Questions for Divorcing Couples with a Special Needs Child [VIDEO]
When I’m mediating with parents who have a special needs child, I view myself as being on a “fact-finding mission.” What do I mean by that? In addition to performing my other mediator responsibilities, my role is to gather as much information as I can about the couple’s special needs child, and how that child’s…
My Passion – Helping Parents with Special Needs Children [VIDEO]
Divorces involving special needs children are often complicated and involve more issues than the “normal” divorce. Helping these families is especially rewarding for me. Why?
3 Myths About Divorce Mediation [VIDEO]
Recently, I wrote a blog entitled “Divorce Mediation and the Pigeonhole Effect.” In that article, I spoke about the way divorce mediation has unjustifiably been “pigeonholed” by some professionals as being an effective approach for couples in conflict only in very simple situations. This video expands upon my earlier blog, identifying what I see as…
What is an Uncontested Divorce? [VIDEO]
When couples divorce, they need to resolve important issues related to the ending of their marriage, such as dividing their assets and determining what their parenting arrangements will be. When a couple proceeds with divorce mediation, they’ve chosen to make these decisions on their own, with the help of the mediator. This is referred to as an uncontested divorce.
A Good Mediator is Sensitive to Imbalances of Power [VIDEO]
A basic requirement of divorce mediation is that the mediator be neutral and impartial. At the same time, the mediator must be attentive to any power imbalances that exist between the parties. Even though a neutral, the mediator will support the person with less power or knowledge so that he or she can participate fully…
Taking the First Step Toward Divorce [VIDEO]
Rarely when I see a couple for our first mediation session do I find they’re “on the same page” regarding the end of their marriage. Often one spouse is ahead of the other in contemplating the prospect of divorce. See how this disparity plays out in the mediation process.
Beware of Well-Intentioned Advice from Friends & Family [VIDEO]
It’s only natural that friends and family will volunteer information as to what happened to them, or other people they know, when they got divorced. The problem is that the advice:
- Is often incorrect and misleading;
What You Should Look For in a Divorce Mediator [VIDEO]
When deciding on a divorce mediator, there are certain qualities you should look for. These include:
- Training
- Experience
- Commitment
- How much time they spend exclusively in mediation
What Are the 2 Essential Requirements for Mediation? [VIDEO]
There are really only 2 key requirements for a successful divorce mediation:
- A willingness of the participants to dialogue, and
- Full disclosure of financial and other relevant information.
Power Imbalances in Divorce Mediation
{2:30 minutes to read} One of the basic requirements of divorce mediation is that the mediator be neutral and impartial. Certainly, this means that the mediator should not be taking sides or favoring either party. But it also means that the mediator may need to be more directive at times to ensure the integrity of the parties’ decision-making.
