Most mediators in Massachusetts are competent, ethical, and well-meaning. If you're choosing between three of us, you're probably not choosing between good and bad — you're choosing between approaches.

What's specific to mine is the structure. Most mediations are organized around moving through a checklist of issues — parenting, finances, support, agreement. The work I do is organized around something earlier than that: the conditions that have to be in place for either of you to think clearly about any of those issues at all. Pace, attention, room to breathe. The substantive work happens inside that container, not in spite of it. Agreements built this way tend to hold, because the people who built them weren't operating from a depleted or reactive state when they made the decisions.

The second piece is what I bring to the room. After twenty-seven years in family law — much of it in high-conflict and crisis cases — I learned that the legal process itself dysregulates people, and that the most regulated person in the room shapes what's possible. A significant part of how I've trained over the last decade has been outside the law: in nervous system work, somatic practice, and trauma-informed approaches. I don't deploy that training as a service on clients in sessions. It shapes how I hold the structure, how I read what's happening in the room, and how I know when to slow down. It's experience that shapes how I work.

That's the practice. Legal substance, delivered inside a container that's designed to let people actually use it.

Mediation is a smarter, calmer, and far more cost-effective way to divorce — especially when you work with someone who understands both the legal system and the emotional system driving the conflict.

Here’s the real difference:

• Mediation costs a fraction of litigation
Mediation with me is typically under $10,000 for the full process.
Traditional litigation? Easily $25,000 to $100,000 or more per person.
That’s money that could stay in your family’s future, not disappear into a courtroom battle.

• You stay in control, not the court
In litigation, judges — who don’t know your life or your values — make decisions for you.
In mediation, you and your partner make the decisions. You design solutions that actually fit your real life.

• We address the emotional side, not bulldoze through it
Litigation often ignores the underlying emotional dynamics, which is exactly why so many agreements fall apart later.
My integrative mediation approach includes nervous system regulation, emotional wellness tools, and structured communication support. When you’re calmer, clearer, and less reactive, you make better decisions with less chaos.

• Better for your mental health and long-term outcomes
Litigation is adversarial by design. It fuels anxiety, conflict, and long-term resentment.
Mediation fosters communication, stability, and dignity — which leads to healthier co-parenting, smoother transitions, and agreements that actually work over time.

• Better for your wallet, your wellbeing, and your future
Mediation saves time, money, and emotional wear-and-tear. You walk away with a fair, legally sound agreement created in a process that protects your peace.

In short:
Litigation drains you.
Mediation empowers you.
And my approach makes the entire journey more humane, grounded, and financially sane.Item description

Most people are nervous before our first conversation. That's normal. We start there.

Sessions are two hours. We meet either in person at my office in Amesbury or on Zoom — your choice. The first session opens with a brief moment to land in the room before we get into the substantive work. Not a meditation, not anything performative — just a few minutes for each of you to settle, and for me to get a sense of where you're each starting from that day.

From there, we work through whatever is on the agenda for that session. The pace is unhurried but not slow. When a hard conversation needs to happen, we have it — and we have it carefully. When someone needs a pause, we pause. If tension rises between the two of you, I'll slow things down before the conversation gets ahead of either of you. None of this is theatrical. Most of what I'm doing is invisible by design.

Between sessions, I'm available to either of you individually — to think through something specific, to prepare for a difficult conversation coming up, or just to talk through whatever's keeping you up at night. That individual support is part of the flat fee, not an add-on.

What clients tell me, more often than anything else, is that the sessions feel different than they expected. Less adversarial. Less hurried. Steadier. They tell me they leave each session knowing what was decided, what's still open, and what they're each doing before we meet again. That clarity, more than anything specific I say or do in the room, is what people are paying for.

I’m based in Greater Newburyport and Amesbury Massachusetts, and serve clients throughout the state both in person and online.

For mediation cases I work exclusively with clients who are divorcing in Massachusetts, as those services require state-specific legal knowledge and compliance.

Yes. In mediation, you have the option to bring in additional professionals to support you and your partner. Not every case needs a full team, but when used intentionally, this model creates clarity, reduces stress, and promotes collaboration instead of conflict.

The team-based approach is a healthier alternative to the traditional adversarial system, which often fuels misunderstanding, escalates emotions, and drains financial resources. Instead of pitting people against each other, we build a supportive structure around both of you so you can make informed, grounded decisions.

Here’s what a team may include (only as needed):

• Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFAs)
To help you understand budgets, assets, long-term financial impact, retirement concerns, and what “fair” actually looks like in real numbers.

• Certified Divorce Lending Professionals (CDLPs)
To clarify mortgage options, home equity questions, and the lending realities that affect whether someone can keep or refinance the home.

• Independent Attorneys
Each partner may choose to consult with their own attorney for legal advice while still staying in mediation. This protects individual interests without triggering a court battle.

• Divorce Coaches, Therapists, or Other Specialists
For emotional support, communication tools, co-parenting guidance, or regulation strategies when things feel overwhelming.

Why clients choose this model

The team-based option strengthens mediation. It keeps the process collaborative, informed, and steady. Instead of fighting it out in an adversarial system that often destroys relationships and depletes resources, you get a coordinated support network that helps you move through divorce with dignity and clarity.

This approach leads to:
• Better communication
• More stable emotional decision-making
• Fair, sustainable agreements
• Lower legal costs
• Less stress and chaos
• A process rooted in compassion and respect

You don’t need a village for every divorce.
But when you do, you deserve one designed for collaboration, not conflict.

Collaborative Law is a structured, out-of-court divorce process where both partners hire specially trained collaborative attorneys and commit—through a signed agreement—to resolve all issues without litigation. It is a cooperative, problem-solving model designed to protect dignity, reduce conflict, and create sustainable agreements while avoiding court entirely.

How Collaborative Law works:
• Each partner has their own collaboratively trained attorney
• You all sign a “no court” agreement (if the process breaks down, both attorneys must withdraw)
• Meetings happen as a team, not as adversaries
• Neutral professionals are brought in as needed—such as a financial specialist, divorce coach, or child specialist
• Everyone works toward transparent communication and mutually acceptable outcomes

How Collaborative Law differs from the team-based mediation approach

While both models promote collaboration and reduce conflict, they differ in structure and role definitions.

1. Mediator vs. Attorneys
In Mediation:
You and your partner work with one neutral mediator (me). I guide the process, provide legal information, support emotional regulation, and help create fair agreements. Attorneys may be consulted individually, but they aren’t required.

In Collaborative Law:
Each partner has their own collaborative attorney present at every session. The mediator role doesn’t exist; the attorneys guide the process together.

2. Required team vs. optional team
Mediation:
The team approach is optional. You bring in financial specialists or coaches only if needed.

Collaborative Law:
The team is more built-in. Most cases include:
• Neutral financial expert
• Neutral divorce coach
• Child specialist (when applicable)

3. The commitment to stay out of court
Mediation:
There is no formal “no court” contract. Couples can choose mediation even if emotions are high or uncertainty exists.

Collaborative Law:
Everyone signs a binding agreement: no one can go to court with their collaborative attorney. If litigation becomes necessary, both attorneys must withdraw and you start over with new counsel.

4. Cost structure
Mediation:
Typically the most cost-effective option, often under $10,000 total.

Collaborative Law:
More structured and attorney-driven, which can increase cost, but still significantly less expensive and less damaging than litigation.

Which approach is right for you?

Choose Mediation if:
• You want the most cost-effective, streamlined path
• You prefer one neutral professional guiding the process
• You value emotional regulation and holistic support
• You want flexibility and a calm, steady environment

Choose Collaborative Law if:
• You want full legal advocacy while still avoiding court
• You want a more built-in team supporting your family
• You want a structured, transparent framework with attorneys in the room

Both models prioritize dignity, respect, and future-focused outcomes.
The right choice depends on the level of support, structure, and advocacy you and your partner need.

Absolutely not. You do not need to be best friends, getting along, or even particularly comfortable with each other for mediation to work. The only true requirement is that both parties are willing to come to the table, engage in honest conversation, and work toward an out-of-court resolution.

I fully expect conflict. I expect disagreement. That’s normal. Divorce is one of the most emotionally charged experiences of adult life, and pretending otherwise only sets people up to fail.

My process is designed for real humans in real emotional situations.

Here’s what that looks like:

• We don’t need harmony, we need willingness
You don’t have to agree on everything. You just have to agree to try. If both of you are willing to engage, I can guide you through the rest.

• Conflict doesn’t derail the process — it informs it
I create space to hold the hard conversations, either together or in separate sessions when needed. This helps diffuse tension so you can make clearer decisions.

• We don’t bypass emotions
Rushing to an agreement by avoiding the emotional reality almost always leads to fragile outcomes. When emotions are ignored, people often end up right back in court — the very thing you were trying to avoid.

• We work at a pace that supports clarity, not reactivity
Through nervous system regulation tools, breathwork, somatic grounding, and structured communication, I help you stay centered enough to make decisions that hold up over time.

• You don’t have to be amicable. You just have to be willing.
If you can commit to engaging in the process with honesty and a desire to stay out of court, I can help you move through the conflict toward a fair, sustainable resolution.

Mediation isn’t about perfection.
It’s about possibility — and the willingness to build a future without destroying each other in the process.

The first step is a free 30-minute consultation. It's a real conversation, not a sales call. The point is for both of us to get a sense of whether this is the right fit — whether mediation is the right path for your situation, and whether I'm the right person to walk it with you.

The consultation can happen one of two ways. Many people choose to do it separately, meeting with me one-on-one before any joint conversation. That gives each of you space to ask the questions you might not be ready to raise in front of your spouse yet. Other couples prefer to start with a joint conversation from the beginning. Either is fine — there's no wrong choice.

During the call, we'll talk through your situation, what you're hoping for, and how I work. You can ask anything you want. I'll be honest about whether I think mediation is right for you, including if I think you'd be better served by a different approach. Chemistry matters in this work. You want to trust the person guiding you through it, and I want to make sure I can support you in the way you actually need.

If we decide to move forward, we sign a Mediation Services Agreement, you each complete an online intake, and we schedule individual prep sessions before our first joint meeting. From there, the work begins.

You can book the consultation directly on the home page. There's no obligation, no pressure, and no follow-up sales pitch. If it's the right fit, we go from there. If it isn't, you'll leave with a clearer sense of what is.

Mediation and traditional legal representation are two very different paths.

Mediation:
• You and your partner work with one neutral mediator (me)
• You stay in full control of the decisions
• It is significantly more cost-effective
• The focus is collaboration, clarity, and emotional regulation
• The goal is a mutually agreeable settlement without court

Hiring individual attorneys/litigation:
• Each partner hires their own lawyer
• Decision-making shifts toward the attorneys and the court
• Costs rise quickly (often $25,000–$100,000+ per person)
• The process becomes adversarial
• The emotional toll is much higher

My integrative mediation model gives you the clarity and legal structure you need — without escalating conflict or draining your resources.

Yes. Mediation is absolutely a legally recognized path to divorce in Massachusetts. While the mediation sessions themselves are confidential and not binding, the Separation Agreement we create together becomes legally binding once it’s approved by the Court.

Here’s how it works:
• You and your partner work with me to craft a fair, comprehensive Separation Agreement.
• I prepare the mediation paperwork for filing.
• Once submitted and approved by a Massachusetts judge, your Agreement becomes a court-enforceable order.

This gives you the best of both worlds:
• A calm, collaborative process
• A legally sound, binding outcome
• No courtroom battle

Mediation helps you stay in control while still creating an agreement that holds up legally.

Yes. In fact, most couples who choose mediation are not “getting along.” Tension, frustration, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity are normal parts of the divorce process, and they do not disqualify you from mediation.

You don’t need harmony.
You need willingness.

Here’s what I offer:
• A calm, structured process
• Somatic + nervous system regulation tools to reduce overwhelm
• Clear guidance through tough conversations
• Space to address emotions without letting them run the show

We don’t bypass the emotional reality.
We use it to build better, more durable agreements. When emotions are ignored or rushed, people often end up back in court later — the very thing you’re trying to avoid.

Mediation works even when things feel hard, as long as both partners are willing to engage.

Absolutely. Many people meet with me individually long before their partner is ready — or willing — to participate in mediation.

If your partner isn’t on board yet, you can still work with me through:
• Strategy Sessions for legal clarity
• Divorce Coaching for emotional support and regulation
• Guidance on how to approach your partner about mediation
• Help understanding your options and next steps

Sometimes one person needs support getting grounded before the couple can move into mediation. Sometimes mediation isn’t the right fit yet, and individual coaching or legal strategy gives you the clarity you need.

You do not have to wait for your partner to start getting support.
And often, once one person stabilizes and understands the benefits, the other becomes more open to the process.

Most couples complete the work in three to six months. Where any particular case lands inside that range depends on two things: the complexity of what we're sorting through, and how ready both of you are to make decisions as they come up.

Some couples move quickly. They've been thinking about this for a while, the financial picture is relatively straightforward, and they're ready to work through the substantive decisions without needing time between sessions to sit with things. Three months is reasonable for them.

Other couples need more time. There's more to untangle financially, or one or both of you needs space between sessions to process what's been discussed before moving forward. Six months — sometimes a little longer — is reasonable for them.

Neither version is better than the other. The goal isn't speed; it's a durable agreement that both of you can actually live with. Forcing decisions before either of you is ready is one of the ways agreements get made that don't hold. Part of how I work is being willing to slow down when slowing down is what the situation calls for.

The typical shape of the process: a free consultation, three to five mediation sessions, individual support between sessions as needed, drafting of the Separation Agreement and supporting documents, and filing with the court. Most of what determines the overall timeline is the spacing between sessions, which we set based on what each of you needs.

Yes, if you want me to. The way I price the work makes it a two-stage choice.

The flat fee for mediation is $4,000. That covers everything we do together to reach an agreement — the free consultation, individual prep sessions, joint mediation sessions, individual support between sessions, and a written Memorandum of Understanding capturing every decision you've made. At the end of that process, you have a complete record of your agreement.

If you'd like me to also prepare the formal legal paperwork, that's an additional $2,000. That includes drafting your Separation Agreement, the financial statements, and every other document required for filing with the court. Every term reflects what you actually decided in mediation — nothing added, nothing softened, nothing lost in translation.

Most couples choose to have me handle the drafting. The reason is straightforward: I was in the room when you made every decision. I know what you meant, what you negotiated, and what mattered to each of you. Translating that into legal documents is its own piece of work, and having the person who facilitated the agreement also write it down reduces the risk of anything getting lost between the conversation and the paper.

Some couples prefer to take the Memorandum of Understanding and have their own attorneys handle the drafting from there. That works too, and the MOU is built to be a complete record of your agreement so it translates cleanly into whatever drafting process you choose.

Court filing fees and any outside professional services — financial advisors, lenders, independent legal review — are not included in either flat fee.

Absolutely. Mediation is one of the best approaches for parents because it reduces conflict and promotes long-term stability for your family.

Together, we will work through:
• Parenting plans
• Parenting schedules
• Decision-making responsibilities
• Communication guidelines
• Financial arrangements related to the children

Because my approach integrates nervous system regulation and emotional wellness tools, parents are better able to stay grounded, communicate clearly, and make decisions from a place of stability rather than stress.

This sets the foundation for healthier co-parenting — and agreements that are realistic, durable, and child-centered.

Yes. I offer virtual divorce mediation for clients across Massachusetts. Online mediation is just as effective as in-person sessions and often even more comfortable for couples, especially when emotions are high.

You can join from your home, office, or anywhere you feel grounded. All sessions are confidential, structured, and supported with the same nervous-system-informed tools I use in person.
Virtual mediation is a great option for:
• Busy schedules
• Parents juggling childcare
• Couples living separately
• Anyone who feels calmer meeting from their own space

You don’t need to be local to Newburyport to work with me. As long as your divorce is being filed in Massachusetts, online mediation is a seamless and effective option.

It’s normal to hit moments of tension or gridlock. I expect it, and I’m skilled at navigating it.
We use tools such as:
•Separate sessions (caucusing)
•Somatic and nervous system support
•Reframing and communication strategies
•Financial or legal clarity when needed

Most couples work through the stuck points and reach an agreement.

If mediation ultimately isn’t the right fit, you still leave with:
• Clarity about your priorities
• A deeper understanding of your financial and parenting needs
• Tools to regulate your emotions and communicate more effectively

You can then transition into Collaborative Law or attorney-led negotiations with far more grounding and direction than when you started. Nothing is wasted.