Family Mediation & Healthy Divorce Program in Barrie
Family Mediation in Barrie, ON
A low-conflict alternative to court for separating couples. Our Healthy Divorce Program combines family mediation with individual counselling to help you and your family move forward with dignity, clarity, and care.
Meet Your Mediation Team
Two practitioners working together for your family
Cindy McAfee
Family Mediation • Gottman 7PP Educator • Counsellor
Cindy is the Founder of Balanced Life Therapy and brings over 15 years of experience supporting individuals, couples, and families through life’s most difficult transitions. She is trained in Family Mediation and New Ways for Families Mediation, certified in Gottman Couples Therapy as a Gottman 7PP Educator, and trained in screening for Domestic Violence.
Her approach is client-centred, warm, and grounded in evidence-based practice — with humour and authenticity sprinkled throughout. As the counselling pillar of the Healthy Divorce Program, Cindy helps clients process the emotional weight of separation so that mediation decisions can be made with clarity and steadiness.
Giulia Papa
Family Lawyer • Accredited Family Mediator (OAFM) • Voice of the Child Practitioner
Giulia is a family lawyer and Accredited Family Mediator with the Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM). She holds an LL.B. from the University of Kent, was called to the Ontario Bar in 2020, and holds a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is also trained in child-inclusive mediation and is a Voice of the Child practitioner.
In her mediation practice, Giulia facilitates productive, balanced discussions and prepares clear, comprehensive mediation agreements that reflect the decisions made by both parties. Her approach is child-centred, trauma-aware, and grounded in dignity, clarity, and collaboration.
A Low-Conflict Path Forward
Separation Does Not Have To Be Adversarial
Are you going through a separation or divorce and looking for a low-conflict solution? Have you heard how costly and stressful the court system can be? Is concern for your child’s well-being a priority for you in keeping the stress of this process at a minimum?
Separation or divorce is a very stressful experience, and can bring up feelings of anxiety, grief, anger, and confusion about the future. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the legal processes, worried about finances, and fearful about losing time with your children. You are likely experiencing communication breakdowns with your former partner, and have uncertainty about parenting arrangements as well.
Before assuming the worst and imagining a long, drawn-out, messy process, you can instead view this transition as a time for all parties to have their needs met, their voices heard, and their hopes and goals respected. At Balanced Life Therapy, we provide a unique Healthy Divorce Program that offers family mediation services in conjunction with individual counselling.
What We Explore in Family Mediation
The key issues that arise during separation
Parenting Plans
Custody arrangements, schedules, and decision-making frameworks that prioritize your children’s well-being.
Separation Agreements
Formal, written agreements that document the decisions you make together and protect both parties going forward.
Communication Strategies
Practical tools for respectful communication between co-parents that reduce conflict and emotional escalation.
Financial Considerations
Spousal support, child support, and the financial framework that supports both households after separation.
Asset & Property Division
Equalization of assets and division of property in a fair, transparent way that reflects your shared priorities.
Why Mediation Is a More Constructive Path
You stay in control of decisions that shape your family’s future
In litigation, judges are often tasked with making significant, life-changing decisions on your behalf. Mediation allows you to retain control, collaborate directly, and reach agreements that reflect what matters most to your family.
You Stay in Control
Make decisions together rather than having them decided for you by a judge in a courtroom setting.
Lower Cost
Expenses are typically divided more evenly and the process is significantly more affordable than court proceedings.
Private & Confidential
Keep the details of your separation private and out of the public eye, rather than part of a public court record.
Focused on Children
Reduces exposure to conflict and supports a healthier co-parenting relationship that protects your kids’ well-being.
Clear & Understandable
Mediators guide you through each step in plain language, so you leave with clarity about your rights and options.
Flexible & Creative
Allows for tailored, creative solutions to what truly matters in your family’s life — not just one-size-fits-all rulings.
The Healthy Divorce Program
Two pillars working together — family mediation and individual counselling — for emotionally supported, structured decision-making throughout your separation.
Family Mediation
Conducted by an accredited family mediator who provides both parties with the information needed to develop a sustainable agreement in a non-judgmental, compassionate environment.
- Parenting plans and custody arrangements
- Separation agreements and asset division
- Spousal support and child support
- Communication strategies for co-parents
- Annual or semi-annual check-ins to reassess
Individual Counselling
Therapy alongside mediation helps you process the emotional weight of separation so decisions are made with a clear head, taking personal factors into consideration.
- Process feelings between mediation sessions
- Learn conflict-resolution skills and tools
- Structured problem-solving and co-parenting strategies
- Ways to reduce emotional escalation
- Often covered by medical benefits
Why Counselling Alongside Mediation
Your Feelings Belong in the Process Too
Therapy helps mediation go more smoothly
Meeting with a counsellor to discuss your separation or divorce helps ensure both your and your former partner’s feelings, thoughts, and emotions are considered — because they matter significantly in this process and can make the mediation plan go more smoothly.
While family mediation involves both parties, the counselling aspect can be individual or joint depending on what you both prefer. Some couples have only one person attend counselling while both attend mediation. After we complete a mediation session, we recommend scheduling follow-up therapy appointments within a few days to process what came up.
Our counselling is trauma-informed and child-inclusive. If both parents agree, your child can have an intake appointment with one of our therapists and then attend counselling sessions as well. The goal is to help your whole family move through this transition with as much steadiness and support as possible.
How the Healthy Divorce Program Works
A clear, structured path from first call to final agreement
Free Consultation
A 20-minute consultation to understand your situation and answer your initial questions. No commitment required.
Mediation Sessions
Work with an accredited family mediator on parenting plans, finances, communication, and asset division.
Counselling Support
Individual or joint counselling between mediation sessions to process emotions and develop coping strategies.
Legal Review
Once an agreement is reached, bring it to your lawyers for independent legal advice before formal signing.
Ongoing Check-Ins
Annual or semi-annual check-ins to reassess if your plan is still working and amend it if needed.
Common Questions
You Might Still Have Questions or Concerns About Family Mediation…
Will participating in the Healthy Divorce Program mean I have to give up my legal rights?
No. The goal of the program is not to take away your legal rights but to help you make informed decisions and reduce conflict. The program provides tools and guidance that help families resolve issues more constructively and efficiently.
We strongly encourage you to get legal advice before, during, and after meeting with your family mediator. Once your mediation agreement is finalized, you bring it to your lawyers, who provide independent legal advice. Once both parties and their lawyers sign the agreement, it becomes a formalized and binding separation agreement.
What if my former partner and I have too much conflict to work together?
High conflict is very common during separation. The program is designed to help individuals learn strategies to manage communication and reduce escalation. Even when the other person is not fully cooperative, learning new approaches can significantly improve how situations are handled and reduce stress overall.
During individual counselling, you can discuss these issues and learn strategies to manage these conversations before making important decisions for your family — including how you will co-parent and what regular communication could look like for the two of you.
How will this program help my children?
Mediation for separated parents, alongside individual counselling, helps keep the focus on your children’s needs, improves co-parenting communication, and reduces their exposure to distress. When parents are able to manage separation in a healthier way, children are more likely to adjust successfully and maintain strong relationships with both parents.
Our counselling offering is also trauma-informed and child-inclusive. If both parents agree, your child can have an intake appointment with our therapist and then attend counselling as well.
Is the Healthy Divorce Program covered by insurance?
The family mediation portion of the program is not covered by insurance, but it is significantly more affordable than the court system — which is a costly, lengthy process. The individual counselling component is often covered by medical benefits, depending on your specific coverage.
We can discuss costs in detail during your free consultation so you have a clear sense of what to expect before getting started.
Do you offer mediation and counselling in person and online?
Yes. We provide in-person sessions at 27 Gowan St. Barrie, ON L4N 2N9, and virtual sessions for both family mediation and individual counselling. You can choose the format that works best for your schedule, location, and comfort level — or mix the two as needed.
What happens after we reach an agreement?
Once your agreement is finalized in family mediation, both parties bring it to their respective lawyers, who provide independent legal advice. Once the parties and their lawyers sign the agreement, it constitutes a formalized and binding separation agreement.
We also offer annual or semi-annual check-ins, depending on the established plan, to reassess if your agreement is still working for your family. The details can be amended if circumstances change.
A More Peaceful Path Forward For Your Family Starts Here
Family mediation is an affordable and less stressful way to create a plan for your separation or divorce, and therapy can provide invaluable support throughout the process. Reach out to book a free 20-minute consultation and get started with our Healthy Divorce Program.