MettāMEDIATION - Family Mediation & Parenting Coordination - AJ Jakubowska

02/04/2026

QUESTION: during Family Mediation, will a Family Mediator give us legal advice?
ANSWER: no - even though your Family Mediator may be a lawyer by training, he/she/they are unable to give either you or the other party legal advice. The Mediator's role is to be a neutral facilitator of negotiations which will, hopefully, result in a settlement of the issues in dispute. If you are interested in the evaluative/directive model of family mediation which may, in the right circumstances, tap into the Family Mediator's legal experience, please contact us at (905) 898-8500.

02/04/2026

When the right words flow, mountains can be moved. When they don’t, the potential for disaster is nigh. In my daily work with clients, I encounter examples of poor communication - in many instances, even subtle shifts can alter and improve an outcome. As a PC, I see this every day, and I work with parents to make their exchanges more effective, more focused, less about grievance and fault finding. I created the graphic below for educational purposes - it is based on some research and my own experience of what works and what does not. Hope you will find it useful.

10/13/2025

Parenting Coordination is a viable option for many co-parents encountering frequent disagreements about parenting issues - once a parenting plan is in place by way of court order or agreement.

06/01/2025

Effective communication is not an accident. It takes practice and attention. It can serve as one of the important keys to unlocking a dispute, and to resolving it with long-lasting solutions.

05/25/2025

Not all take the same approach to what they do. Take care when selecting your . Ask questions. Learn more about your potential choices.

05/21/2025

"Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open."

05/03/2025

When it comes to your child, do you know the difference between positive stress, tolerable stress and ?

05/01/2025

Early childhood is a vital stage of human development. Meaningful, buffering relationships are essential to a young child's healthy growth and their brain architecture. "Serve and return" with caregivers is key to the development of executive function.

04/28/2025

Stress comes at different levels. Sometimes, stress can be motivating. At other times, it can be paralyzing. Learn the spot the difference.

04/11/2025

Q: What is Parenting Coordination?
A: This is a modality of family dispute resolution (FDR) designed to assist parents in managing their parenting issues, post-separation and once a parenting arrangement is in place.....

interested in learning more? We have a page on our website dedicated to providing a further explanation.....
https://www.mettamediation.org/parenting-coordination-overview

PARENTING COORDINATIONThis is a modality of family dispute resolution (FDR) designed to assist parents in managing their parenting issues, post-separation and once a parenting arrangement is in place. The above statement comes with a number of important caveats and clarifications ~ so please read on...

03/08/2025

A shocking stat, is it not? Imagine being a victim of IVP and not being believed, being told you won't be believed or being told raising the issue of family violence will be held against you in court.

03/05/2025