Susan Cook Mediation and Family Counselling Services York Region, Simcoe County and Canada Wide

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ALL MEETINGS ARE VIRTUAL

Susan Cook is a Certified Specialist in Parenting Coordination (FDRIO) an Accredited Family Law Mediator (OAFM) & Arbitrator , Child Protection Mediator,  and she is Certificated in Children's Mental Health (UofT).

Serving all of Canada through virtual meetings making your experience far less stressful by not exposing you to potential negative energy and influence. Over Covid I learned that virtual meetings allowed clients the space for reduced anxiety, creating a safer environment to share. This resulted in a quicker resolution saving time and financial resources. Parents have been able to remain child centric and there has been significant reduction in conflict.
 
Mediation
Mediation/Arbitration
Parenting Coordination 
Divorce Coaching
Parenting Time/Plans  

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Susan Cook

To learn about Parental Alienation from the perspective of the child in adulthood, please click here.

Thought for the month!

 

    "Working with a Divorce Coach is more cost effective than you think:  John P. Schuman, managing partner of Toronto family law firm Devry Smith Frank, says of clients working with a coach, “They come to meetings coping better and with a different attitude,” ... “They have more focused discussions, and it makes our life a lot easier to have someone able to focus on the legal issues and making good decisions as opposed to being ruled by emotions.” “When people act out of anger, it takes time,” says Schuman. Save money and acrimony by hiring a Divorce Coach as part of your team."


 

CHOOSING A MEDIATOR - What you should be looking for.

 

1.  Accreditation/Certification

 

Your mediator should be Accredited.  This means that your mediator has been trained, but also held accountable for performance.  I do encourage you also to consider engaging with a non accredited mediator who is being supervised by an Accredited colleague to assist in the growth of the field of mediation to ensure a future where fewer families are participating in litigated separation/divorce. 

 

Susan Cook has been mediating since 1999, and has been Accredited since 2005.

 

 

2.  Working knowledge of Family Courts and Family Law-

 

A mediator is only required a basic knowledge of the legislation and relevant Acts that your separation and divorce must rely on to reach a fair and equitable agreement.  

 

Susan Cook has several years of experience, not only learning the relevant legislation, but using the legislation to assist her clients in reaching fair outcomes while working in the family court system as Family Court Worker.

 

 

3.  Experience in Mental Health and Family Dynamics

 

Mediators come from many varied backgrounds. What you should be looking for in a mediator to assist your family in transitioning to the future in its new dynamic is a professional trained in mental health and family dynamics.  This will provide you not only with the basics of change, but to educate you on how each of your family members may react or behave through the process and beyond.  A mediator trained in the area of mental health can assist clients explore and manage the feelings associated with divorce in a way that lawyers/courts can and will not, which will help everyone move forward quicker, and more completely. 

 

Susan Cook is a trained mental health professional with years of experience working primarily with families and clients experiencing separation and divorce.

 

4.  Children’s Mental Health

 

The primary concern of any mediator when children are involved in a separation/divorce is the children.  Your mediator should not only care about the best interest of your children, but know what that means.  This will provide you the assistance you need in making the best decisions for them.

 

Susan Cook is Certificated in Children’s Mental Health and has made it her primary goal to ensure that all decisions for children are made with their best interest as to their age, development and future growth in to adulthood and healthy relationships of their own.

 

Susan Cook pioneered the now oft recommended 6/6/6 process of introducing new partners to the children.  This was developed through her knowledge of not only the children's best interest, but also incorporating the needs of the parents to be able to move forward with their new life with structured, yet less overwhelming expectations.


As a Family Law Mediator and Parenting Coordinator I tell my clients, "regardless of what we decide to put in place as a Parenting Plan, the children will let you know if it works for them through development and behaviour.  Some will vote with their feet."  What parents are reluctant to accept, but must learn to live with, is that gender does not determine who might be the "best" parent for your children at time of divorce.  Note, I did not say "better parent", but "best at the time of divorce."

Difficult waters to wade through which is why Parenting Plans are better worked through with a mental health professional with expertise in family law and child development rather than through opposing counsel working diligently as a zealous advocate for their client, not necessarily the best interest of the child, or an impartial judge with little working knowledge of the situation other than the scathing affidavits of material that may or may not be true and read moments before entering the courtroom.

 

 

IS PARENING COORDINATION RIGHT FOR YOU?  LOOK TO THE  MENU AND CLICK ON THE PARENTING COORDINATION LINK TO FIND OUT.

 

 

Over and over again I find myself having to make the same speech to clients.

 
"The parent who makes the most noise against the other parent, within hearing distance of the children, will have the least amount of respect from the children as they grow older."
 
Think of it this way...you may be winning the battle by temporarily frightening your children, or by temporarily building anger or frustration in your children, but pay close attention to the word 'temporarily' because when the war is over, you will have lost.  Your child(ren) will resent you and you will have lost their trust forever.
 
Don't steal their right to have a relationship with both of their parents.  It is abuse!
 
 
 
 

Allow me to assist you and your family experience this transition in a more cost effective and emotionally healthy way that promotes ongoing education in communication and family development.

 

 

Our Hours:  Day and Evening Appointments Available

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Let us help you today
Susan Cook Mediation and Family Services
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
L9Z 1N8 
 
All meetings are remote

Phone: 905-717-8454
Email:  susancookmediation@gmail.com

89 Silver Birch Avenue
Wasaga Beach
Ontario
L9Z 1N8

All services are provided remotely via Google Meet

susancookmediation@gmail.com   

905-717-8454