Mediation Services
You're here because something has to change, and you want it to change as carefully as possible.
Most people who reach this page have been thinking about divorce for a long time before they were ready to look into it. They've talked to a friend, or a therapist, or no one. They've started to consider what it might mean – for their finances, for their children, for who they'll be on the other side. And they've landed on the same question: is there a way to do this that doesn't make everything worse?
Mediation, done well, is that way. A quieter, more deliberate process that lets you and your spouse make the decisions yourselves – with structure, pacing, and legal clarity – before any of it goes near a courtroom.
This is what I do, and it's all I do.
WHAT MEDIATION ACTUALLY IS
Most people come to this page with one of two assumptions: that the mediator decides things for you, or that mediation is only for couples who've already figured everything out.
Neither is true.
I'm a neutral third party. I don't represent either of you, and I don't decide anything. My job is to sit with both of you and help you build an agreement that you both understand, both actively chose, and both can live with — not just on signing day, but in the years that follow.
That's why mediation works. The agreements last because you built them. Not a judge. Not an attorney negotiating on your behalf. You did the work, with structure and support, and you walked away with something you both shaped.
That's a different kind of foundation to build the next chapter on.
WHY COUPLES CHOOSE MEDIATION
A litigated divorce in Massachusetts can cost $25,000 to well over $100,000 – and take years. Mediation typically resolves in months, at a fraction of the cost, and without the public record. But the financial and time savings are only part of the picture. The deeper reason couples choose mediation is what it protects. Your privacy stays intact. Your decisions stay yours. Your children, if you have them, are spared the spectacle of watching their parents fight through attorneys. And critically, the relationship between you and your spouse – which still has to function for years afterward, especially as co-parents – doesn't have to be torched in the process of dissolving the marriage. Mediation gives you control, flexibility, and the chance to design something that actually fits your family rather than something forced into a court template.
WHAT MAKES MY MEDIATION DIFFERENT
I've been in this field for 27 years. The majority of that time was spent in high-conflict, crisis, and domestic violence cases – the hardest the system handles. What I learned over those decades is something most lawyers don't talk about: the legal process itself is dysregulating. Every filing, every email, every joint meeting winds the nervous system tighter. By the time most couples sit down to negotiate, neither party can think clearly. Decisions made in that state don't hold. So I built a practice around a different principle: the most regulated nervous system in the room shapes the process. In practical terms, that means I bring nervous system-informed practice into the mediation itself. Sessions open with body awareness – breathwork or a brief grounding practice. We track anxiety and capacity throughout – I'll often check in with a simple 1-to-10 scale before we start a hard conversation. When one of you needs a moment, we pause. When the process needs to slow down, we slow down. When tension between you starts to escalate, I have tools to bring the room back to baseline before we continue. This isn't softness. It's strategy. Regulated people make better decisions. They listen more accurately. They negotiate from clarity instead of survival. And the agreements they build hold up – because they weren't made under threat. Then I go into the process, but we can review that later.
THE PROCESS - STAGE BY STAGE
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This is a 30-minute conversation to find out whether mediation — and specifically the way I do mediation — is a good fit for you. It's not a legal analysis of your case. It's a chance for you to ask questions, get a feel for how I work, and decide whether this approach matches what you're looking for. The conversation can happen two ways:
Separately. I meet with each of you one-on-one. Many people choose this option — it gives each of you space to ask questions you might not want to raise in front of your spouse yet.
Together. Some couples prefer to do the consultation jointly from the start. That's an option too, and there's no wrong choice here.
There's no pressure to move forward. Most people leave the consultation with a clearer picture of their options regardless of whether they choose to work with me.
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If we decide to work together, we sign a Mediation Services Agreement and you each complete an online intake. Then two things happen in parallel:
Individual prep sessions. I meet with each of you one-on-one before our first joint session — to prepare for the process, and to give you space to raise anything you'd rather discuss privately first.
Document gathering. We begin pulling together what we'll need: financials, asset information, anything relevant to the decisions ahead.
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This is where the work happens. Most cases reach a complete agreement in three joint sessions, though the flat fee includes up to five — so there's room to breathe if you need it. The work happens on two tracks:
Joint sessions. Both of you, in the room (virtual or in person), working through the substantive decisions: parenting, finances, division of assets, support, anything else specific to your situation. Sessions are paced and structured — we don't rush, and we don't grind.
Individual support, between sessions. I work with each of you one-on-one as needed — for nervous system support, to think through a specific issue, or to prepare for a difficult conversation that's coming up next. All of it included in the flat fee.
Sessions are scheduled for two hours. That's deliberate. The nervous system can typically hold sustained, high-stakes conversation for about that long before capacity drops and decisions start to suffer. Two hours gives us enough time to ground in, work through what's on the agenda, and close out with a clear plan for what each of you is doing before we meet again. More than that, and we'd be making decisions in a depleted state — which is exactly what we're trying to avoid.
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Once you've reached agreement on everything, I prepare a written record of what you've decided — a Memorandum of Understanding that captures the substance of your parenting plan, your financial division, your support arrangements, and anything else specific to your situation.
You each review it carefully. We walk through anything that's unclear, in plain language. Nothing is final until both of you understand every section and actively confirm it reflects what you actually agreed to.
The MOU is the deliverable of the mediation work itself. What happens from here depends on which path you choose for the next stage.
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IReaching agreement is one thing. Translating that agreement into the documents the court needs is its own piece of work, and you have two choices for how it happens.
Many couples ask me to draft the legal documents. If that's what you decide, I prepare the Separation Agreement, financial statements, and all accompanying paperwork for filing. Every term reflects what you actually decided in mediation — nothing added, nothing softened, nothing lost in translation. There's an additional flat fee for this work, separate from the mediation fee. You can read more about how it's priced in the Fees section.
Some couples prefer to have their own attorneys handle the drafting from the MOU. That works too. We'll talk about which approach makes the most sense for you when the time comes — there's no decision needed up front, and the path can be chosen once you see what the work involves.
Either way, what you sign is your agreement, in your words and your decisions — not a template you're being asked to sign.
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Once the documents are complete and signed, we prepare for filing and your court hearing — what to expect, who you'll see, how long it takes.
By the time you walk into the courthouse, there are no surprises. You know what's happening. You know what to expect. The hearing is largely a formality — the legal acknowledgment of an agreement you've already built.
And then it's done.
WHO THIS IS FOR. AND WHO IT ISN’T.
I work best with couples who have decided – together or independently – that they want to end the marriage with as much dignity, efficiency, and humanity as possible. Couples who care about the cost (financial and emotional), about preserving what can be preserved, and about getting through this in a way that lets them rebuild on the other side.
This is right for you if:
You both want to divorce without litigation, even if you don't agree on every detail yet
You're willing to sit in the same room (virtually or in person) and work through hard conversations with structure and support
You care about how this process affects your nervous system, your children, and your future
You want a process that respects your time and your money
This isn't the right fit if:
You want to "win" the divorce or make your spouse pay for what happened
You're looking for someone to take your side or argue your position
You want me to make decisions for you
You aren't able or willing to engage in the conversation, even with support
If you're not sure where you fall, that's what the consultation is for. We can figure it out together.
Fees
$4,000 flat fee for mediation.
That covers everything we do together to reach an agreement: the free consultation, individual prep sessions before we start, the joint mediation sessions, all individual nervous system support work in between, and a written record of every decision you've made.
$2,000 additional flat fee if you want me to draft the legal paperwork.
That covers your Separation Agreement, financial statements, all accompanying court documents, and filing preparation. Every term reflects what you actually decided in mediation — nothing added, nothing softened, nothing lost in translation.
Most couples choose to have me handle both pieces. The reason is straightforward: I was in the room when you made every decision, and translating those decisions into the legal documents is its own piece of work. Having the person who facilitated the agreement also draft it reduces the risk of anything getting lost between the conversation and the paper.
Some couples prefer to have their own attorneys handle the drafting. That works too — we'll talk about which approach makes sense for you as we go.
No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. No add-ons.
I price this way on purpose. One of the most dysregulating parts of a traditional divorce is financial uncertainty — not knowing what next month's legal bill will be, watching the meter run during every phone call, second-guessing whether to ask a question because of what it might cost. A flat fee removes that. You know what this costs. You can plan around it. Your nervous system gets one less unknown to track.
Court filing fees and any outside professional services — financial advisors, lenders, independent legal review — are not included in either flat fee.
How to Choose a Divorce Mediator
Try the free course: Nervous System Regulation During Divorce.
A self-paced introduction to the practices that can help you understand and practice nervous system regulation. Useful whether you end up working with me or not.
Is Mediation Right for You?
If you’re wondering whether divorce mediation is a good fit – or if your spouse isn’t yet on board – download our free quiz to explore your options.
Not ready to schedule? Start here.
If you're early in the process — still figuring out whether divorce is the path, or whether mediation is right for you — there are a few ways to get a feel for how I work without committing to a consultation.
Take the Mediation Quiz. A short, honest assessment to help you think through whether mediation is the right fit for your situation.
Disclaimer
While I am a licensed attorney, I do not provide legal representation or legal advice in my role as a mediator or coach. I serve as a neutral third party and support provider. The services offered are educational and supportive in nature and do not substitute for legal counsel. Parties are encouraged to seek independent legal advice to fully understand their rights and responsibilities.
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