Whether your mediation is online or in person, the process will be the same. We start with a consultation to see if we’re a good fit. Most clients will call or email to get the process started. If all participants agree to continue, we book an intake meeting (sometimes called a pre-mediation meeting). This is where I meet with each participant individually in a private and confidential meeting. We discuss your situation, the context and details of your separation, your goals for mediation, and other relevant information. This is also an opportunity for you to get to know me and to ensure you want to move forward with me as your mediator. After this, we move to mediation. I guide the process but you and your former partner make all the decisions. At the end of the mediation process I will draft a document that outlines the agreements and decisions that were made in the mediation process. Online mediation (you might also hear it called virtual meditation or online dispute resolution) is effective. It’s a way to help people in the comfort of their home or a space that they feel good in. It saves time and money and stress. Zoom Video Conferencing allows us to work through the mediation process in much the same way as in person. It has virtual private breakout rooms so that we can have breaks and private conversations just like we would if we were in the same location.

No. You, the clients, are the decision makers in a mediation. I guide the process and facilitate the conversation. I cannot make decisions for you and I cannot give you legal advice. I will always encourage you to seek Independent Legal Advice to ensure you know your rights. My job is to create a space and a process for you to be successful in addressing the issues and challenges that you’re encountering and to support you to move forward.

Mediation works. It’s an opportunity for you to work together and to control the outcome of your conflict or disagreement with support. I help you identify what’s important to you, what’s important to your partner, brainstorm solutions and options that work for you and your family, and help you to move forward with a solid plan. It is a voluntary, confidential, and collaborative process. This confidential process means that discussion and conversation can’t be used in court and I can’t be called as a witness in court. This is to protect you, to give you the freedom to explore ideas, make proposals, and negotiate with each other knowing that your suggestions and your conversations won’t be used against you outside of the mediation.

Mediation is a process that seeks to settle disputes, disagreements, and conflict between two or more people without going to court. A mediator is the person who helps the parties come to a mutually acceptable resolution or settlement. It follows a fairly formal process. When we talk about family mediation this is usually spouses who are divorcing. They might need a plan for how they're going to parent and to figure out how to divide their assets and belongings. A facilitated conversation is similar in that the facilitator guides the process and helps people communicate, but it is less about settling a dispute and more around navigating what could potentially become a dispute. It's about people who want to stay together engaging around a common goal. When it comes to partners and families, the focus is to come together, get help from a facilitator to navigate the process and challenges, hear and be heard, and come out on the other side together with a better understanding of each other's viewpoints and needs.

The short answer? It depends. It depends on your situation and the number of issues being mediated, it depends on whether or not the mediation is online, and it depends on the schedule of mediation. My hourly rate is $265 including tax (this is split between the clients so each client pays $132.50). I also offer half day and full day rates depending on the issues to be addressed and availability of clients. We can discuss this in more detail once we’ve met and have a better understanding of your needs.