There is no mandatory governing body that governs mediators. For example, no-one can just call themselves a ‘lawyer’ – you have to go to law school then gain admission to the Law Society of Ontario. Of course, having a governing body does not mean that the lawyer is competent – but it increases the odds. You do not have this assurance with mediators. Anyone can call themselves a mediator. There are loose associations of mediators but no mandatory governing body. There are ‘mediators’ who take a 12 hour course, throw up a fancy website, then pronounce themselves competent mediators. We have seen disastrous results come out of these fiascos that take years to try to unravel.
So, you need to ask yourself; who are you selecting to assist your family through a once in a lifetime critically important event? You best choose wisely. This decision will have repercussions for the rest of the time that the family members are on the planet. Darrin and his team have been leading families through the divorce transition for over 25 years. Darrin and his spouse Rachel have well over 50 combined years experience.
The analogy we use is that of a mountain guide. Separation is like being on one side of the mountain and needing to get to the other side of the mountain. You can try it on your own – not advisable. It is better to have a guide. You want a guide who has been going through this mountain pass for decades, in all conditions and situations – who can be trusted. We are very experienced guides – we have seen it all.
Darrin has been practicing family law for 25 years. He has seen it all. He started doing a lot of court work in the early years. Anyone who has been involved in that system knows that is not the way to go. There are very few files that should end up in a courtroom. Mediation is the best alternative for the vast majority of couples who separate. Use one qualified professional. Work together as opposed to against each other. Darrin can tell you what each of your lawyers would say to you – if you want that information. We are laser focussed on resolution. What is a solution here that works for all?
We cover a lot of information during our mediation sessions. I have found that it can be very educational for the parties as we go over a lot of issues and we create the agreement together. We go over many mundane topics but that is also beneficial because it reduces the chances of miscommunication later.