Confidential Mediation Services
A child-centered, court-free path to a parenting plan that actually works. In Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, & Yolo Counties.
Parenting through separation is one of the hardest things you can ever do—not just logistically, but emotionally.
You’re trying to make the best decisions for your child while navigating grief, frustration, and a relationship that may feel strained or completely broken. It’s overwhelming, and the last thing you want is to drag your family through court and let a stranger decide your child’s future.
That’s where I come in. Confidential mediation gives you structure, support, and a neutral space to focus on what matters most: your child’s well-being and your family’s future.
This service might be a good fit if:
You’re separating and want to make child-centered decisions without court involvement
You’re committed to creating a safe, stable parenting dynamic for your kids
You want to minimize stress, fear, and confusion for your children during and after divorce
You’d rather invest in a parenting plan than spend thousands battling in court
You want a plan that’s tailored to your family—not a cookie-cutter template
Even if you don’t agree on much, you both want your kids to be okay
How it Works
Confidential mediation is a structured, straightforward process with your child’s best interest at the center. Here’s how we get from conflict to clarity:
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We’ll start with a short consultation to make sure mediation is the right fit for you and your family. This is your chance to ask questions, talk through concerns, and understand what to expect from the process.
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After we confirm mediation is appropriate, you’ll pay a flat retainer to begin. That way, you don’t have to worry about hourly billing or hidden costs and can focus fully on creating your parenting plan. The retainer covers all of our meetings, review of any pertinent documents, contacting relevant collaterals if necessary, and a full report with parenting plan that will be ready to submit to the court.
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You’ll meet with me individually and together on a weekly or biweekly basis. These sessions are practical and solution-focused—we’re planning for the future, not rehashing the past.
Together, we’ll cover:
Parenting schedules that are age-appropriate, realistic, and keep you and your kids’ future in mind (including pick-ups, drop-offs, and day-to-day routines that can evolve as your family does)
Decision-making frameworks for school, medical care, religious upbringing, and more
Holiday and vacation schedules that are clear, fair, and sustainable
Emergency planning to prepare for unexpected situations or changes in circumstances
Provisions for unique family dynamics, including special needs, chronic illness, or parental disability
Conflict resolution strategies to guide future disagreements
Flexibility and freedom to adjust parenting schedules as you see fit, knowing that if communication breaks down, you have a solid agreement you can fall back on
This method bypasses the overthinking mind and taps into deeper emotional and physical processing, allowing you to heal on a level that words alone sometimes can’t reach. If you’ve felt like talking doesn’t get to the root, Brainspotting may be a better fit.
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Once your parenting plan is complete, it’s ready to be filed with the court. You’ll leave this process with a legally sound agreement that reflects your family’s real needs—not a cookie-cutter template, and not something handed down by a judge.
WALK AWAY WITH…
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A parenting plan you built together—centered on your child, not conflict
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Confidence that divorce doesn’t have to define your co-parenting future
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A model for communicating and problem-solving post-divorce
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Tools to protect your child from unnecessary conflict, fear, or instability
You don’t have to go to war to protect your kids. You just need a solid plan.
FAQs
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This service may not be the right fit if:
There’s a history or allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, or child sexual abuse
If one or both parents are unwilling to compromise on major issues like custody or parenting time
If the level of conflict is so high that meaningful communication simply isn’t possible
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No, but you do need to be willing to try. You don’t have to like each other or agree on everything. I recognize that and respect that, but you do need to be able to sit at the table, stay focused on your child, and be open to compromise.
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Yes, if your parenting plan is finalized and filed with the court, it becomes a legal agreement. Once the plan becomes a court order, it holds the same weight as a plan decided by a judge—but it’s one you created, based on your family’s specific needs.
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Mediation isn’t a battle. It’s a way to work things out together, with support. Instead of each parent hiring their own attorney to "fight" for them in court, you work together with a neutral third party (me) to create an agreement that prioritizes your child. It’s typically faster, less expensive, and far less stressful. This means you are in complete control of your parenting plan, and everything in your parenting plan is agreed upon. Because I do not make recommendations to the court, the people who know your family best—you—are empowered to make the decisions that are best for your children.
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We will work together to see how far were can get on a compromise. However, in Confidential Mediation, I am NOT a recommending counselor. If you can’t agree, it does not going into the parenting plan.