You called MOLAP … now what?

Whether you are a Missouri legal professional or law student with mental health or substance use concerns, MOLAP is here to help. No concern is too big or too small.

Reaching out for help by calling MOLAP at 1-800-688-7859 is a great first step toward hope and recovery. What happens next will depend on the individuals’ specific needs. 

All MOLAP callers will first be connected with MOLAP Director Stacy Parmer, a licensed mental health clinician with specialized credentialing in substance use.

Parmer has eight years of experience in case management and therapy in inpatient treatment centers and is trained to quickly and accurately assess the needs of the caller and provide immediate support, whatever that may be.

An individual calls for themself

Typically, Parmer will implement a thorough and confidential biopsychological assessment that ensures callers receive individualized, tailored assistance, which ultimately leads to more effective outcomes and is aligned with best practices.

The individualized assistance can take several different forms, including mental health counseling, referral to specialized resources such as treatment centers or support groups, connection to peer support, 24/7 helplines, or career counseling and assistance with transitions such as changes in workload.

If a caller is in crisis, Parmer will conduct a very brief assessment to determine the next steps, depending on the nature of the crisis. For example, if the client is seriously considering suicide, MOLAP will ensure their immediate safety and help.

This empathetic and ethical approach allows MOLAP to create a safe environment, gain the trust of the caller, and guide them through various options so they can make the decision that best works for them.

An individual calls to make a referral

MOLAP receives calls/referrals from colleagues, judges, disciplinary counsel, certified grievance committees, admissions committees, defense counsel, spouses, children, law school administrators and professors, and the occasional client.

When one of these individuals calls, Parmer will try to get as much detail as possible in order to better understand the situation and how MOLAP can assist.

For example, if a judge reaches out with concern about the cognitive decline of an older lawyer but does not know how to approach the individual or what to say, MOLAP can coach them and eventually become directly involved if needed. MOLAP typically would not open a file in this situation.

If an associate calls to ask for guidance about a partner or situation, MOLAP will coach them through the best steps to take and/or provide referral resources. MOLAP can also provide referrals for treatment centers or mental health providers for a lawyer who has a family member with an impairment requiring treatment.

Referrals may include community support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, depression, grief, or anxiety support groups, pain management clinics, medication assisted treatment, or MOLAP’s peer-to-peer support program.

Occasionally MOLAP might ask one or two volunteers who have been through something similar to reach out to the lawyer. Most lawyers are willing to take the meetings with the volunteers, even if they are not willing to accept help at that moment in time. Many clients report that they called the volunteers back months later when they were willing to get assistance.

Sometimes MOLAP will provide information to the caller on how to approach a troubled person, and that results in a call from a new client.

Confidentiality

MOLAP has and will always harbor a culture of confidentiality and support that encourages individuals to seek help without the fear of repercussions or adverse consequences.

MOLAP will not tell the individual who referred them to MOLAP without permission.

Nothing callers say will be disclosed to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, The Missouri Bar, or the Supreme Court of Missouri. The MOLAP director is the only staff member with access to confidential client information. The MOLAP administrative assistant has restricted access only to view client demographics.

Reaching out for help can allow lawyers to take better care of themselves and their clients, helping their careers. Reaching out to MOLAP cannot negatively impact a lawyers’ license or career.

If you are in an emergency situation, please call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Read answers to frequently asked questions about MOLAP here.