Hi, I’m Katherine Flores, the best mediator for families in your area. My whole life I’ve been obsessed with families and helping bring them together. I bring experience, comprehensive training, and exceptional efficiency.
At over 50 years old, I’ve developed an abiding approach to conflict as an adventure. By nature, I’m able to maintain a calm and impartial demeanor even in elevated and tense situations. My focus stays on understanding my clients and facilitating mutual understanding between them.
Growing up in foster care with wise mentors, I learned firsthand that there are many ways to raise a family. Some may consider my background a disadvantage. But I know it strengthens my abilities as a mediator. Let’s delve deeper into the reasons behind this.
Experience makes me your best mediator
My upbringing as a foster child grants me a deep understanding of family dynamics. I bring this knowledge into mediation sessions. That’s one reason I consider myself lucky for having my childhood. Growing up in a privileged area, I got an excellent education and joined caring families.
These foster parents were motivated by caring rather than financial gain. Foster care showed me diverse ways of nurturing a child and that caring can take various forms. Unlike many foster children, my childhood didn’t harden me. Instead, it fueled my curiosity for different perspectives.
I also have two grown children in college. During the pandemic, I navigated their attendance at two elite Manhattan high schools. My daughter graduated from Hunter College High School with honors. She’s graduating from University of Michigan in 2025 with honors as well. My son went to NEST+m and graduated with an A average and a position on his college basketball team.
By sharpening my ability to communicate well, listen with empathy, and keep an open mind, I’ve strengthened our relationships. As my kids navigate the journey to adulthood, our bond has grown stronger than ever. These skills, honed through the challenges of raising children in NYC, benefit my family and also make me a better family mediator.
These are the reasons I’m both sensitive and unafraid in the face of conflict. I know disagreements are inevitable among individuals who care about each other. Drawing from my personal and professional background in mediation, I’m equipped to guide you through conflicts and foster understanding. As a result, I’m confident that I’m the best mediator for you.
Trained to be the best mediator for you
During my 30 years as a writer and strategist I’ve explored the art of storytelling and underlying motivations. I studied individuals and their needs in order to better understand and reach people. My research included one-on-one interviews and organizing focus groups to gain valuable insights.
This work demanded objectivity, asking thought-provoking questions, and actively listening to respondents. I unearthed and documented consumer experiences, preferences, and emotions. Armed with this information, I developed impactful strategies catering to desires and needs of the target audience. This experience has also equipped me with skills necessary for conflict resolution. Mediators have a neutral and receptive mindset, ask probing questions and listen with care.
After my career as a strategist, I left the corporate world and started a writing and production business. For the next 20 years, I pursued my passion for storytelling, both mine and others. I crafted stories across various genres, in the form of video scripts, books, plays, websites, and advertisements. My love for stories not only kept me connected with others but also fueled my innate desire to help people. This core motivation inspired me to pursue a career in mediation.
In the realm of mediation, the art of storytelling holds great significance. Each party shares their personal narrative. My role as a mediator entails identifying the key issues and attributing meaning to them. This process parallels my work with writing and strategy clients. I’ve always helped people articulate their stories. This craft includes helping others express their needs which is a key element in what I do in mediation as well.
As I immersed myself in an intensive eight-month mediation training program, it became increasingly evident that my prior experiences had impeccably equipped me with the essential skills of a mediator.
The best mediator for you is efficient
Therapy has been a consistent part of my life. I started in childhood and continued with only a few breaks. While these sessions are helpful, they do have limitations. For instance, family therapy can be costly and inefficient.
Therapists are trained to help you address internal struggles, not conflict with others. As a result, family, couple, and group therapy may often feel ineffective or at best, inefficient. Ongoing sessions may become a financial concern.
On the other hand, mediation offers a short-term solution. The time commitment is flexible, ranging from just a few sessions to even a single session. The focus of mediation is to identify and address specific issues through agreed-upon goals.
Mediators provide guidance and equip participants with conflict management tools and skills. These skills include as active listening, effective communication, problem-solving, and prioritization. By working together, you can resolve conflicts efficiently and effectively in mediation.
Practice these essential skills and utilize effective tools during and outside of mediation sessions with me. By doing so, you can make significant progress within a limited timeframe. This could result in long-term benefits, such as saving both time and money.
Successful mediation may also require more active involvement from you in nurturing these relationships. However, the rewards are worth it, as your family will develop more cooperation, stronger bonds, and better communication.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as the best mediator near you, I bring a wide breadth of experience, relevant training, and an efficient process to help unite your family. This makes me your ideal choice for resolving family disputes and fostering ongoing harmony. Book a session and learn more about how mediation works on our Flo Mediation home page.