Cary Schawel

FOUNDER

My 34-year career as a professor of psychology and mediator at the college level has prepared me well for mediation. As a psychologist, I have a deep understanding of human behavior and an ability to anticipate and deal with a wide range of emotions and defense mechanisms. Mediation requires insight, communication, confidence, and pragmatism. My career has prepared me well for the challenges of divorce mediation. I’ve learned how mediation can help you take a difficult situation and move past it with as little stress as possible, never losing sight of what is best for you moving forward.  

Affiliations:

International Academy of Dispute Resolution, Board Member, 2014 to Present
Lake County Behavioral Health Association

Degrees and Certifications:

Eastern Illinois University, Masters in Psychology, 1982
Northern Illinois University,  Masters in Education Administration, 1987
Adler School of Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certificate, 2001
Northwestern University, Mediation Certificate, 2014
Conflict Resolution Training Inc., Divorce Mediation Certificate, 2017

As your mediator, I always work with both partners together. Sessions typically last one hour but can last 90 minutes. Weekly sessions will continue until all 25 issues required by law are agreed upon. Once agreement has been reached, a memorandum of understanding will be written by me and you will take that to court to be approved by a judge.

Mediation works well because the issues that must be resolved are clearly spelled out by law and you decide what is right for you as a couple. No one is deciding for you and your voice will always be heard.

Divorce mediation calls for a specific set of skills. I am a psychologist with the skill set and ability to help guide you in reaching a fair marital settlement agreement. As your mediator, I have the listening skills, critical thinking skills, and nearly forty years of practice working as a neutral party to help people move forward in their lives.  

The process of getting a divorce does not require an attorney to reach an agreement. In fact, many people see the approach of an attorney as being too adversarial. The approach I use in mediation is to make sure both parties are provided the opportunity to discuss what they need and to be reassured that they have the support they need.   

Most of the couples I work with in mediation say they do not want to hurt or “put the screws to their spouse” in their divorce.  On the other hand, nobody wants to be taken advantage of.  My primary role as your divorce mediator is to facilitate fair and productive conversations that lead to an equitable agreement. 

Divorce mediation works best when you, your spouse, and me, as your mediator, work as a team to settle on the most equitable agreement possible. My pledge to you is that I will take the time to hear and understand you both so you can feel confident that the agreement you sign is in everyone's best interest.