Custody/ Parenting

Resolving these substantive issues is a significant goal in the mediation process, however, addressing the relationship aspects is also very important particularly since your children are involved and continuing parental interaction will exist. In addition to resolving the issues before you, our hope is that you will also leave with better communication and conflict resolution skills and without bitterness.

We will meet with you and the other parent in separate confidential intake / pre-mediation sessions of at least two hours to gain an understanding of your differing perspectives and explore approaches to resolution. Before the joint sessions begin, we will be providing homework and potentially additional coaching with a focus on your contributions to the conflict and a productive path forward.

During the joint mediation sessions that follow, we will encourage each party to share their hopes and expectations for themselves and their children. We will help you to identify and unpack the major issues contributing to the conflict and help you seek to understand and dismantle any barriers to resolution. We will guide you through forgiveness and reconciliation of personal relationship conflicts. We will encourage you to confess, where needed, and to offer forgiveness to one another. After barriers have been removed we will brainstorm with you in search of creative solutions to material issues. Lastly, we will help you arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement, which will govern the terms of child custody.

Our mediators are certified through the Judicial Council of the Virginia Supreme Court but we help with custody and other family law matters from any jurisdiction in the Washington, DC Metro area, including Virginia, Maryland, or beyond.