Pleased to Announce….

I am pleased and proud to announce that I have been granted certification as a Certified Specialist in Family Mediation by the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario.   I am glad to be a member of the FDRIO organization which is working hard to promote excellence and accountability in family mediation.

I am trained as a lawyer and as a social worker.  That means that I can mediate both financial and parenting issues for parties.

My experience in the legal representation of clients has given me the knowledge of the law and “how things work” in family law.  I understand practice and procedure.  I am a critical and practical thinker.  I can provide legal information (not advice) to parties in mediation.  I can ensure that they are informed of the law on a particular topic, as well as their rights and obligations.  I have been on the other side of the table, representing clients in mediation and arbitration.  I know what that process is like from the inside out.

My social work and mediation training have provided me with the tools to manage difficult personalities and build consensus. I am able to be empathic without getting dragged into the emotions and conflict.  Active listening allows me to listen effectively and to understand what is happening and why.  I am trained to look not only at the issues, but also at what is underlying the dispute, in order to identify and eliminate road blocks to settlement.  I am trained in child development and have worked with children of divorce.  I am able to bring the children into the process, whether that it by actually meeting with them or by figuratively representing their best interests in the mediation.

I would be happy to further describe my mediation practice and to answer any questions you may have. Please do feel free to contact me.