Family Mediation
Families often reach out at moments of uncertainty — when important conversations feel hard to begin, or when everyone is trying, in their own way, to do the right thing.
Mediation offers a thoughtful, structured space to slow the conversation, listen more carefully, and work toward clarity together.
A Different Kind of Support
Family mediation is rooted in the Jewish belief that every person carries inherent dignity (tzelem Elohim) and that tending to our relationships is a sacred responsibility. Drawing on Jewish wisdom about justice, compassion, and care, mediation helps families navigate moments of tension with respect for every voice — without assigning blame or taking sides.
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Mediation is not a binding legal process. Participation is voluntary, and families retain full authority over outcomes. As the mediator, I remain neutral and nonjudgmental while providing structure and guidance to support honest dialogue and thoughtful decision-making. Sessions are confidential.
When Mediation Helps
Family mediation can support:
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• Families navigating decisions with an aging parent or loved one
• Adult siblings with different perspectives or communication styles
• Parents and adult children working through longstanding tension
• Families experiencing conflict around changing roles, responsibilities, or resources
• Households preparing for significant transitions or future planning
• Families seeking a calmer, more constructive way to approach difficult conversations
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Mediation can be especially helpful when emotions run high, communication breaks down, or patterns feel stuck.
How Does the Process Work?
Step 1: Getting started
We begin with a brief conversation to understand your concerns and determine whether mediation feels like the right fit. Often, I also speak individually with each family member before we meet together.
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Step 2: Preparation
Family members share background, concerns, and hopes for the process. This allows me to design a structure that supports clarity and reduces tension.
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Step 3: Mediation sessions
We meet together (in person or on Zoom) in a calm, neutral setting. I guide the conversation, ensure each person is heard, and help clarify the issues at hand.
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Step 4: Understandings and next steps
The family determines what commitments, decisions, or next steps feel appropriate. If helpful, I can provide a written summary of what was discussed and agreed upon.
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Most families begin with a time-limited process focused on a specific concern, and may choose additional sessions if needed.
Mediation Offerings
To support families with different needs and levels of readiness, mediation is offered in several structured formats.​
Fees reflect the time, preparation, and care involved in this work, and are designed to offer clarity and containment rather than open-ended commitment.
Family Decision Mediation
A focused, short-term mediation for one shared concern
Sometimes families don’t need therapy — they need help making a decision without causing further harm.​ This time-limited mediation is designed for families who are stuck around a specific issue and want a structured, respectful way to talk it through.
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This may be a good fit if your family is:
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Navigating decisions about an aging parent or loved one
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Struggling with communication around a particular concern
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Trying to move forward without escalating conflict
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What this includes:
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One individual intake conversation with the primary contact
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Two joint mediation sessions OR one joint session and one or two additional individual sessions
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A written summary of decisions, understandings, and next steps
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Scope:
This process focuses on one defined concern rather than revisiting a family’s entire history.
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Flat fee for the full process
$1,800
Stuck Family Reset
For families where conflict keeps escalating
Some families sense that something important is at risk — a relationship, a sense of trust, or the ability to move forward at all. This mediation offers space to slow things down, interrupt unhelpful patterns, and clarify what is possible next.
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This may be appropriate when:
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Conversations repeatedly break down
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Emotions run high and trust feels fragile
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Family members are on the brink of disengaging
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What this includes:
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One individual intake session
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Two additional individual conversations
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Two joint mediation sessions
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One follow-up session several weeks later
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Purpose:
This process is not about fixing relationships.
It is about helping families speak honestly, set boundaries, and make decisions with greater clarity and dignity.
Flat fee for the full process
$3,000
Family Mediation Consultation
A first step — without commitment
Not every family is ready to begin mediation. This consultation offers a structured conversation to help determine whether mediation would be helpful at all.
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This may be useful if:
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One or more family members are unsure about mediation
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You want guidance before committing to a longer process
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A professional has suggested mediation as a possibility
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What this includes:
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One 90-minute facilitated conversation
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Clarification of the issues at hand
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Thoughtful guidance about next steps — with or without mediation
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Fee:
$400 (Applied toward a mediation package if you continue)
Request a Conversation
If you are wondering whether mediation may be helpful for your family, I invite you to reach out for an initial conversation.We can talk briefly about what’s bringing your family to this moment, and whether mediation feels like a supportive next step.
Newton, MA
617-620-2172
