When a marriage ends, the hardest part isn’t always the paperwork—it’s the pressure to turn partners into opponents. We sit down with Kevin E. Johnson of Resolvium Mediation Group to show how families can separate with clarity, fairness, and dignity while keeping control of their future. Instead of handing your life to a judge, mediation invites both parties to shape the outcome together, lower conflict, and protect kids from the emotional crossfire.

Kevin shares the turning point that led him to this work: a high-conflict divorce that cost more than $70,000 and left lingering scars. That experience fuels his mission to help others resolve disputes without destroying relationships or bank accounts. He breaks down what mediation is and isn’t—neutral, not lawyering; facilitative, not punitive—and explains how keeping decisions in the hands of the parties leads to better agreements on parenting plans, schedules, assets, and next steps. We talk through common myths, the value of interest-based negotiation, and the very real difference this approach makes for children who see and feel more than adults think.

We also cover the practical side: how to find a qualified mediator, what to expect in the room, and why Resolvium’s five-step divorce framework offers a clear path from confusion to closure. Kevin serves Southern California while his colleagues support families nationwide, making it easier to access help where you live. Along the way, we touch on sustainable co-parenting, building future-proof agreements, and using dispute resolution clauses to keep you out of court when new challenges arise.

If you want a process that reduces stress, preserves dignity, and keeps your financial future intact, this conversation offers a roadmap. Subscribe for more neighbor-to-neighbor stories, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find a kinder way through divorce.