Divorce doesn’t come with a funeral. There are no casseroles dropped off at your door, no sympathy cards, no formal rituals to mark the end. But for many, it feels just like a death—and in many ways, it is.

If you find yourself in a relationship where your partner tends to dominate, withdraw, or manipulate during difficult conversations, you might worry about how this dynamic could play out in mediation.

Let’s be honest — conflicts are inevitable. Too often, people rush to litigation, escalating conflicts rather than resolving them. But there’s a better way: mediation. Mediation should be the first stop in conflict resolution, not the last resort. Here’s why.

This week, the world watched as two stranded astronauts finally returned to Earth. Originally scheduled to be away for just eight days, their journey unexpectedly stretched into nine long months. It was a powerful reminder that life is unpredictable—things don’t always go as planned, and sometimes, we must find new ways to move forward.

When parents divorce, it’s as if a new chapter is being written in their child’s life. This chapter, while inevitable for many families, can take vastly different tones. Children are deeply influenced by the dynamics they experience during this time.

Are you ready to design your new life or would you prefer to marinate in a sauce of what I call FHAD: Fear, Hurt, Anger, and Disappointment? Here are some indicators that couples are ready for mediation.

For many, pets are like family members, offering love, companionship, and comfort during difficult times. However, determining pet custody isn’t always straightforward. Mediation can help.

Divorce brings with it a whirlwind of emotional and practical decisions, and one of the most significant is deciding what to do with the family home. Mediation can help.

When people think about divorce, they often picture courtroom showdowns, pricey lawyers, and enough paperwork to make you want to crawl into bed for a week.

Mediation is an empowering, less litigious and less costly alternative.

You may be divorced but you will never stop being a parent to your child. And neither will your  ex. And that means you and your ex will be co-parents. It’s so important for children to feel  safe, secure and loved by both parents, especially during and after divorce.

This initial conversation is incredibly important as it will set the tone for your divorce and for the future of your family.

While it is important that children have parenting time with both parents, living together, sharing meals and daily routines, they shouldn’t have to pack and unpack and remember to bring what they need to settle in comfortably in each home.