Rosenthal Law & Mediation
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
212.532.4704

We're here for
your family.

  • Divorce
    • Overview of Divorce Services
    • Divorce Mediation
    • Collaborative Law
    • Uncontested Divorce
    • Review / Consulting Attorney
    • Support Calculator
    • Divorce Resources
  • Mediation
    • Mediation Services Overview
    • Divorce Mediation
    • Mediation Resources
  • Family Law
    • Family Law Overview
    • Prenuptial Agreements
    • LGBT Families
    • Support Calculator
    • Family Law Resources
  • Adoption
    • Adoption Services Overview
    • Lesbian & Gay Adoption / Second Parent Adoption
    • Step-Parent Adoption / Kinship Adoption
    • Foster Parent & Agency Adoption
    • Birth Mothers & Adoptive Parents
    • Adoption Resources
  • Contact
internal-main-image-divorce

Breaking the news to the kids

August 16, 2021 By Joy Rosenthal

How to tell your kids you are getting divorced

Are you the child of a divorce? If so, do you remember when you realized that your parents were separating? My guess is that you do.What do you remember about it–Do you remember what room you were in? Or what you heard? What did you feel? Who comforted you? What was said? Did your parents tell you or did you overhear something? Was it in the context of an argument or was it presented to you calmly? Did your parents … read more »

Filed Under: Children, conflict resolution, Divorce, General Tagged With: children, divorce, family, listening, mediation

Like a deer in headlights?

May 2, 2021 By Joy Rosenthal

Lisa sat in my office and cried silently for half an hour straight.  I had invited Lisa and Steve to an introductory meeting to explain the divorce mediation process.  He had just asked for the divorce, and she looked like a deer caught in the headlights.  At the end of the meeting, she looked over at him and asked, “How did we get here?” Months later, when they actually started the process, her demeanor was very different. By then, Lisa … read more »

Filed Under: Divorce Tagged With: divorce, listening, mediation, stages of divorce

Layers of Sound

April 23, 2021 By Joy Rosenthal

I have been meditating for a few years, and was part of a workshop recently where the facilitator had us listen to “layers of sound.”  I didn’t understand what she was talking about at first.  It sounded a little mysterious, and a little woo woo…. But I decided to try what she was asking.  And it’s not hard – I’ll show you. (This is an interactive blog post!) Listen – right now – first, to the sounds that are farthest … read more »

Filed Under: Divorce, General, Mediation, Mindfulness, Negotiation, Nonviolence Tagged With: common ground, compassion, conflict, inner voice, listening, mediation, negotiating

We Hear What We Want to Hear!

March 10, 2020 By Joy Rosenthal

Two business women having a casual chat or discussion in the city perhaps on their lunch break. Shallow depth of field.

But how did you flunk the test? We studied together! I know you were prepared!” Katie and I were study buddies during our first semester in law school. I had no idea what to expect on the exam, and I had been worried. But Katie had been so confident. She and I had gone over all of the cases for our Constitutional Law class, which focused on the civil rights cases. She knew the facts, the holdings and reasoning that … read more »

Filed Under: Mindfulness, Negotiation Tagged With: Communication, listening, mediation

Just Listen

October 19, 2018 By Joy Rosenthal

Just Listen by Joy Rosenthal

I write this on my way back from a conference in Washington, DC for the Project for Integrating Spirituality, Law and Politics (PISLAP) entitled, “Fostering Human Connection in an Era of Alienation.” One workshop I attended there, led by John Spiegel and Judith M. Glasser — and based upon the work of Nancy Kline — was called “Souls in Action: Using ‘Generative Attention’ to Resolve Conflicts.” Their assertion is that attention is a creative act, and that we can help … read more »

Filed Under: Happiness Tagged With: John Spiegel, Law and Politics (PISLAP), listening, mediation, Nancy Kline, Project for Integrating Spirituality

I Hear You

August 31, 2017 By Joy Rosenthal

I Hear You by Joy Rosenthal

“I hear you.” Listening is a very simple act. It’s a subtle act. It is something that we do naturally with the people we love, and when things are going smoothly. Yet one of the most powerful statements that we can ever make is to say honestly, “I hear you. I recognize what you’re going through.” What is listening? Being open to hearing not only the words the speaker is saying, but also to her tone of voice, to read … read more »

Filed Under: Divorce, Mediation Tagged With: collaborative process, divorce, divorce mediation, family, hearing, listening, mediation

Jazz and Mediation

May 25, 2011 By Joy Rosenthal

A few months ago I printed a wonderful quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. about the contributions that jazz makes to humanity.  That touched me, particularly coming from a minister, because there are some who have said that jazz is antithetical to religion. I have been listening to jazz since I was a teenager, and have been trying my hand at it (on the flute and on the piano) for a few years.  Still amateur, for sure, but trying. … read more »

Filed Under: Mediation, Mindfulness Tagged With: compassion, honesty, inner voice, listening, mediation, music, understanding

Elder Mediation hits the Press !

February 5, 2011 By Joy Rosenthal

The Wall Street Journal published a terrific article yesterday, Family Value: A Referee for Family Disputes,  about the value of elder mediation, and its value to families facing tough decisions around care-giving and inheritance.  This is just the latest in several major newspapers to cover it. It’s exciting to be one of the forerunners of this new and growing field!   I recommend a few: Eldercare Mediators help resolve Feuds, Washington Post, Dec 14, 2010 When the Family Needs an … read more »

Filed Under: Caregiving, Elder Mediation, Elder Mediation, Families, General, Inheritance, Mediation, Probate Mediation Tagged With: caregiving, children, elder, elder mediation, estate mediation, family, finances, honesty, listening, mediation, press

Mediate! Don’t litigate!

January 21, 2011 By Joy Rosenthal

I was coming out of the subway the other day by NYC’s City Hall, and found myself in the middle of a demonstration.  A bunch of young people, all dressed in pea coats and  fisherman’s knit scarves and hats held were chanting, “Don’t go to court – mediate!” and “Mediate – don’t litigate!”  I was quickly given a handbill for the new TV series, Fairly Legal, which premiered last night.  The “demonstrators” were actually paid by a marketing firm…   While … read more »

Filed Under: Mediation Tagged With: divorce, listening, mediation

A Lesson from Tangier

August 25, 2010 By Joy Rosenthal

I just came back from vacation in Spain. As part of our adventure, my husband and I took a train from Sevilla to the south coast, and a ferry across the Strait of Gibraltar to Tangier, Morocco. We only stayed overnight, but in that short time, I learned a lesson. The guidebooks warn you about the hustlers who see the tourist as an easy target. For that reason, many tourists only come for a day trip, hiring guides in advance … read more »

Filed Under: Cultural Competence, Negotiation, Travel Tagged With: common ground, compassion, inclusivity, listening, negotiating, understanding

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Categories

Recent Posts

  • When One Door Closes…
  • 7 Tips for Parents Talking to the Kids About Divorce or Separation
  • Did Will Smith have an amygdala hijack?  

Recent Comments

  • Lauren Petkin on As I Live and Breathe…
  • Steve Abel on What’s Fair Is Fair… Or Is It?
  • Joy Rosenthal on Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Archives

How Can We Help You?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

↑ Back to Top
Rosenthal Law & Mediation
212.532.4704

Joy S. Rosenthal, Esq.
226 Prospect Park West #156
Brooklyn, NY 11215

The information on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney to obtain legal advice regarding your own situation.
Client Resources | Make a Payment | Disclaimer | Privacy | Sitemap
Website Design by Team of Horses | ©2010-2022 Rosenthal Law & Mediation