Thornhill mediator David Klegerman provides a safe, nurturing environment where you and your spouse can create a lasting divorce agreement.

Divorce is one of the most painful life experiences. It becomes a nightmare should you and your spouse become locked in conflict. Long, drawn-out court battles are costly, and often emotionally damaging to you and your children.

David Klegerman

The alternative way is to settle your case with reduced conflict and less expense; you can do that with mediation. David Klegerman, a certified comprehensive family mediator who specializes in high-conflict divorce, can help you reach a mutually satisfying agreement that will enable you to move forward with your life. "I provide a safe, nurturing environment," Klegerman explains, "where people negotiate cooperatively and are able to reduce the tension in the family. I am pleased to see separating couples benefit from my intervention: they save grief and money, while moving in the direction of cooperative behavior and understanding." Empathetic, accessible, and always concerned about clients' issues, he helps divorcing/separating couples reduce their antagonism and prepare for the future. What makes Klegerman special is his ability to work with both parenting and financial disputes. "When people go to mediation, they want an all-encompassing service that addresses parenting, emotional, and financial issues," he says. "They benefit from the entirety of the case being in mediation. When children are involved, the focus is on them. The model I use attends to the parenting issues first, in order to maintain the children's prime importance in the resolution of the case. The financial aspect is often driven by the parenting plan, so it is very helpful to have that in place." Klegerman is trained in the assessment of custody and access, which helps him understand parenting situations; he has also been involved in the training of lawyers toward certification as collaborative law practitioners and is a member of provincial and international collaborative law associations.

An expert on dispute resolution, Klegerman has co-authored a comprehensive bibliography of Workplace Dispute Resolution sources, which is available on the Internet. His more than 25 years in human resources and labor relations has equipped him with ample knowledge about how people handle disputes. "My overriding passion and concern is the work that I do and for the people who come to mediation." He has also conducted mediation for the Ontario Court of Justice, including Children's Aid Society cases.

In mediation sessions, Klegerman always has plans to assist couples. "I develop a guideline for the process prior to each session. I'm prepared for the issues and any changeup. It's their money, so I'm obligated to give the best possible service." He identifies power imbalances that may exist within couples and works from there: "Some people are at a disadvantage, and the mediator has to be able to provide a balanced platform, so that there is a fair opportunity to negotiate for each of them. I help them articulate their positions in the process. I never put people on the defensive." His dedication to service extends to taking calls at his home. "People are often in need. I'm not a nine-to-five person: I see clients at different times when mutually acceptable."

Klegerman's consistent client satisfaction is evidence of his skill and dedication. "If I can ease tension and send couples off behaving in a cooperative and respectful manner toward each other, I've done my job," he says. "They come to my office in a distressed state and leave in a much better way, with a comprehensive agreement in which both are satisfied with the outcome." David Klegerman will help you turn your marital conflict into a better future.

For an initial consultation, please contact:

David Klegerman, B.A., CHRP, Acc.FM (OAFM), FMC Cert. CFM
76 Glenmanor Way
Thornhill, Ontario L4J 3E5

Leaside Therapy Centre
1395 Bayview Ave. Ste. M01
Toronto, ON M4G 3A6

David Klegerman has written the following article that can be read on DivorceMagazine.com.

FAQ's:

•  "If you and your spouse aren't speaking to one another, can you still mediate your divorce?"
• "My spouse just isn't cooperating in our mediation. What are my options?"