About Us
OUR APPROACH
Mediate for Life works within the model of co-mediation, in this case the pairing of an attorney and a clinical social worker working together to enhance the mediation and help reframe the disputes to facilitate a mutually acceptable agreement.This combination, along with the partners being husband and wife, is highly effective in working through many types of conflict, most particularly matters of legal separation and divorce.
THE BENEFITS
The reality behind the old adage that two heads are better than one was the motivating factor for our co-mediative approach.We bring decades of experience in both the law and clinical therapy to each session — together with wisdom, and specialized training, In addition, we can offer different gender perspectives and personal points of view in order to make the negotiations lead to a final agreement reflective of both parties fears, needs and wants.
I work to transform conflict and pain into freedom and happiness.
Patricia R. Bettman, L.C.S.W.
Patricia’s journey to becoming a partner at Mediate for Life has had many stops, each driven by her life-long interest in learning about how families do or don’t work.
She began as a Theatre major at Ithaca College where she realized that she was more attuned with learning about family dynamics than acting them out them on stage. After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology, she earned her graduate degree in Social Work at the University of Syracuse. It was there that she realized the world of social behavior, ethics, and the psychology of the soul was where she wanted to be.
Over the 35 years of her practice she worked with high school students and their families dealing with addiction, bullying, family dynamics and communication skills. She also worked with individuals and families in residential and out-patient rehabilitation and started her own psychotherapy practice. But even as she helped people through the process of transformation, she wanted more and settled on starting a Mediation practice that leveraged he psychotherapy background and her husband Steve's Law practice.
This practice, while focusing on divorce mediation, also guides individuals and families to resolution for a wide range of transitional issues.
- The Center For Mediation & Training
- Syracuse University School Of Social Work
- Ithaca College, BA
I help re-frame Divorce so clients can control the narrative.”
Steven J. Bettman, Esq.
Steve brings a unique point of view to bear in his role as co-mediator. It’s a perspective gained from growing up the son of a lawyer and Village Justice, from studying sociology, politics, psychology, and cultural anthropology as an undergrad, from earning his law degree and joining his father’s firm and from being involved in his community as a volunteer with youth sports, and religious and social outreach programs that’s culminating in his decision to pursue a graduate degree in social work.
These experiences allow him to approach his clients in their totality as human beings and not just as people in need of a positive result in resolving a conflict.
- The Center For Mediation & Training
- Hamlin University School of Law
- Ithaca College, BA
- School of Social Work University of Alabama 2026 Master of Social Work
