HAYLEY GLAHOLT MEDIATION
Conflict and questions managed skillfully.

Mediation is an effective form of alternative dispute resolution that allows participants to be active agents in their own process and outcomes, rather than passive observers. Dr. Glaholt works to ensure that power imbalances are identified and neutralized, so that honest and direct communication is possible in a safe environment. She uses a facilitative, narrative approach, helping clients to determine their own solutions to the conflict they are experiencing. In this way, clients can create lasting resolutions.

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Dr. Glaholt has practiced as an Accredited Family Mediator (Ontario Association of Family Mediation) in private practice since 2017. She has extensive experience working within Toronto's family courts, and she is the former Director of Onsite Mediation for Toronto Family Mediation Services (Toronto's court-connected mediation program). Dr. Glaholt was on the Board of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Ontario) from 2018 to 2022.

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What issues can we mediate?

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Dr. Glaholt works with families and couples at points of tension and crisis, and is experienced in mediating parenting plans, communication, the role of extended family, and basic child support. She helps clients come together in a safe, structured environment, in order to have productive conversations about how diverse interests and values affect family life and co-parenting. Each family and each couple has its own dynamic and composition. Dr. Glaholt works alongside her clients to understand how conflict has impacted their lives, and to identify ways of peacefully moving forward.

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Is mediation legally binding? Do I need a lawyer?

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Family mediation is not a legally binding process. If you reach agreements during mediation, Dr. Glaholt will write up a Mediation Summary Report (MSR). This Report is not legally binding. Sometimes parties wish to follow agreements outlined in the MSR "in good faith", and other times they would like a legally binding document for various reasons. Dr. Glaholt will provide information to clients on how to turn their MSR into a legally binding document during your Intake meetings and after the mediation.

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Hayley does not require parties to have a lawyer retained in order to participate in family mediation. However, it is strongly recommended that you get Independent Legal Advice prior to the mediation, and afterwards. Dr. Glaholt can recommend lawyers that provide a variety of options for cost-effective legal advice. Mediation occurs "within the shadow of the law", which means that Dr. Glaholt cannot ethically allow clients to agree to terms that are radically different from what they would achieve in court. However, mediation does allow for much more creativity and autonomy than traditional court processes.

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What happens during mediation?

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Hayley will begin by asking both / all parties to fill out an Intake Form and an Agreement to Mediate. Once she has received those from both / all parties, we will then schedule individual one-hour sessions (generally via Zoom, but in-person is also available if needed) so that Hayley can get to know you, and learn about what brings you to mediation. Hayley will canvass the issues you would like to talk about, and she will begin organizing the agenda for the mediation. From there, we will schedule a two-hour session in which we will all meet together (virtually or in-person). Together we will set and review the agenda for this session. Hayley will decide if the parties should be in the same room (virtually or in-person) or if she will go back and forth between them.

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After each mediation session, if agreements are reached, Hayley will draft a Mediation Summary Report. It is not a legally-binding document. Rather, it is a summary of what you have agreed to in mediation. She will then give you information on how to turn the MSR into a legally binding document, if you so choose.

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Parties generally meet with Hayley for two or three sessions (each lasting two hours).

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What is the cost?

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