Wellness @ SLS
Stanford Law School is committed to the well-being of our students. We strive to help students face the challenges of law school and beyond by providing programming and services within the law school, and connecting students to services, resources, and activities available through the larger Stanford community.
We recognize that wellness is holistic and multi-dimensional, and may mean different things to each individual. Explore below for resources that offer programming to promote well-being across multiple dimensions of wellness: emotional/mental, physical, meaningful/spiritual, social, and financial.
The Office of Student Affairs staff is available to help you in your wellness journey. If you are not sure where to start, contact us or drop by for an appointment. We hope you will develop self-care routines that will serve you well in your time at SLS and in your future practice.
Counseling and Mental Health
CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is the university’s counseling center dedicated to student mental health and well-being. An on-call therapist is available 24 hours a day at (650) 723-3785.
CAPS @ SLS
The law school has partnered with CAPS to offer on-site counseling to law students (more information, including SLS doctor bios, is available here). Dr. Liz Chaney and Dr. Sonia Amin are dedicated to SLS students and understand the challenges unique to law students. You may book an appointment through vadenpatient.stanford.edu. Once you have logged in, select ‘Law Student Counseling Visit’ to select a time.
If you’ve never met with a counselor before, recognize that it sometimes takes a few tries to find a counselor that meets your needs. Law students are not required to meet with Dr. Chaney or Dr. Amin, as there are many other very qualified CAPS counselors. You can view all CAPS counselor profiles here.
Bridge Peer Counseling Center
Anonymous, confidential, 24/7 peer counseling and support. Call (650) 723-3392 (between noon and 9 am) or visit in person at Munger Building 2, 895 Campus Drive, Room 102 (noon to midnight).
Campus resources to help you thrive
Stress Less. Be Happier. Accomplish Your Goals.
Explore your natural capacity to thrive, accomplish your goals, and handle challenging situations with more ease, resilience, and confidence through these Stanford resources. For a more complete list of resources, click here.
Well-Being at Stanford helps you cultivate the knowledge and life skills to live a healthy, vibrant lifestyle, manage stress, build resilience, and ensure positive interactions. Their mission is to empower individuals and communities to flourish through education, connection and positive culture change.
Stanford Recreation & Wellness
Your physical wellness starts at Stanford Rec. Explore gyms, take classes, or rent outdoor gear. Sign up for their newsletter to get all the latest news.
Financial Wellness with Mind Over Money
Stanford’s Mind Over Money program offers personal coaching, courses, and online personal finance modules.
Spiritual/Meaningful Wellness
The Office of Religious Life (ORSL) offers events and programs to address your spiritual wellness, however you may define that.
SARA @ SLS
Nadia Kalley, Education & Outreach Specialist in the Office of Sexual Assault & Relationship Abuse Education & Response (SARA) is available to (virtually) meet with law students. Her focus is on programming and support for graduate students in relation to sexual and relationship wellness, and promoting a culture of consent.
Resources for Disordered Coping
Coping skills are the tools people use to help manage and navigate stressful situations or moments of being overwhelmed. Coping skills can be a healthy part of your self-care routine, but when done in excess can lead to disordered behavior (e.g. watching too much TV or playing video games, endlessly scrolling the internet, eating/drinking in excess, shutting down/lashing out). We hope you’ll use the resources available to develop a healthy self-care routine. If you find you’ve developed unhealthy coping skills as a result of stress or overwhelm, please reach out to OSA or our SLS CAPS counselors. We can get you the help you need.
In addition to the Stanford resources listed above, there are a number of statewide and national resources available specifically for law students who are dealing with mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Here are a few:
- ABA Law Students Division – Mental Health Essentials and Mental Health Resources
- ABA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Toolkit, for law school students and those who care about them
- CA State Bar Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP). This confidential program helps lawyers and law students and “provides a supportive structure for building a personal program of recovery from chemical dependency and/or mental health disorders.”
- The Other Bar. The Other Bar is a network of recovering lawyers, law students and judges throughout the state, dedicated to assisting others within the legal profession who are suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems. They are founded on the principle of anonymity and provide services in strict confidentiality.
- Stanford Cardinal Recovery
Wellness Week 2022
Each year, the ABA Law Student Division and the ABA COLAP work together on a Mental Health Day initiative. SLS uses the opportunity to provide additional programming and resources around mental health and wellness.
Naturally, your wellness shouldn’t be limited to a single week. We will plan more programming throughout the year, but we hope you take this opportunity to explore and establish healthy self-care and resilience strategies.
Ongoing: Robert Crown Library Intention-Setting Station
Set an intention. Stop by the law library second floor lounge to mindfully reflect on your intention(s) for the year, and memorialize your intention to a bookmark. Craft supplies, resources, and sweet treats will be available throughout the week at this self-led intention-setting station.
Ongoing: SLS Community Tree
Stop by the lobby of the classroom building to ‘leaf’ your mark on our Community Tree, a participatory art project. We invite you to add your own leaves to the project, or just read what others have contributed.
Place leaves:
in the roots, to note a self-care practice that grounds you
on the trunk, to say what others can do to support you
in the crown, to signify your wishes for the year
falling off the tree, for habits or attitudes you wish to leave behind
Ongoing: Anxiety Toolbox with CAPS (and other groups, workshops, and classes)
Caps is offering a two-part workshop on tackling anxiety. Learn more about this and other CAPS groups or workshops here.
Ongoing: VPGE Quick Bytes Programs
More information and registration available here. Quick Bytes sessions are interactive and provide you with a “quick byte” of information to apply right away. Upcoming programs focus on sustaining well-being through uncertainty, imposter syndrome, and healthy achievement in grad school, among others.
Monday, October 10: Wellness Week Keynote with Professor Ron Tyler: Mindfulness Techniques for the Chronically Busy
RSVP
Living a mindful life isn’t as unobtainable as one might think. Professor Ron Tyler will provide simple mindfulness tools you can use daily to avoid burnout and increase longevity in your career. Event is 12:45-1:30 pm. Lunch provided afterwards to attendees who RSVP by Thursday, Oct. 6.
Tuesday, October 11: CAPS Connection & Healthy Juice from Pressed
Stop by the student lounge during the lunch break to get to know a few CAPS counselors and pick up fresh, healthy juice from Pressed. The counselors in attendance will be Dr. Cierra Whatley, Dr. Tovah Krokoszynski, and SLS’s own Dr. Liz Chaney.
Wednesday, October 12: The “Rest” of Your Life: The Key to Increased Intelligence, Creativity & Compassion, with Donnovan Somera Yisrael
RSVP
When you are not working do you feel “lazy?” Do you remember when the “break” in Winter Break or Summer Break meant something? Did you know that there is more than one type of rest and ironically, not all of them leave you feeling rested? Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the integrative nature of wholesome time off and how it just might make you better at work while increasing the quality of the REST of your life. Donnovan Somera Yisrael is a senior health educator, with a focus on mental health and well being. Event is 12:45-1:30 pm. Lunch provided afterwards to attendees who RSVP by Friday, Oct. 8.
NEW TIME: Thursday, October 13: Yoga on Canfield Courtyard
Brought to you by the SLA Mental Health & Wellness Committee. SLS community members are welcome to join this student-led yoga session on the grass, 1:00-2:00 pm (moved from 4-5 pm). Mat not required; but bring one if you have it.
Friday, October 14: Therapy Dogs in Crocker Garden
Beloved therapy dogs from Pet Partners will welcome your cuddling in the grassy area between Neukom, Crown, and Paul Brest Hall, 12:45-2:00 pm. Snacks provided courtesy of OSA.