Letter From The Founder

Dear Litigant,

I walked the walk.  I know what it is to be there.  I have the solution.

In 2008 I received a complaint from my state licensing board.  I felt like I entered into the Twilight Zone.  It was unreal. After about a year of calling relatives and friends around 11 at night and telling them I was depressed and suicidal, I decided that I could no longer burden them.  I was in psychotherapy throughout this process with some of the best therapists in the city, but they were unable to identify, address and ameliorate my concerns.  So, in an attempt to console myself, I googled “psychological symptoms of a lawsuit.”  Up came a wealth of research describing the psychological dynamics and various symptoms a physician experiences moving through a medical malpractice lawsuit.  It is termed,” Medical Malpractice Stress Syndrome” (MMSS).

As I read the material, I identified.  I came to realize I had almost all the symptoms!  I learned Sara Charles, MD pioneered research in the field of litigation stress in response to her medical malpractice suit.  I searched further and discovered the work of many other physicians motivated by their medical malpractice suit to contribute and support physicians suffering from MMSS in a variety of different ways.  But no one designed a specific protocol, program or technique to help physician – defendants cope on a higher functioning level with this life crisis. So, I did.  I know the snares and the pitfalls of the litigation experience first hand.  I was my first client.

With my expertise of over 25 years in treating anxiety, depression and OCD, I focused on diminishing my particular anxieties resulting from the suit. I felt terror at times.  As a result of the unique protocol I developed and utilized, specific apprehensions relevant to the case became resolved and my anxiety and depression dissipated.  Shortly afterwards, family, friends and my attorney started commenting on how calm and centered I was.  That is when I knew I had something of value to offer to others.  Hence, the origin of Winning Focus.

I designed Winning Focus to empower you, the litigant, to deal more effectively with litigation stress and the emotional challenges inherent to any lawsuit – to retain your sense of self and control in a process that often feels out of control.

Respectfully,

Gail Fiore