Why choose a family mediator?
Family Services
Family Mediation and Parent Coaching
First, a word on why you want the right fit. Being in conflict is stressful and you need to feel comfortable to talk about it to work through it, you also need to feel to safe to be challenged to try different approaches when you are inadvertently contributing to the conflict.
It is essential to have interdisciplinary training in this work.
Conflict, especially with families, is not often simple or static and there is a lot at stake.
In my mediation work, I often practice a co-mediation model and I have some great colleagues that I collaborate with. We are committed to being informed and engaged in ongoing learning in the field of mediation and such topics as: child development, family dynamics, high conflict dispute resolution, mental-health, addiction, abuse, and trauma-informed practices.
I am committed to sharing resources and working collaboratively with experts and other professionals to ensure informed decision making and optimal support for you and your family.
Who? (is this for)
Parent Coaching and Family Mediation is for parents who want to reduce negative impacts for their child(ren), build a respectful co-parenting relationship, have focused conversation, and collaborative decision making.
This process can be valuable for parents prior to separation, during separation, and post separation; it can be valuable at any point where there is change in family dynamics (new partners, child development stages, change in child interests, new caregiving roles with aging parents, etc.)
I can work with one or both parents in parent coaching. Mediation requires both parties.
Collaborative Practice
I can collaborate with other parent coaches if parents want to work with their own parent coach in a Collaborative Practice Divorce.
Parenting Plans
I work with parents to create parenting plans ready for submission to legal counsel which then become part of your separation agreement.
Post separation, I work with parents who want to work through new challenges or modify their parenting plan.
What? (is the process)
My mission is to prioritize your family’s wellbeing, to support collaborative decision making, and to reduce conflict.
I do this by assisting parents through conflicts in decision making and communication, parenting roles and responsibilities, and new relationships.
The scope of family mediation is in parenting and communication, it does not encroach into legal or financial aspects of divorce or separation.
Co-Parent Coaching / Conflict Coaching
In coaching, parents work (individually) to identify challenges or barriers, conflict dynamics, their values and priorities, child(ren)’s needs, consider other perspectives, and to learn and practice conflict resolution methods.
Mediation
This process supports and empowers parents through the challenges of co-parenting to have conversations and build on areas of agreement.
My practice in mediation includes individual coaching prior to and during the mediation process.
In mediation, parents bring their goals into conversation (together) and have the support of the mediators to guide the process through difficult and emotional elements in the conversations. Mediation often has a focus on communication and decision making, and can be a valuable process for developing parenting plans.
Why? (do I want a mediator)
Separation is hard. There is a lot of change. Everyone is impacted in different ways and there are often different needs and perspectives on the issues.
Working with an experienced mediator means you’re not having those emotional, complex, and difficult conversations alone. You have a compassionate guide to maintain your goals in the process, offer support when people get stuck, and to challenge negative patterns and cycles from past conflicts.
Mediators consider everyone in the family dynamic, this process is for the overall wellbeing of the whole family.
Long term, the time you spend in mediation is instilling a collaborative approach as you move forward, setting up a future for less conflict and reducing negative impacts on your child(ren).
You’re investing in your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your child(ren).
Nicole Robidoux 