1) The Power of Mediation in Navigating Family Disputes | Bonnie Douglas

In this episode, I interview Bonnie Douglas, a family mediator and separation counsellor from Smoother Separations. 

Bonnie believes that separation doesn't have to be a life sentence and aims to help clients overwhelmed by stress and losing control during the process. By mentoring parents, she provides them with effective communication tools to navigate the challenges of single parenting and prioritise their children's needs. 

Bonnie emphasises that focusing on winning in divorce leads to no one being victorious, especially not the children. Join us as we explore the critical role of mediators and when they can be beneficial in creating a better divorce experience. 

You will also learn the following:

⚉ Becoming a mediator and its influence
⚉ Impact of mediation on the parent-child dynamic
⚉ Optimal scenarios for engaging in mediation
⚉ Challenges in mediation and lack of public awareness
⚉ Differences between relationship counsellors, mediators, and family lawyers
⚉ Incorporating the child's viewpoint in mediation
⚉ Understanding maternal gatekeeping
⚉ Handling cases involving uninterested fathers, risk factors, and abuse in mediation
⚉ Evaluating the cost of mediation versus legal options

Connect with Bonnie:

⚉ Website - www.smootherseparations.com.au
⚉ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/smootherseparations/ 

Connect with Alyona:

⚉ Website - https://www.alyonacerfontyne.com.au/
⚉ Instagram - @alyonacerfontyne
⚉ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alyona.cerfontyne/
⚉ Aly’s Place - https://www.alysplace.com.au/ 

Do you have an idea for our next podcast or want to ask our experts a question about real relationships? We would love to hear from you! Please email Alyona at [e-mail], and don't forget we also have a Facebook community, Real Relationships.