Online mediation and in-person mediation take different approaches to restoring family peace through confidential, collaborative agreements. Online mediation offers convenience (no commute required), more flexible hours, and lower fees. I work primarily online, providing divorce mediation, family mediation and elder mediation.
Divorce mediation provides a graceful way to reach agreements that meet your needs regarding parenting plans, child support, spousal support (if necessary), division of assets and debts, or modification of existing orders. Family mediation can address many potential issues arising from major life transitions: premarital and postmarital arrangements, business difficulties in family businesses, elder care issues, and more.
I broker primarily online and serve Southern California from Claremont, California and Altadena, California. I have mediated more than 230 divorce or family cases in California since 2006. I have had the privilege of attending some of the best mediation training available from Jim Melamed and Colin Rule, Michael Lang and Woody Mosten. My legal experience included service in the US Navy JAG Corps (USNR), service as a Special Assistant US Attorney, six years as an Assistant County Counsel in Jackson County, OR, and four years in private family law in Jackson County, Oregon Josephine Counties in Oregon.
ADR experience
I have been fortunate to train with some of the best trainers in the industry. I completed my first divorce mediation training with Jim Melamed before Mediate.com existed. I also trained with Colin Rule, Woody Mosten and Michael Lang. I have mediated over 220 cases. Most mediations have involved divorce, but I have also mediated premarital agreements, adult family/elderly matters, and family business claims. I offer a 30-minute consultation via Zoom, which is free if both spouses or two or more parties attend. Most of my mediations take place online, but meeting in person is also an option. Please inquire.
Approach
My approach to mediation begins with respect, respect for you, the parties and respect for the process we will develop together. I help you, the parties, find common ground on which to build your agreements. For divorce mediation, the term that best suits my style is either “pragmatic” or “facilitatory.” When it comes to mediation between older and adult families, I tend to lean toward the “transformative” end of the mediation spectrum. I select any tool or process that you, the client, feel is suitable at the time to achieve your mediation goals.
Training
- BA Occidental College – Speech/Drama/Musical Theater;
- MA UCLA – Dance;
- JD Seattle University, cum laude
I have attended over 650 hours of ADR/mediation training.
Areas of activity
- Adult family
- Congregational
- Divorce (all topics)
- Divorce (parenting)
- Older
- Faith based
- Family
- LGBTQ
- marriage brokerage
- Online Family/Divorce
- Online mediation
- Parents-teenagers
- Pet adoption
- Before
- Special education
- Victim – perpetrator
Additional lines
- Conflict coach
- Mediation consultant
- Mediation trainer
Fees and Caveats
My hourly fee for online mediation is $220/hour. The usual area For a comprehensive divorce mediation with a marital settlement agreement, online mediation is approximately 10 to 12 hours ($2,200 to $2,640) if there are no minor children or up to 14.5 hours with minor children ($3,190). ). In-person mediation often takes a little longer. It is possible to conduct some sessions in person and others online. Court documents are not included, but referrals are available. Please inquire.
I offer a discount to active military members, their families and military retirees. For military members, their families and retirees, I am reducing my hourly rate from $220 per hour to $200 per hour. Please inquire.
A limited-scope mediation refers to one or two online sessions with a brief written summary of the session. It does not include a mediated prenuptial agreement. Please inquire.
Premarital discussions can take place on an hourly basis or for a set fee for an agreed period of time. Please inquire.
ADR training
- Introduction to Mediation – 24 Hours – Willamette University, 1990
- Construction Dispute Resolution – 6 Hours – Portland, OR, 1990
- Divorce Mediation – 40 Hours, Jim Melamed and Oregon Mediation Center, 1996
- Victim-Offender Restorative Justice – 20 Hours, Centinela Youth Services, 2003
- Systematic Approach to Mediation – 18 Hours, Pepperdine Strauss Institute, 2003
- Interest-Based Negotiations for Teachers' Union Representatives, 7 Hours, 2004
- Advanced Collaborative Law – Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law, 6 hours, 2004
- Advanced Family Mediation Skills – Pepperdine/Strauss Institute, 18 hours, 2006
- Advanced Mediator Study Group – Woody Mosten and Ken Cloke, 320+ hours, 2007 – ongoing
- Advanced Family and Divorce Training – Forrest (Woody) Mosten, 19.5 hours, 2007
- Legal Relief for Mediators – So. Calif. Mediation Assoc (SCMA), 4.5 hours, 2008
- Elder Mediation – Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, 21 Hours, 2008
- Fundamentals of Mediation for Older Adults – ARMS, 25 Hours, 2009
- Annual Conference – Academy of Professional Family Mediators (APFM), 16+ hours, 2014
- Annual Conference – Assoc. for Divorce Financial Planners, 7.5 hours, 2018
- Place online – Santa Clara Univ. and Mediate.com, 16.75 hours, 2019
- Online Family Mediation – Mediate.com, 20 hours, 2020
- Reflection practice with Michael Lang, approx. 15 hours/year, ongoing since 2020
- APFM Conference Online 2021, approx. 10 hours, 2021
Awards
- Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA) for establishing a monthly study group for new mediators in the Pasadena, California area.
Professional associations
- APFM – Acad. by professional family mediators
Publications and presentations
- Family Conflict During a Pandemic: Stories of Struggle and Hope (Contributor)
- Cohabitation, Separation, Divorce: Surviving During a Pandemic (Contributor)
References
- References are available on request.
