it produces tangible results you can measure.
Sessions are direct and practical. I'm not here to sit back and nod. I ask questions, offer perspective, challenge the patterns that are keeping you stuck, and help you build strategies you can actually use between sessions. The goal is that you leave each appointment with something concrete — not just feeling heard, but knowing what to do differently.
I'm also certified in CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), Trauma-Focused CBT, and Seeking Safety. If sleep is part of what's breaking down, that's something we can address directly rather than treating it as a side effect of everything else.
Sessions are 50 minutes, conducted via secure video, and scheduled at times that work around your calendar — including early mornings and evenings.
Therapy for lawyers at every stage
The pressure in a legal career doesn't stay constant — it shifts depending on where you are. I work with attorneys across the career spectrum, and the focus of our work tends to reflect what that stage actually demands.
Pre-Law & Law Students
Law school moves fast and asks you to set aside a lot of questions you probably should be sitting with. Therapy gives you space to figure out what you actually want before the path gets harder to exit.
Early Career Attorneys
The first few years are a steep learning curve layered on top of proving yourself, managing perfectionism, and trying to have a life. That's a lot to hold at once.
Associate to Partner Track
The closer you get to partnership, the higher the stakes and the less permission you feel to admit that something isn't working. This is when burnout often gets hardest to ignore.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be in Los Angeles or a specific city to work with you?
No. All sessions are conducted via telehealth, so you can be anywhere in California. The only requirement is that you are physically located in California at the time of our sessions.
Do you take insurance?
I am an out-of-network provider. Many clients submit claims to their insurance for partial reimbursement. I can provide a superbill for this purpose. Contact me directly for current fee information.
How is this different from seeing a general therapist?
You don't have to explain what firm culture feels like, why billable hours matter, or why "just leave if you're unhappy" is not a real answer. I practiced law before becoming a therapist, which means we can skip the background and get straight to the work.
What if I'm not sure therapy is the right step?
A consultation is a no-pressure conversation to figure out whether this is a good fit. You don't have to commit to anything. Most people leave with more clarity than they came in with, regardless of what they decide.
How often would we meet?
Most clients start with weekly sessions. As things shift, the frequency often adjusts. I work around demanding schedules — early mornings and evenings are available.
Is everything I say confidential?
Yes, with the standard legal exceptions that apply to all licensed therapists in California. Nothing about your legal work, your firm, or your career decisions leaves the room.
Do you also work with lawyers in Washington D.C. or Virginia?
Yes. I am licensed in California, Washington D.C., and Virginia. If you practice in D.C. or Virginia, visit the D.C. page for more information.
Ready to talk? No pressure.
A consultation is a straightforward conversation to see if this is the right fit. You don't have to have it figured out before you reach out.
Schedule a Consultation