Finances & Divorce

misinterpreting your partner’s demeanor may lead to conflict

By Jennifer Safian / October 9, 2024

{3 minutes to read}  A few weeks ago, I read an article in the New York Times by Jancee Dunn where she talks about the work of a couples’ therapist, Terrance Real, and how making assumptions about what the other person is thinking can escalate arguments, distort reality, and create worse problems between you and…

demystifying the money talk

By Jennifer Safian / September 11, 2024

{4 minutes to read} In a previous article “Why Are We Afraid to Discuss Money?” we addressed the fear we may have when talking about finances. In this article, we will outline some small steps that you can take to start having those conversations. Couples living together make different financial arrangements between them. Some will…

why are we afraid to discuss money?

By Jennifer Safian / August 21, 2024

{2 minutes to read} Talking about money with your partner is a subject frequently fraught with fear. For some people, it’s because they were raised in a family where money was never discussed. For others, these conversations always created a lot of tension within the family.  I have worked with separating couples where one person…

does your inside match your outside?

By Jennifer Safian / August 7, 2024

{5 minutes to read}  As you are facing the possibility of a separation and/or divorce, a multitude of questions and very valid concerns will likely run through your mind: Where will I live? How will I survive financially? How will I manage as a single parent? How will my children get through this? Will I…

why doesn’t the mediator tell us what to do when we are stuck?

By Jennifer Safian / July 24, 2024

{2 minutes to read}  Separating or divorcing parents don’t always see eye to eye when creating parenting schedules or discussing how to divide their property. Occasionally, as they say, they get “stuck.” Each party thinks their position is the one that should be adopted and refuses to consider the other person’s request. While it is…

how many mediated divorces end up in an agreement?

By Jennifer Safian / June 5, 2024

This is a question that many people ask during their initial call regarding the divorce mediation process. While over three-quarters of the couples I meet with do complete the process, they don’t all work through it at the same pace, and other life circumstances can interfere which may bring the process to a halt. A…

divorcing? take a sip of water!

By Jennifer Safian / April 30, 2024

{2 minutes to read} Emotions can run very high during the divorce process, especially when having overly sensitive conversations where you push each other’s buttons as you discuss issues of disagreement. Both of you start arguing, talking loudly over one another. No one can hear anything anymore. It is time to stop and catch your breath.…

post-divorce thought: did I marry the wrong person?

By Jennifer Safian / February 7, 2024

We were married for 15 years and had three children and a dog. We owned a home and a vacation home and made enough money to pay our bills, but somehow our relationship became very strained. We no longer saw things eye to eye and found ourselves constantly arguing about everything. We tried marital counseling.…

how your demeanor affects those around you

By Jennifer Safian / July 12, 2023

{3 minutes to read}   Do you remember when your 2-year-old son fell and looked up at you before deciding whether to cry or not? Your response was to smile at him, pick him up and reassure him that he was ok. The child immediately felt better and kept the tears at bay. On their way…

YOU CHANGE THE WORLD resolving conflicts

By Jennifer Safian / June 28, 2023

Recently, I was interviewed by André Politzer on his podcast “You Change the World.” André, who juxtaposed his 25-year career as an executive and entrepreneur with a 15-year career as a coach for organizations and executives, is also trained as a mediator. As such, he promotes communication and conflict resolution in the workplace, as well…