Why Divorce Mediation?
More and more professionals throughout multiple fields are coming to the conclusion that there has to be a better way for couples to get divorced than going to court and draining their savings. Attorneys, therapists, accountants and others are starting to work together to provide constructive, cost-effective solutions that help not only the couple, but their children as well. A divorce mediator can be the focal point of this process by helping the couple work through necessary issues and emotional obstacles while also coordinating with the above-mentioned professionals (for more detail please feel free to look over either Mediation FAQs or Benefits of Mediation).
We are very proud of the network of professionals we work with in order to help couples work through their divorce in a reasonable, healthy and practical manner. And we are always open to extending this network to include additional professionals who share similar approaches and objectives. Please feel free to contact us to discuss this further.
Why Davis Mediation?
We realize that your clients are very important to you. They are the lifeblood of your business and the reason you work so hard to provide high quality services. Therefore we also realize that you need to feel comfortable with and confident in the professionals you refer to. So, why should you feel comfortable referring a client to Davis Mediation? Quite simply it is because we are here to assist your clients in working through specific issues with highly professional expertise just like you are – it is as simple as that (for more detail please feel free to look over About Davis Mediation) . Please feel free to call or e-mail us for more information, to request a list of client comments/recommendations, to set up a lunch meeting or to discuss particular issues or concerns.
Below are some thoughts geared toward particular professions regarding why you might consider referring your clients to Davis Mediation.
Therapists
As you have probably seen in other pages on this site, Barry graduated from Pepperdine with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy (Class of 1996) and completed his internship with Airport Marina Counseling Services in Westchester. Although he did choose not to become a full-time therapist, he constantly utilizes the skills he developed in this program, including a significant understanding of and appreciation for the dynamics of family relationships and how they often play out in stressful situations such as divorce, in his work with divorcing couples.
After completing an additional M.A. in Conflict Management in order to more fully understand the strategies, methods and interventions that are most effective with people in conflict, Barry opened a private mediation practice specializing in divorce mediation. With an additional 300 hours of post-graduate seminars and courses, primarily in family law and family mediation, and over 150 mediations completed, he combines a significant knowledge of human dynamics with a real-world understanding of what actually happens in a litigated divorce.
In fact, this understanding is one of the things that lead him to specialize in divorce mediation. Having seen firsthand the destruction that a litigated divorce can cause (not just to the couple, but to innocent children as well), he is passionately committed to helping couples constructively address their issues through mediation. The issues that need to be addressed during a divorce are often complex and highly-charged. Yet with the right balance of structure, effective communication and mutually beneficial compromise, couples can navigate this difficult period with a minimum of discomfort and disruption. We would be privileged to assist your clients in working through their divorce in this manner.
Attorneys
We believe that there are two main reasons that attorneys should consider divorce mediation for many of their cases: 1. To make their clients lives better; and 2. To make their own professional life better. This may seem like a bold statement (and it is), but if we are going to be honest it has a lot of validity. The attorney burn-out rate and client dissatisfaction rate for family law are among the highest in the field. It has become apparent that highly contentious litigated cases take their toll on all involved.
And while some cases do need to be litigated, we believe that the vast majority are excellent candidates for mediation. Especially now that mediation is evolving so that the use of other professionals is becoming more common, mediation is not just for couples who can ‘play nice’. Through the use of advanced mediation techniques as well as forensic accountants, custody evaluators and other professionals, mediation can be very effective even in more challenging cases. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you should you have questions or concerns.
We welcome the opportunity to work with attorneys and the expertise they provide to their clients. In fact, we work with attorneys on a weekly basis in our Superior and Appellate Court cases and highly recommend our non-represented clients to work with a consulting attorney. We have found that attorneys who are firmly grounded in their client’s best interests are often our best ally in helping clients achieve a mutually beneficial settlement. Please feel free to call or e-mail us for additional information or to request a list of attorney references.
Financial Professionals
As you have probably noticed, financial professionals are playing a much more significant role in many divorces these days. We believe this is a very positive step and we strongly support the use of financial professionals in divorce mediation for many reasons. Some of the most significant reasons include:
- The very fundamental fact that two out of the big three issues that need to be addressed in divorce (1. Division of Property, 2. Support and 3. Custody) are financial matters.
- Properly addressing both the short and long term financial needs of separating spouses often requires specific financial expertise and planning.
- Today many divorcing couples have a variety of asset types which makes valuing and dividing these assets increasingly complex. Financial professionals are trained to address these issues and can help a couple sort through their property in an organized, practical manner.
We would welcome the opportunity to work together to help your clients through their divorce. While we are definitely not financial professionals, we have over 15 years business experience and understand the importance of properly assessing the potential ramifications, both positive and negative, of financial decisions. Please feel free to call or e-mail us for more information or to discuss a particular client’s issues or concerns.
|
or call (310) 318-3575
