How Tapping Can Help Lawyers Relieve Pain and Reduce Stress
5.23.2025
The New York State Bar Association kicked off a free course on the calming technique known as emotional freedom in conjunction with Well-Being Week in Law and Mental Health Awareness month.
Well-Being Week in Law was launched in 2020 to raise awareness about the special mental health needs of those in the legal profession.
“Attorney well-being is a priority as it impacts the individual, the client and the profession,” said Kim Wolf Price, chair of the New York State Bar Association Attorney Well-Being Committee. “Changing how we talk about well-being and providing tools – such as the emotional freedom technique training – creates pathways for individuals to take care of themselves.”
The New York State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program and the Attorney Well-Being Program offer a wide range of programs focused on attorney health and practical advice for legal professionals on handling stress, anxiety and the prevention of substance use.
Lawyers experience high levels of stress and depression, with up to 20% of lawyers suffering from depression at some point in their careers, according to studies completed by the American Bar Association. This stress can lead to a decrease in productivity, a decrease in quality of work, and even an increase in unethical behavior.
The course is taught by lawyer Michelle Thompson; each class focuses on the special needs of attorneys.
“When we have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, we can’t go to sleep. We can’t focus,” Thompson said. “This is why as lawyers, we can’t quite shut off our minds. We’re often using wine or other depressants to figure out how to bring ourselves down, so we can go to sleep for the few hours that we can get in a night.”
How Does It Work?
The technique involves rhythmically tapping pressure points with your fingers on the head, face, torso and legs, which promotes calm. The gentle process decreases levels of cortisol, which lowers anxiety and reduces pain. Thompson says high cortisol levels can lead to weight gain and other stress-related illnesses.
During one of the first classes, Thompson shared the story of helping a lawyer use tapping to alleviate pain in her neck. The class then practiced tapping with a focus on one participant’s knee and hip pain. After a few questions from the facilitator about the nature of the pain, the process begins in a call and repeat fashion.
The participants repeat the mantra: “I have pain in my hip. I am open to the possibility that it will resolve itself. It’s not unbearable. I have had this pain in my hip for the past seven or eight years.”
After a few minutes of tapping, the participant told the group that she did not have pain in her hip saying, “It’s a one or a zero for pain on a scale of one to ten.” Thompson told the group that her lack of pain is an example of the energy moving in her body. The tapping continued for a second round, with a focus on the future with a new mantra: “I will be more gentle with my hip and I commit to moving more during the day. I am OK right here and right now.”
The lawyer in pain told the group that she has a new feeling of serenity and looked forward to continuing the practice.
How Can I Learn More?
If you are interested in tapping, the New York State Bar Association is holding free sessions on Thursdays throughout the summer. The next session will be held online, May 29 from 1-2 PM. Thompson will be focusing on improving time management through tapping.
“A healthy lawyer is a more productive lawyer and a happier human,” said Wolf Price. “All of these programs help lawyers find the skills necessary to avoid burnout, allowing them to create long and satisfying careers.”
