ABOUT
Bonnie Prober, J.D., LMSW, MCLC
In her coaching practice at Ladybug Wellness, Bonnie draws upon her extensive education, training, and personal experience in both law and social work to successfully support and assist her clients in addressing the very real challenges faced by legal professionals.
Bonnie is a graduate of both Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center. Following law school, she clerked in the Southern District of New York, and then practiced in the litigation department at Latham & Watkins, the Civil Division (Federal Programs Branch) of the U.S. Department of Justice, and finally a boutique litigation firm.
After practicing law for more than a decade...
Bonnie returned to school to pursue her interest in mental health counseling and, more specifically, in working to enhance the mental health and wellness of legal professionals.
She earned a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in Behavioral Health/ Employee Assistance Programs. Bonnie completed her training at the U.S. House of Representatives, where she provided counseling, career coaching, critical incident response, and mental health and wellness training for House Members and employees and Capitol Police Officers.
Bonnie currently serves on the DC Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Committee, where she is engaged in outreach and education about mental health issues within the legal community.
Bonnie also is a Master Certified Life Coach.
A Note from Bonnie:
My Journey
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a lawyer.
I sought out every opportunity to position myself for admission to the top law schools and for offers for the most desirable clerkships and litigation positions. After graduating from law school, I continued to pour every ounce of myself into my legal career because I relished my successes, and I desperately feared failure.
I was a mother of two young children and struggled to balance my work and personal life. I accepted my exhaustion, increasing stress and unhappiness, and lack of attention to my physical and emotional health because I believed that it came with the territory. What I did not appreciate at the time was that sacrificing my own well-being was not a prerequisite to succeeding as a lawyer.
As I began to share my experience and concern with colleagues, supervisors, and friends, I realized that I was not alone. Instead, these experiences were common, if not universal, among lawyers across both the private and public sectors. I witnessed those around me suffering from anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, and even suicidality.
I came to understand that many of these issues begin in law school, that the legal field has lagged behind almost every other field in its commitment to mental health and wellness, and that a real stigma continues to exist around mental health treatment.
It was at this point that I made the decision to transition to a second career as a mental health professional dedicated to enhancing mental health and wellness throughout the legal community.
Drawing on my experience as a lawyer, I now work with law schools and legal employers to raise awareness about the mental health and substance abuse issues that all too frequently plague the legal field, and to cultivate a more robust culture of support and wellness for legal professionals.
Additionally, I work with individual lawyers and law students to address mental health concerns, develop stress management and coping skills, and improve overall emotional and physical well-being.
The Ladybug
Ladybugs have a special significance to me.
In 2018, I tragically lost my sister. In the days that followed this devastating loss, a ladybug appeared in our house daily. After six months, not a day had gone by without a ladybug sighting, and these daily “visits” inspired the strength and hope I needed to move forward.
It was, therefore, no surprise when I discovered that ladybugs are considered to be a symbol of positive change, rebirth, and resilience.
In the years that followed, I not only grieved my own loss, but I also was a pillar of strength for my family, as I counseled and supported them through their grief, transition, and renewal. During this time, I grew both as a therapist and coach, and as a person.
