Welcome to a series of blogs about David Louis, Chicago divorce mediator. Find out why David’s clients consistently praise him for his expertise in both mediation and finance, for his trustworthiness, his compassion, his organizational skills, and his extensive knowledge and professionalism. 
 
In this series hear David: 

• share about his choice to become a professional mediator.
• explain what couples should know about mediation if they are considering that method to handle a divorce.
• review the creative ways he helps his clients prepare for successful mediation.

The Choice to Become a Mediator 
David Louis is a divorce mediator and Certified Divorce Financial AnalystTM who brings compassion, sensitivity, and expertise to a challenging field that serves couples at a critical time in their lives. He shares here his own journey to a second career as a mediator.
 
My background and professional path
I was raised north of New York City and attended college in Albany, the state capital of New York, earning a bachelor's in accounting and a master's in public administration.
 
I worked in the public sector for over 30 years, managing financial operations in state government and doing public service in my community, where seeds of consensus-building among colleagues and dispute resolution were planted. When I turned 50, I started to think about what my next chapter would look like professionally. At that time, I discovered mediation.
 
After training as a mediator, I then volunteered for four years in a community dispute resolution center in Albany. There I worked primarily with parents who either could not agree on scheduling for their children or faced other decisions that needed to be made for their families. In 2010, I decided to take a retirement offer from my employer and start a second career as a professional mediator. I chose to focus my efforts on divorce mediation.
 
The draw to mediation
There were two things that really spoke to me about mediation. The first is that, as a mediator, I am not the one who makes decisions. That is a choice left up to my clients. After being a decision maker for most of my career, I found this to be freeing.
 
Second, I learned that, when I'm working with clients in mediation, we have the opportunity to focus on the future. I see the journey in life as consisting of two roads. There's the road that got us to where we are, and there's the road that leads out of here into the future. What I know about the road from the past is that often we don't agree on what happened. And, for the most part, that road has been built and cannot be changed.
 
Mediation is unique in that it is a future-focused process. In mediation I am looking to help build a bridge from where my clients are now to where they’re going to be in the future––to help them build a road that doesn't exist yet and move forward in planning a healthy and sustainable future for every member of their family.
 
I was informed in choosing mediation as my new profession by my own early experience with divorce and the experience of friends, coworkers, and family members who had been through the process themselves. Most of them used what I would describe as the traditional process. They would engage attorneys, and sometimes this would work out––­but sometimes not so much. Everyone basically told me the same thing––it costs too much, it takes too long, and it adds a lot of stress to your life. Transition, of course, is stressful by nature. However, I discovered that mediation could alleviate much unnecessary stress that the traditional litigation process imposes.
 
What I concluded is that our legal system is not equipped to deal with the human needs of families in transition. When I think about the courts, I think about somebody being right and somebody being wrong, or somebody feeling they won and somebody feeling they lost. Most of my clients are not interested in that dialogue. They are looking to move forward. They are in new territory because divorce is something that they haven't experienced. They're looking for guidance, and they intuit that, with proper help, they can make their own decisions for their next steps.
 
That process makes sense to me, and that is why I chose to become a divorce mediator.
 
Goals I establish as a mediator
When I'm working with clients, I set goals for myself as their mediator.
 
Goal #1 Each person needs to be heard
My first goal is to offer a process where each of my clients has the opportunity to express themselves and be heard––to talk about what's important to them, to talk about why it's important, to focus on what matters within a safe environment with an experienced mediator as a neutral third party.
 
I help clients come to understand each other better than they did before we began to work together.Understanding is not the same as agreement. And yet, it is a foundation upon which agreements can be built.
 
Goal #2 Acknowledge all the relationships in a marriage
My second goal acknowledges that the marriage relationship has many layers. Couples have known each other for longer than they’ve been married, and what they decide to do with their personal relationship going forward will be entirely up to them. That is the first relationship.
 
In mediation, we address other aspects of the relationship as well. Marriage is also an economic partnership, and one of my goals is to guide my clients in how to navigate the changing dynamics of that economic relationship. I bring my clients years of experience and expertise in the realm of finance, in addition to my specific training and accreditation as a Certified Divorce Financial AnalystTM.
 
The third relationship is a lifelong one. If my clients have children, they will remain parents of those children for the rest of their lives. That is a relationship that I honor in this process. I am a parent myself, and I know personally how challenging and rewarding that role is. My goal is to ensure that nothing in the mediation experience will diminish effective co-parenting going forward. I want parents and children to be able to enjoy being a family, even if they are living in two different places in the future.
 
Goal #3 Deal with the challenge of transitioning to two homes
My third goal is to acknowledge a fundamental economic reality of divorce––it is more expensive to live in two homes than it is to live in one. As a Certified Divorce Financial AnalystTM, I carry a toolbox and use those tools as needed by my clients to better understand their financial circumstances, to create an even playing field of financial knowledge and information, and to assist them to be informed about the financial decisions that they are facing. With this groundwork in place, my clients are able to make the best possible choices for their futures.
 
Goal #4 Assist with good decision making
My fourth goal relates to decision making. In this process, neither partner in a marriage should feel that they are being forced into a decision that they don't want to make. Conversely, neither person should feel that they are forcing somebody else to make a decision that they don't want to make. I describe this as mutually acceptable decision making. The choices couples make must work for both of them. The choices they make must be acceptable to each. One person does not get to call the shots in this process.It's a process that will involve both parties, with my assistance as a neutral facilitator.
 
Supply legal information
It is also important that decisions are informed. There are really two essential ingredients to an informed decision. The agreements reached in mediation are generally approved by Judges. However, in cases that are litigated, there are laws that judges must consider when making decisions because the spouses couldn’t agree. I provide legal information so clients can make their decisions with full knowledge relevant to those considerations.
 
Require full financial disclosure
Part of good decision making is also having full financial information available. As already mentioned, marriage on one level is an economic partnership. If my clients were business partners and were going to close their business and decide who is going to walk away with what, they would want a full accounting of all parts of that business, all of its assets, all of its debts, all of its sources of income. And it's no different with the dissolution of a marriage. In mediation, we are unwinding an economic partnership, and in order to do that, we need a process of full financial disclosure, so that both parties are fully aware of all assets, debts, and sources of income. I assist by providing a list of the documents that will be needed to establish that full disclosure.
 
With both financial and legal information, I ensure my clients are well informed in preparation for decisions they make. We acknowledge economic realities, geared toward honoring the family and doing no harm to the prospects of future relationships. And this grows out of a process where each person is involved in a meaningful and robust conversation, where both parties address their plans for the future, and where both have a voice. 
 
This process makes mediation an extremely attractive and effective solution to the challenge of transitioning out of a marriage.

The last weeks of the year—Thanksgiving and the winter holidays—often bring to mind the concept of gratitude—appreciation for positive experiences, thankfulness for growth in understanding, and gratefulness for the enrichment of new opportunities. This concept of gratitude often emerges for me in the process of divorce mediation. 
 
I find that couples in a “successful” mediation process express gratitude for arriving at good decisions and having the chance to craft a positive and more certain future for their families with the outcome of those decisions.
 
Mediation is a profound and often challenging learning experience. We may ask, “What has been learned? And whom can I thank for helping me learn?” I find that couples in a “successful” mediation process express gratitude for arriving at good decisions and having the chance to craft a positive and more certain future for their families with the outcome of those decisions. 
 
The end of a “successful” mediation can be filled with a range of emotions. For you, there is often a sense of accomplishment, sometimes to your own surprise. While your marriage did not work, you were able to team up to make your own decisions for how to co-parent your children, allocate your assets and debts, and create the best possibilities for two sustainable households. At the same time, as the cloud of uncertainty has lifted, replaced by greater clarity about the future, the reality that you as a couple are approaching the “official” end of your marital relationship carries its own set of feelings and reactions, including a need to accept both loss and failure. These are competing emotions, having resolved the issues of divorce but now having to face the fact that the marriage has indeed ended.
 
From my chair, I always attempt to put the most positive face on what has happened in mediation. While a mediator’s skills—structuring an effective process and facilitating difficult conversations—play an important role in helping you as a couple meet your goals for coming to mediation, the real credit belongs to you. After all, mediation requires the courage to engage a process that involves total transparency and take responsibility for doing the work of gathering information, engaging in challenging conversations with a soon-to-be ex-spouse, and making choices about the future.
 
And so, along with giving you credit for what you have been able to achieve in mediation, I close every mediation with gratitude that you trusted me to play a role in your transition. Divorce is an experience that most want to forget so you can move on. However, for me, the honor of making a difference is something I continue to remember and remain thankful for.

For parents who have decided to separate and divorce, the prospect of breaking this news to the children can be overwhelming—even paralyzing.
 
This topic will often arise in mediation when parents are still living together and would prefer to resolve matters involving the children (where each parent will live upon separation and what the parenting time schedule will look like) before talking to the children about the impending divorce.
 
As much as you may dread the thought of this discussion with your children, my experience indicates that, once you have talked with them, the emotional anticipation of the conversation will be replaced by relief that you no longer are keeping something from your children. You may well take some pride in how you handled the challenge.
 
At one of the first mediation conferences I attended, the keynote presenter was Dr. Joan Kelly, who is internationally recognized as a child psychologist and author of many articles and research studies involving children of divorce. Her insights have proven valuable to many practitioners. In 2009, she authored a valuable publication, “What Should We Tell the Children? A Parent’s Guide for Talking About Separation and Divorce.”  I have shared this with many clients. The publication is available for purchase from the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys.
 
The conversation you have with your children [about your divorce] is the first and perhaps the most important opportunity you will have to show them that you are committed to a constructive co-parenting relationship.
 
To help you prepare, let me share some key points from Dr. Kelly, along with my own thoughts:

1. Recognize that your children may receive the news of a divorce with the same uncertainty about the future as you and your ex may be feeling. This is why many parents wait until they have a better understanding of how the new co-parenting relationship will work before informing the children.  
2. The conversation you have with your children is the first and perhaps the most important opportunity you will have to show them that you are committed to a constructive co-parenting relationship. So… (a) Speak to them together; and (b) prepare a script/message in advance with your co-parent to be clear that the divorce has nothing to do with the children and that the divorce is related to the marriage not working rather than the fault of either parent. Using mediation is an excellent way to work together on doing this. (c) Reassure your children that they are at the center of your lives, that they will always be loved by both of you, and that your decisions will always put them first. Always keep in mind that you are modeling for them how adults adapt to life challenges, an important lesson for any child.
3. Allow time and space for emotions, processing and questions. Each of us differs in how we react to life-changing news, including children. Some will react immediately and emotionally, while others may need time to absorb what is heard. This first conversation is only a beginning, so be prepared to reengage your children over time.
4. Despite having to manage your own emotions, be present for your children and demonstrate your commitment to their well being. What you say to your children matters, and how you follow through is paramount. If they feel the earth moving beneath them, your steady presence will be a source of stability. Seeking the help of a therapist for your own emotional well being (so you can be there for your children) and for them (so they have someone neutral to talk to) can also make a huge difference.

 
Telling your children about your divorce is an early test of your transition into the future. I encourage you to seek out resources to help you come through this with a sense that you achieved a passing grade, maybe even an A+.

In any successful relationship, trust is the foundation. When you can trust someone, you are more likely to be open and more willingly vulnerable in that person’s presence.
 
In many broken marriages, the trust between spouses has diminished—a little or even to the point of being missing entirely. For example, trust evaporates when there has been infidelity or a lack of honesty.
 
In divorce mediation cases, the absence of trust can be quite challenging. An underlying principle of mediation is that you both make a good faith effort to work toward an agreement that will satisfy both of you. Even when trust is at a low, protocols that include full financial disclosure (and possibly sworn financial affidavits) can provide the fuel for agreements in spite of loss of trust.
 
While it can be difficult or in some cases nearly impossible to rebuild trust, there are elements of trust, which I describe as pillars, that you can consider employing during the mediation process.

While it can be difficult or in some cases nearly impossible to rebuild trust, there are elements of trust, which I describe as pillars, that you can consider employing during the mediation process. The goal does not have to be rebuilding trust (although when that does happen, the chances of a better future relationship are greatly improved). The goal can simply be to prevent your mediation discussions from stalling or going backwards.
 
Here is a list of those pillars that help to form a foundation of trust. Recognizing and addressing these can lead to a better mediation process.
 

1. Boundaries—Understanding what your soon-to-be ex-spouse’s (STBE’s) boundaries are, whether expressed in terms of physical space (important when still living together) or emotionally. Remember that a decision to divorce is a decision to live separate lives, and your STBE may not want your opinion about a future choice being contemplated. Many divorces are rooted in a desire for independence.
2. Honesty—The mediation process offers you both a chance to express yourselves and be heard. Doing so truthfully will make a big difference, and part of this is being honest with yourself.
3. Openness—This has several aspects including: (a) being open minded, willing to consider options, especially those offered by your STBE. You can listen without having to agree to what is being offered; (b) being open-hearted, another way to describe the willingness to show your vulnerability, just as you probably did when your marriage was in a good place; (c) being open to requests. During mediation, you may be asked to take on a task involving research or pay for something that you don’t want to. Anything you can do when asked contributes to the bank of good will.
4. Reliability—Regardless of your track record or that of your STBE, focusing on doing what you say you will do during mediation can make the process much smoother. It sets a positive impression of the present. It’s also an essential element of successful co-parenting, remembering that what you are doing is for your children.
5. Judgment—It is very hard to find someone who can avoid being judgmental at all times. However, if you can resist the urge to judge what your STBE says or how he/she wants to go forward in the world, you will make a meaningful contribution to the steady progress of mediation.

 
Keeping these pillars in mind as you navigate the difficult conversations of mediation may create a positive vibe—or at least prevent a negative one—and may even help the process go faster, which is what most clients seek.

At the beginning of the divorce mediation process, I send out a questionnaire to each spouse to help me find out how the couple communicates. In the responses I often discover that both find it hard to communicate effectively. This is not particularly surprising, as poor communication is often a symptom of a broken marriage. So, as a couple enters divorce mediation, the objective of successful communication is often facing off against inherent challenges experienced during the marriage.
 
When communication centers on disagreements, there is a strong tendency for each side to dig in, assume a strong position, and exhibit intense emotions. Depending on how you participate in these difficult conversations, you may “fight to be right” or, alternately, opt for getting it over with—give in, be done with it and be free.
 
I believe that mediation should promote mutually acceptable decisions. Difficult dynamics, if not addressed during mediation sessions, can often result in agreements that are regretted later by one or both spouses.
 
Divorce mediation involves an aspect of negotiation. More importantly, there is an opportunity in every mediation process to encourage two-way conversation. This promotes understanding and allows each of you to learn from the other.
 
Divorce mediation involves an aspect of negotiation. More importantly, there is an opportunity in every mediation process to encourage two-way conversation. This promotes understanding and allows each of you to learn from the other.
 
I have been engaged in my own learning experience over the past 15 months [credits to Cheryl Picard, author of Practising Insight Mediation, and my teacher, Jacinta Gallant from Prince Edward Island, Canada]. I’ve learned that conflict is rooted in an individual’s perception that something that matters greatly is threatened by the other person. This can worsen when your spoken intention is interpreted quite differently by the other.
 
It's little wonder to me that, in the absence of a neutral mediator who can help you better understand each other, the chances of a resolution that suits both of you will be diminished.
 
For me, the golden nugget in all of this is that you can understand what’s important to each other without necessarily agreeing with what is being said. At the same time, if you understand each other, it’s showing that you are listening to each other. Think how much better you each will feel if you are being heard!
 
Once you are all engaged in a learning dialogue—confident that what you are saying is being interpreted as you hoped it would be—the foundation has been built to explore choices that address what matters to each of you. From there, the path to agreement will hopefully be clearer. Like any building, the ability to withstand the test of time will depend on having a stable foundation.

An article I recently read by Stephanie Vozza was entitled, “’I don’t know’ can be the smartest answer.”
 
This caught my eye because I have often used a similar saying, namely, “The most important thing that you can know is what you don’t know.”
 
Stephanie’s article goes on to address how this statement can be a lesson for leadership. As a mediator, I do not relate as much to the concept of leadership except to note that I am a leader of the mediation process. This often means taking the lead with my clients in helping you to have a constructive dialogue.
 
Being willing to admit that we don’t have the answer has multiple significances:
 

1. A sign of humility. Conflict often arises when those who disagree are stuck in positions and often overlook what is really important to them. A conflict conversation can escalate when both of you are convinced that you are right because you think you know more than the other person. Isn’t it possible that you really don’t know the answer? When someone tells me that she/he “doesn’t know” or I say this to my clients (in responding to a specific question for which I don’t have the immediate expertise to answer), it’s an acknowledgment that we are being humble and honest. Truth and humility matter and can be constructive forces for meaningful dialogues.
2. An invitation to explore and learn. My first instinct after saying “I don’t know” is to wonder how I can discover the answer. It’s also an opportunity to take steps to decide how to find those answers. The information source could be online or contact with someone who has specific knowledge and training related to the question. 
3. Assurance of accuracy and credibility. As one who believes that informed decision making is a fundamental goal of the mediation process, providing accurate information is essential. On the flip side, providing erroneous information can be damaging to anyone’s credibility and even to one's reputation. Saying “I don’t know” is like being vaccinated against misleading the other person.
4. A request for time. Sometimes, the questions we are asked are not seeking factual information. Instead, they are looking for general feedback or a response to a proposal. Some of us can respond in the moment (but sometimes regret not taking the time to think things over), and others need time to process. In mediation, respecting the needs of those who need time to process—so that they can respond thoughtfully and constructively—enhances the possibility of a mutually agreeable resolution. In this context, not knowing is a statement for the moment. With time, the well-thought-out answer may transform the discussion in ways that move the mediation process forward.

 
Knowing what you don’t know—and being able to communicate this to others—symbolizes truth, curiosity, openness and credibility—all of which can enhance the difficult conversations that take place in divorce mediation.
 
Knowing what you don’t know—and being able to communicate this to others—symbolizes truth, curiosity, openness and credibility—all of which can enhance the difficult conversations that take place in divorce mediation.

Each marriage has its own uniqueness, involving two individuals with their own unique identify and style. In past generations, there have typically been assigned roles, like working father and stay-at-home mother, but this division of labor has changed significantly in the modern world. Making assumptions about the current roles of spouses is done at a mediator’s peril!
 
I have found it important in divorce mediation to consider a critical element in a marriage—the contributions each of you have brought to the relationship, whether positive or negative.
 
While not always directly related to these roles, I find it important in divorce mediation to consider a critical element in a marriage—the contributions each of you have brought to the relationship, whether positive or negative.
 
Why does a future-focused mediation process need to consider individual contributions from the past? Here are a few observations:
 

• Changing Responsibilities 
  In many households, one of you will likely have been the “financial manager,” with the result that the other spouse may have limited financial knowledge and may even struggle with the idea of taking on financial responsibilities. I use the mediation process to level the playing field, eliciting financial information and exploring what each of you can offer the other to assist both of you in taking charge of your finances. Similarly, divorce will often challenge the parent who may have spent less time caring for children in the marriage. Mediation can help you reshape priorities to reflect the new task of being an active co-parent.

• An Opportunity for Acknowledgment 
  Understandably, divorce can invoke a sense of failure and loss. Coping with that pain is difficult and can impede the progress of mediation. A way to deal with such pain is to take time to reflect on how each of you contributed to what did work in the marriage. Sharing this acknowledgment of each other can be a big step toward healthy closure. For example, many clients are able to reflect positively on the important role that the other parent has played in the children’s upbringing.

 

• Honest Self-Reflection
  Not all contributions are positive. In most divorces, there is a level of conflict or dysfunction that has caused the marriage to end. When you can each be aware of your part in your broken marriage, this awareness can often help you stay clear of those same negative behaviors while participating in mediation.   

 
It's often been said that the emotions of divorce are similar to those involving death. When a loved one dies, we are moved to celebrate their lives. As your marriage ends, you can still remember what you both contributed positively to the time you were together.

The decision to end a marriage is rarely made by both spouses at the same moment.  Usually one of you, after much consideration, and possibly after efforts have been made to “save” the marriage, declares to yourself (and maybe to the other), “I am done.”
 
If you are the spouse on the receiving end of this message, your reaction could be one of shock, dismay, or a sad acknowledgment of something you may have seen coming but did not feel ready to accept. 
 
For both of you, the immediate focus is likely to be on yourself, and a common thought is “What will this mean for me?” and, if you are a parent, “What will this mean for our children?”
 
It’s important for each of you to reflect upon what matters most to you about your future in the face of transition and uncertainty. With your future in the balance, both as an individual and possibly as a parent, putting “me” as a priority is to be expected.
 
If you choose to litigate your divorce, and take a risk of turning your divorce into a legal battle, the spotlight will remain on you, since all that will matter is what is important to “me.”
 
Mediation will require you to reframe the conversation from “me” to “we.”  My role as your mediator is to support that shift…
 
On the other hand, mediation will require you to reframe the conversation from “me” to “we.”  My role as your mediator is to support that shift, which means that you will each have a voice, you will each be heard, and together you will stay focused on what it will take for both of you to come to agreements on your own terms that don’t ignore what matters to each of you individually.
​
Mediation is a unique opportunity to channel what matters for each of you (the “me”) into a plan for you both (the “we”).

With the ending of a year, a new one is beginning. In one’s work life, a job ends and hopefully a new one begins. 
 
In my own life, over the last 13 years, I’ve seen the years change, my career change (from public finance and local government service to mediation), and my home change from upstate New York to Chicago.
 
It’s been a saying of mine that life is a book of many chapters. In a marriage that ends, that chapter of your life will conclude. This ending, just like a difficult year, may make you want to forget the bad experiences. Given the emotional duress that often comes with divorce, that may not be easy.
 
Hopefully, but not always, the episode that is ending had its bright moments, and these are the memories to preserve. In every challenge, there is a lesson to be carried to the next phase of life. We can learn so much from life experiences; we are wiser for what we take away. While there is a tendency to bury what has been hurtful or difficult, we should strive to review our experiences as a teaching opportunity to guide us forward into the future. 
 
In mediation, my hope is that our time together will help create a bridge from the past into the future, shaped by lessons learned and goals that you can set for yourselves. 

Just as every new year provides a blank slate for us to continue writing the story of our lives, one’s life after divorce is a new chapter of one’s own making. In mediation, my hope is that our time together will help create a bridge from the past into the future, shaped by lessons learned and goals that you can set for yourselves. 
 
As we leave the year 2022 and move away from jobs, homes or marriages, I encourage you to embrace the natural transition from an ending to a beginning—a fresh start in life’s journey.

In a dialogue with a colleague recently, we were discussing a problem encountered by a client and how to address problem solving in mediation.

It seems that, to some, it’s important to know what a court would do, and perhaps that’s how the professional would steer you.

When it comes to what a court would do, I prefer to send you to an attorney who can better advise you. I often wonder how much certainty a consulting attorney could offer, as it has always seemed to me that there can be a great deal of subjectivity in an individual judge’s interpretation of the law, based on the facts of a specific case.

From my perspective, the “problem” was created by one or both of the parties, and, as mediators, I don’t believe it is our role to solve the problem, but rather to help the parties understand the problem—discuss what matters in relation to addressing the question, consider the advantages and disadvantages of your options, and support efforts to help you make your own, informed decision on how to resolve the issue.

However, it’s important to remember that, when you as clients are facing a situation involving problem solving, I prefer to help you determine the best way to solve it. 
 
It could also be the case that you just want help to figure out the issue on your own, not caring as much about the specifics of the law at this juncture as what seems acceptable to both of you based on your own values and needs. 

It could also be the case that you just want help to figure out the issue on your own, not caring as much about the specifics of the law at this juncture as what seems acceptable to both of you based on your own values and needs. 

My colleague laid out several viable approaches that clients could take. Each of these could be examined with you, looking at what the financial implications of each option would be, and then letting you use that analysis of options to inform yourselves as to which choice may be most suitable. 
 
Helping clients develop a set of options, and then engage analysis and discussion, would seem to fit the facilitative mediation process best in this situation.