Wellness Why did I join the VJLAP Team? The quick answer is that it made sense. by Janet P. Van Cuyk Generally, when I have struggled in life, I turned inward, shut out the world, and tried to power through it. That met with mixed success at best, but it was my way of doing things. I now know that if I am to successfully emerge from difficult times, I need honesty and the support of others. Recently, I needed help to catch my bearings. In my search for balance and wellness, the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (VJLAP, formerly Lawyers Helping Lawyers) crossed my path, a familiar path, only this time as a career oppor-tunity. For years, I worked on the same floor as the Lawyers Helping Lawyers’ office in Richmond; and, when it moved, I had its sign on my office door. After leaving that job, and the sign behind, I reached out to VJLAP for assistance. It was the only place I even considered because of its insular existence. I knew if I talked with them, that was it. No one would ever know about it unless I told them. No referral. No insurance. No nonsense. Fast forward a couple of years. Professionally, I had pressed the reset button and was looking for an oppor-tunity where I would have a sense of purpose and could grow profession-ally. Joining VJLAP was one of those coincidences with no other explanation than it was meant to be. I am a lawyer and social worker. I could join VJLAP and promote and support its mission— a mission which I wholeheartedly embrace. Reading the many reports on our profession at risk and learning that Virginia was expanding its VJLAP bandwidth to reach even more who may be struggling, whether it be with finding balance or addressing mental health or substance use concerns, the opportunity sounded right up my alley. I could be that beacon of hope for a col-league just like the light that had guided me years ago. I recently caught up with one of my former directors. Her response on my VJLAP adventure was simply “That makes sense.” I am grateful that Virginia has embraced this stage of wellness and that I have joined this team and become part of a confidential, safe harbor that understands. R Janet Van Cuyk is a lawyer and social worker who joined the Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program in 2020 as the Tidewater Regional Program Manager. She has worked directly with adolescents and adults with mental health concerns and other stressors in a variety of settings and, in a legal capacity, in a law firm and in state government. Van Cuyk has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Boston College; a Master in Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University; and her law degree from the University of Virginia. *VUÄKLU[PHSOLSWMVYZ\IZ[HUJLHI\ZLWYVISLTZHUKTLU[HSOLHS[OPZZ\LZ -VYTVYLPUMVYTH[PVU ]PZP[O[[WZ!]QSHWVYN VYJHSS[VSSMYLLb;e;!f;e;e;c;b;c;b;d;f; 3H^`LYZ/LSWPUN3H^`LYZPZUV^=PYNPUPH1\KNLZHUK3H^`LYZ(ZZPZ[HUJL7YVNYHT Got an Ethics Question? The VSB Ethics Hotline is a confidential consultation service for Virginia lawyers. Questions can be submitted to the hotline by calling (804) 775-0564 or by clicking on the “Email Your Ethics Question” link on the Ethics Questions and Opinions web page at www.vsb.org/site/regulation/ethics/. 34 VIRGINIA LAWYER | AUGUST 2020 | VOL. 69 www.vsb.org
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Wellness
Janet P. Van Cuyk
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