What people ask before they begin.

It's specifically designed for couples who don't. High conflict isn't a disqualifier — it's the norm. A skilled mediator manages the dynamic so both voices are heard without either person feeling steamrolled.

Nothing is finalized unless both parties genuinely consent. My job is to make sure no one leaves having agreed to something they don't understand or didn't choose.

Attorneys and mediators serve very different roles. Many people use both — an attorney for legal advice and a mediator for the negotiation itself. The combination typically produces better, faster results than litigating.

They are. Once you sign and the court approves it, a mediated agreement becomes a court order — carrying the same legal weight and enforceability as any order a judge issues. I recommend having your own attorney review the final document before you sign.

Mediation produces custom terms based on your family's actual needs, not formulaic splits. That flexibility is one of its biggest advantages over a court ruling. You decide what fair looks like.

A mediator is strictly neutral. I don't represent either party. My only goal is helping both people reach something they can genuinely live with and understand.

Mediation is a private, out-of-court process where you and your spouse make every decision together, with me as your neutral guide. Across a series of meetings we work through parenting, finances, property, and support, and I draft the written agreement that reflects what you decide. No judge, no courtroom — the decisions stay yours.

Most couples finish in 4 to 8 meetings across 2 to 4 months. The timeline depends on the complexity of your situation and how prepared both parties are coming in. That first conversation is a good place to set realistic expectations.

Mediation in Connecticut typically runs $1,500 to $6,000 per person ($3,000 to $12,000 combined for both spouses). Contested litigation typically costs $15,000 to $50,000 or more per person, and high-conflict custody cases may exceed $100,000 combined.

You're not required to, but I recommend it. I'm a trained mediator, not your attorney — I stay neutral and provide legal information, never legal advice. Most clients have their own review counsel look over the final agreement before signing, often just an hour or two of an attorney's time. You can also retain limited-scope counsel just to review the agreement or help with filing.

Yes. Mediation happens out of court, so there's no public record of your discussions, and under Connecticut law what's said in mediation generally can't be used as evidence if the process ends. Privacy is one of the biggest differences between mediation and a public courtroom.

Disagreement is expected and manageable. I'm trained to navigate high-conflict situations and help both parties identify what's actually at stake beneath the disagreement. Most impasses are about something other than the surface issue.

Not necessarily. We can meet together, separately, or a mix of both. When direct communication is too heated, I use shuttle mediation — each person in a separate space, with me moving between them until something takes shape. You can be productive without being in the same room.

You leave with a complete written agreement covering every decision — parenting, financial, property, and support. From there, you file it with the court: on your own using the current Connecticut forms, or with your own attorney if you'd prefer. I hand every client a step-by-step Self-Filing Packet so the process is organized and clear. Thoughtfully built mediated agreements are often approved by the court as submitted.

No. Connecticut doesn't require divorce mediators to be attorneys. My background is as a trained mediator, with nearly a decade as a therapist and nearly a decade as an educator before that. I stay neutral and don't give legal advice or file court papers — I guide the decisions and draft the agreement, then you file it yourself or with your own attorney.

Mediation isn't right when there's abuse or coercive control, a serious power imbalance one spouse won't acknowledge, or a spouse who won't participate honestly. Those situations call for the protection of the court. If you're unsure whether mediation is safe for your situation, reach out before booking and we'll figure that out first.

I'm available throughout Connecticut, in person or virtually. Reach out to discuss your situation.