Why I do this work?  I enjoy helping couples understand and achieve their goals, especially so that parents can stay focused on the needs of their children.

My practice:  I practiced exclusively as a court-connected domestic relations mediator for parenting plans, including as an employee of Multnomah County Family Court Services and as a contractor for several counties, including Yamhill, Marion, Polk, Hood River and Tillamook Counties. For over a decade, my job was to listen to clients and ask questions.

Background:

• Graduated Willamette University with a joint JD/MBA degree
• CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) designation

After Hours:  I am actively involved in his community as a supporter for many charitable organizations including Bradley Angle Women’s Shelter, Kenya Keys for Education, and Youth Outside. I am also involved with Teatro Milagro.  I am also a lover of tennis, backpacking, outdoor adventures, foreign films, international travel, new non-fiction, and old literature.  As a young adult, I lived in Chile and Ecuador where I developed fluency in Spanish.

Pete Johnson
JD, MBA, Financial Neutral

Why I do this work? Divorce can and should be a respectful and transformative process, not a civil war.

My practice: My primary goal is to help families in transition achieve the best possible results for the least amount of emotional and financial stress. I help families create agreements that are durable, and strive to leave them with the necessary tools to resolve future disputes without going to court. My practice includes Collaborative Divorce, Mediation, Independent Adoptions, and select contested litigation.

Background: I moved to Oregon from my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee to attend Lewis and Clark Law School. In my second year there, I clerked for the Honorable Robert E. Jones of the United States District Court, District of Oregon. I worked at firms with a wide range of practice areas from business advising and strategy to elder law and intellectual property law. My practice has been focused almost exclusively in family law since 2001.

After Hours: I enjoy spending time with friends and family, hosting gatherings at my home, and checking out Portland’s wonderful array of restaurants.

Joanna “Jo” Posey

Attorney at Law / Mediator

Why I do this work? I am passionate about supporting children and their families as they navigate the grieving process of divorce and work to create peaceful homes.

My practice: I focus on helping children to express and explore their complex thoughts and feelings about loss and change and to develop strengths to cope with separations and transitions. I encourage parents to create intentional child-centered interactions. I offer parent consultations, brief assessments, and counseling therapy. I work with mediators and parenting coordinators to help clients create plans for their families.

Background: I taught fifth grade for twelve years prior to receiving my Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark College in 2006. Currently, in addition to my counseling practice, I teach Group Counseling for Children classes at Lewis and Clark College and offer various parent trainings throughout the Portland area.

After Hours: Being in nature and spending time with my family help to rejuvenate and restore me.  I also enjoy traveling adventures, and long meals with my treasured friends.

Diane Gans, MA, LPC
Psychotherapist & Child Specialist

1609 Willamette Falls Dr West Linn OR 97068

Why do I do this work? I work as a mediator and Collaborative attorney to assist individuals and couples who are willing to work together to achieve peaceful, respectful solutions to their family issues.

My practice: I provide free consultations that including an overview of the typical issues involved in separation, and the ways couples can work together on win-win solutions. My clients determine how often they wish to meet, how fast they want to proceed and the specific solutions that will work best for their families.

Background: I’ve practiced law for 30 years and mediated for the last decade supported by 750+ hours training in Collaborative skills. As a peacefully divorced father of two, I know firsthand the benefits that we can provide our kids from handling our breakups well.

After hours: I enjoy time outdoors, and try to keep up with my teen age son’s track and other activities.

Why I do this work: Having counseled children and families in public schools for 30 years, I witnessed the devastation and heartache a family suffers going through an adversarial divorce. The adults often experience so much pain, there is very little emotional support left for the children. Both Mediation and Collaborative Divorce offer healthy, supportive alternatives to unproductive conflict and aspire to meet the needs of all family members.

My practice: Whether I work as a communication and parenting coach in the Collaborative Law process or work as a mediator, I am committed to creating a safe environment for couples navigating the often painful experience of divorce. I encourage individuals to understand and express their emotions and assist them to end their marriage in a respectful and honest manner. If they have children, I help couples work together in their new relationship as co-parents. It is my belief and goal that these processes enable individuals to move to a place of hope as they transition into their new lives.

Background: I worked as an elementary school counselor for many years. I have a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Lewis and Clark and am a trained mediator and mental health coach in the Collaborative process.

After Hours: I love to garden, to create art, to spend time with friends and family and hang out with my dog. I have a passion for travel. I have been fortunate enough to travel to many countries around the world which has taught me compassion is the key to healing.