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Mindful Divorce; A New Approach

Aurora Johannson practices mindful mediation ensuring a dignified, mindful and binding separation.

Couples don’t get married to get divorced.

     The reality, however, is that many pairs are faced with a split and all that comes with it: tension, sadness, confrontation, disagreement.

     “People get really tossed about during separation. There’s so much change. They find themselves asking please give me one day that I recognize as normal,” says Aurora Johannson, LLB, BEd, family law litigator, experienced mediator and mindfulness educator.

   Johannson, who runs Inside Passage Law for mindful dispute resolution, explains that when conflict strikes, most of us wind up in a fight, flight or freeze mode. This takes them far away from mindfulness and less aware of the big picture as they panic and stress their way through decisions that can impact their lives and their children for years.

     “But what if there was a new and effective way to approach this overwhelming time?” Johannson asks. “We need to change the ratio of conflict to joyfulness. Divorce and separation doesn’t have to blow families apart, but it often does because people are at their lowest,” says the mother of two and past school teacher.

     After eight years of family law litigation and mediation, and learning the practice of mindfulness, Johannson realized conflict and mindfulness go together like yin and yan. Mindfulness, according to Johannson, was the key piece missing for many of her clients and for many lawyers. This prompted her to approach separation and divorce in a more humane way, creating her Mindful Divorce practice.

     “The mindful practice helps people make better decisions and manage their stress. Life is a series of not doing things quite right, or being a beginner, but recovering is where the growth happens.”

     Johannson, who is also a yoga instructor, says that during the mediation process and composition of a binding separation agreement, individuals learn about mindful awareness. This enhances the conflict resolution as there is increased peace and clarity and improved decision making resulting in more functional agreements and choices. With mediation, specifically mindful mediation, clients will gain strength within.

     During the process, Johannson will discuss with clients either in person, over the phone or even video conferencing, what each needs in order to move forward. She will spend up to five meetings with clients and work with them to form a binding, legal agreement.

     Johannson assures clients that her office environment is safe. She does family violence screening and safety checks. As well, she offers a borrowing library.

     The key to mindful mediation is having a self-awareness or an interest in that awareness. “This is a dignified process even if they’ve had undignified experiences. Clients will feel the process is non-judgmental, and they will go away feeling like it was a job well done.”

     Visit Inside Passage Law for more information and insight on mindful mediation for separation and even family or work conflict.  www.insidepassagelaw.ca

Sponsored By   Inside Passage Law

News from © iNFOnews, 2017
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