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Chuck Amital

P.O. Box 225265
San Francisco, California 94122
United States
Office Phone: 650-918-2196
chuck@amitalmediation.com
Member since 2015
Membership Type: IACP

Profession(s)

Mental Health Professional, Mediator

I believe that the Collaborative process holds the promise of helping couples make it through the separation and divorce process with integrity and dignity, while also preserving their ability to work together, especially when children are involved.

I look forward to supporting you, as you and your spouse/co-parent navigate this difficult transition.
Area(s) of Practice: Mediator Divorce Coach Child Specialist Please see "Comments" tab above, for additional information.
License(s): Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist California Bar Association

Undergraduate Education

Bachelor of Laws, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1985

Professional Education

M.A. Integral Counseling Psychology, California Institute of Integral Studies, 1995

Comments

I am both a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a licensed California attorney, with a mediation practice that focuses on providing the following services: • Parenting plan (custody and visitation) mediation with separated and divorced parents. • Consultation with individual clients to prepare them to participate more effectively in mediation at Family Court Services. • Consultation with therapists who work with clients (in co-parenting, family/reunification, and/or individual counseling) around issues related to separation and divorce. For 14 years, I served as a recommending mediator at Family Court Services (FCS) in San Mateo County. In that capacity, I conducted over 2300 parenting plan mediation sessions, helping separated (unmarried and married) and divorced parents from a variety of cultural backgrounds reach agreements in order to facilitate as smooth a transition as possible for their children during a tumultuous time in their family’s life. During my last four years at FCS, I was the Senior/Supervising Child Custody Recommending Counselor, providing consultation and supervision for mediation staff, while continuing to mediate cases. I also taught newly hired FCS mediators from around the state at the yearly New Court Professionals training under the auspices of the Judicial Council of California. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist formerly in private practice, I have experience working with multicultural adults, couples, families, and youth on the following issues: relationship difficulties, family and parenting problems, substance abuse, individuation, and anxiety and depression. Although mediation is not therapy, my experience as a psychotherapist informs my work as a mediator. I am able to attune more deeply to the emotions that underlie and accompany peoples’ positions and experiences. This enables me able to assist parties in communicating with one another more productively so that they can reach agreements. People sometimes experience mediation as therapeutic, because they are able to express themselves to, and be understood by, one another. I was admitted to the California Bar in 2012. As a licensed attorney, I am able to provide parties with information about the law so that they can understand how the law might apply to their situation. As a mediator, however, I do not represent them or provide them with legal advice. My style as a mediator is a blend of facilitative, directive, and transformative. I am compassionate and supportive, and leave no stone unturned in my efforts to assist people in reaching agreements. I enjoy helping separating and divorcing parties navigate the challenges and conflicts inherent in the separation and divorce process, in a manner that preserves the dignity of the participants, as well as the integrity of the relationships among the family members.