waterloo region law association

As members of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO),  lawyers, paralegals, law students and paralegal students can access free mental-health services through the Member Assistance Program, operated by Homewood Health. The program, funded by the LSO, is available at no cost to lawyers, law students, paralegals and their family members. MAP is a confidential service fully independent of the Law Society of Ontario and LawPRO.

Homewood offers in-person, phone and virtual counselling from psychotherapists across the province. MAP also provides secure, single sign-on or telephone access to counselling, coaching, online resources and peer volunteers. LSO Members can get professional help with issues related to addictions, mental or physical health, work-life balance, career, family and more.

“There is no limit to the number of sessions that lawyers can book,” says Doron Gold, a staff clinician with the program. “For in-person appointments, wait times are extremely quick, usually only a day or two.” Lawyers can also call Homewood 24/7 to access a counsellor immediately. “Our goal is to create a safe place for people to call for help where they know their confidentiality is assured,” says Gold. “We’re very emphatic that when people call us, we hold their information sacrosanct.”

A full description of the program can be found on the Member Assistance Program website or call 1-855-403-8922