The Law & Mediation Office of Jenna Blackmon

How do we as mediators best serve our clients? The Center for Understanding in Conflict says bring yourself fully into the room (even if it's the "Zoom" room). We as the mediator have an incredible effect on our clients and their ability to do the work. This is an excerpt from "Trauma and Conflict," an article from The Center for Understanding in Conflict by Catherine Conner and Laurie Phuong Ertley: "Humans are open nervous systemsour eyes take in light, our ears hear sound...sand we are naturally affected and influenced by other open circuits. When we, the professionals, are settled in our bodies, our physiological responses, such as a slower and steadier heartbeat, naturally draw people to us and help them to become more settled. Furthermore, the more we feel inside our own skin, the less we will activate another person’s internal trauma network. Sometimes it may be as simple as interrupting the negative feedback cycle by everyone taking a drink of water, which creates a pause and a sense of safety as our body resets itself." The article can be accessed here: https://understandinginconflict.org/trauma-and-conflict/ There is also a webinar on Trauma and Conflict on February 17, 2021 - learn more here: https://understandinginconflict.org/ev/trauma-and-conflict/ #divorce #divorcemediation #mediation

Everyone is asking how COVID-19 will affect #divorce. My take away from this article: The pandemic has caused Court delays and logistical nightmares with the litigation process, which only exacerbates the financial strain and uncertainty families are feeling with lost jobs, school closures, etc. My advice to divorcing clients: mediate. #Mediation is more efficient, less expensive, and gives the parties control over the process and outcome of their matter. https://www.msn.com//how-covid-19-changed-the/ss-BB1cYdog

For divorced parents struggling with co-parenting: read this article from Scary Mommy. Dr. Melissa Roy shares what she learned after her own messy divorce that helped her have a healthy relationship with her co-parent. "During the breakup I clung to Paulo Coelho’s words from The Alchemist: 'If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.' I knew we had to say goodbye to the relationship we once had and find a way to make peace with the split. Onl...y then would we be free to re-imagine a new relationship that was based not on our love for each other but on our love for our children. This was critical to the survival of our family." #divorce #coparenting #divorcemediation https://www.scarymommy.com/how-i-stayed-friends-with-ex/

One challenge in mediation is steering clients away from "all-or-nothing" thinking - when they believe that there is one outcome that will solve all of their problems. This article from Psychology Today explains that this kind of thinking "prevents us from considering alternatives, balancing reason and emotion, or envisioning a future with any other possibilities; thus, we are unprepared when things don’t go our way or circumstances change." Our rigidity ultimately hurt us. W...e can, however, train ourselves to engage in flexible thinking. The article suggests: (1) Avoid using words that indicate only one good option or outcome; (2) Be careful about placing high value on particular things, people, and situations while denying the potential value of others; (3) Remember that our circumstances are often temporary. #divorce #mediation #DivorceMediation https://www.psychologytoday.com//developing-flexible-think

Forbes discusses the importance of Premarital and Postmarital agreements for business owners in this article. Personal/marital finances can be particularly complicated for these parties, so defining ownership rights in advance provides much needed clarity in situations that can otherwise become very messy. #prenup #postnup #divorce https://www.forbes.com//own-a-business-heres-what-to-con/