Career Counseling for Finance and Lawyer Professionals in NYC & NJ

At Anchor Therapy, we specialize in therapy for finance and lawyer professionals in the New York City area and beyond. 

Mental health conditions, coupled with career concerns and anxieties, have gained awareness in recent years due to their ability to negatively affect one’s professional life. According to The American Institute of Stress, it is estimated that 83% of Americans suffer from work-related stress. About one million Americans miss work each day due to their stress levels. 

A poor work-life balance can also lead to depression which can cause depression-induced missed days at work. Prioritizing your health is crucial when it comes to maintaining your overall well-being and achieving long-term success in all aspects of your life, including the professional component. 

Whether you are offering financial counseling services, providing investment advice, or spending your days in a courtroom, it can feel understandably difficult to achieve work-life balance. Luckily, a stress and anxiety therapist at Anchor Therapy can help you feel like your best self again. A vocational counselor will offer healthy coping strategies to build resilience and ward off stress. Additionally, a career therapist can help ease any feelings of job burnout, a type of stress linked to work, that you may be experiencing. 

What hardships do finance professionals face?

Like any other profession, those in the financial field face their fair share of professional challenges. 

Finance professionals may encounter the following challenges:

• Pressure and Stress - Financial roles are inherently high-pressure positions, particularly in the space of investment banking or trading. This can easily lead to feelings of stress and burnout. The continuous need to meet ever-changing targets, finishing dates, and client expectations can be both mentally and physically exhausting.

• Long Hours - The world of finance is notorious for having professionals work long hours, especially during quarterly reports or deal closings. The need to work long hours can impede on your work-life balance and affect relationships with your romantic partner, family members, and friends. 

• Regulatory Changes - The financial industry is regulated to a high degree which requires those in this field to remain educated on any changes in laws and regulations. If you do have to adapt to a new directive, it can be time-consuming and expensive.

• Market Volatility - If you are a finance professional, then you understand the fluctuations of the market. Swift changes in currency values, interest rates, and stock prices can wreak havoc on investment portfolios or certain financial plans you may have had in mind.

• Global Economic Uncertainty - The world economy is unpredictable, and it is not easy to try to navigate this for yourself and for clients. From economic downturns to global crises, uncertainty can impact financial decisions.

• Client Relations -  If you want to be successful in the finance industry, you must build and sustain meaningful relationships with your clients. Managing the expectations of your client, trying to communicate complex financial systems or processes, and addressing market concerns can be emotionally taxing.

• Ethical Dilemmas - At some point in your career, you may face an ethical challenge. Perhaps you have to balance the interests of your clients with that of your company’s, or you have to navigate the gray area in a financial transaction. 

While all of these challenges are valid, there is also room for the field of finance to be a meaningful, rewarding one for you if you effectively achieve work-life balance. In finance, there are opportunities for financial success, intellectual stimulation, and helping other people.

What hardships do legal professionals face?

The legal field is complex and dynamic, making it a difficult career path for many. While you have the opportunity to succeed in this field, it is important to know about the obstacles in the legal field.

Legal professionals may encounter the following challenges:

• Balancing Work and Personal Life - From frequent court appearances, a high load of research, and scheduling client meetings, it can be hard to make time for your personal life.

• High Workload and Pressure - It is not uncommon for lawyers and attorneys to work long hours due to strict deadlines, particularly during deal negotiations. As a legal professional, you will face immense pressure to deliver positive results which can lead to burnout and stress.

• Constant Learning and Adaptation - The law is always changing and, as a legal professional, it is your duty to stay on top of these changes. New legislation, precedents, and legal interpretations require your review. You constantly have to invest your time and energy into continuously learning and staying updated on state and federal changes to be an effective lawyer.

• Job Market Competition - The legal profession is competitive, especially in the fields of corporate and business law. Securing and keeping a desirable position can be stressful.

• Courtroom Pressures - If you are a litigator, appearing in court can be demanding. You have to think in the moment, react to the unexpected, and give a powerful, appealing presentation which adds more pressure to your legal role.

• Emotional Toll - If you are involved in certain areas of the law, like family law or criminal defense, it is likely that you will deal with sensitive cases or emotionally-charged situations. You have to maintain impartiality while being able to empathize with clients as well.

• Public Perception of the Legal System - If you have ever told anyone that you were a lawyer and received an eyebrow raise, you know about the public criticism and skepticism of the legal system. A negative worldview on your job can decrease your job satisfaction and even the value of the legal services that you offer. 

While there are drawbacks to being a legal professional, you can successfully find fulfillment in your work by contributing to justice, promoting equality and equity, upholding the rule of the law, and making a positive impact on your clients and society at large.

Career Counseling at Anchor Therapy

Working with a career coach near you can be extremely beneficial for high-stress, high-pressure professions, like financiers and lawyers. There are unique obstacles and stressors that are associated with each of these professions, and our career therapists at Anchor Therapy understand this. 

At Anchor Therapy, our therapists have experience with helping New York City professionals so they can effectively manage their anxiety, depression, and stress so you can prosper at both work and home. In order for our therapists to assist you, they must know about the unique challenges you face in the corporate world. 

Our therapists offer tailored support to professionals in law and finance, grasping the intricacies of these respective fields. Specific stressors, expectations, and demands are understood. When you find a therapist who understands the daily responsibilities and pressures that you face as a professional, they can provide coping skills that are relevant and easily applicable to your work environment. 

As a legal or financial professional, it is likely that you have to deal with billing concerns, high-stakes decision-making, client relations, and more. Our therapists understand these career-specific concerns and can offer support in a more direct manner.

Careers in law and finance come with societal standards and expectations of success which can become hard to manage over time. An executive career coach who has cultural sensitivity and knows about the context and prestige of your field can help you navigate your professional pressures in a successful manner. 

Our career therapists can add to the overall satisfaction of the therapeutic process by building rapport with you and showcasing their knowledge of industry trends.

In career counseling, one common form of therapy that is used is Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). In SFBT, your brain is trained to look for solutions instead of dwelling on career concerns that you have no control over. If you are looking for practical strategies to apply to your career-related concerns, your therapist will employ SFBT tools and techniques.

In psychodynamic therapy, you will explore any unconscious thoughts you have that may be adding to your work stress. If you are looking to make long-term changes and want more insight into your career issues, psychodynamic career counseling is the way to go.

We offer in-person counseling at our downtown Hoboken, New Jersey office which is conveniently located by the Hoboken Terminal. We also offer online career counseling services to residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida if you would like to attend your session from the comfort of your own home.

How can career counseling benefit finance and lawyer professionals in New York City and New Jersey?

There are many ways in which career therapy can be beneficial for finance and legal professionals. 

Here are some benefits of working with a career therapist at Anchor Therapy as a financier or lawyer:

• Stress Management - Working in the fields of finance and law can bring about a great deal of stress. A stress management therapist can help you find effective stress management tools, coping skills, and relaxation methods so you can navigate a professional setting that demands a lot of you.

• Emotional Regulation - Complex legal cases or financial transactions can cause you to have strong emotions, like frustration, nervousness, irritability, and aggression. When your emotions go unchecked, you can experience additional issues, such as insomnia, changes in appetite, headaches, and social withdrawal. Therapy gives you the space to explore and regulate your feelings which can help you make better decisions at work.

• Identity and Values Exploration - You are a person outside of your professional identity, and your career therapist will help you find that side of yourself. When you discover more about yourself, you can achieve a more fulfilling life.

• Enhancing Communication Skills - To be a successful professional, you have to learn how to communicate effectively. Therapy can help you sharpen your verbal communication skills whether you are at the office or at home with your family.

• Healing From Trauma - Whether you are a finance professional facing a crisis or a lawyer who is dealing with a traumatic case, you need support and a space to process and cope with the emotional impact of these occurrences. 

• Self-Care Strategies - If you are dealing with a high-stress job, it is likely that a face mask once a week is not going to cut it for you in the self-care department. Instead, you will have to build in some small self-care habits into your daily schedule, such as not checking your email first thing in the morning or taking some time out of your day to move your body. A stress therapist can help you create an individualized self-care plan that works for you and your busy lifestyle. Remember, a self-care routine should benefit all aspects of your health, encompassing the physical, mental, and emotional realms. 

• Work-Life Balance - With your career therapist, you can discuss the challenges of working long hours and keeping up with the pressures of a high-stress job. Your counselor can help you find a healthier work-life balance. 

• Burnout Prevention - Law and finance professionals are more likely to experience burnout than other professionals due to the intense workloads. Your career counselor knows the signs of burnout to look out for and can help you investigate the root cause of your career concerns. Lastly, a career therapist can create strategies with you to prevent and control your burnout.

Therapy is not a sign of weakness. Seeking the support of a career counselor for finance and law professionals is a major sign of strength. It is a step in the right direction towards personal development, professional growth, and self-care. 

Anchor Therapy’s career counselors can offer you tailored support as they understand the demands associated with the legal and finance professions. Our career therapists offer an integrated approach where they use several types of therapeutic modalities to best suit your needs. 

How Can I Start career counseling for finance and lawyer profssionals at Anchor Therapy?

WORKING WITH anchor therapy IS EASY

1. Fill out the contact form below.

2. Our intake coordinator will get back to you with more information on how our career counselors can assist you.

3. Take comfort in knowing that you are taking the first step in achieving a healthier work-life balance!

If you’re looking for more information about career counseling, we write a lot of blog posts about career counseling. Check out our blog below!