Zahra Taseer
Founder, Teal Family Mediation
I’m here to help you through this difficult time.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS
Member, Law Society of Ontario
Accredited Family Mediator, Ontario Association for Family Mediation (OAFM)
Member, Ontario Association of Collaborative Professionals (OACP)
Member, Collaborative Practice Canada (CPC)
Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)
Member, Collaborative Practice Hamilton-Halton (CPHH)
Member, Hamilton Law Association (HLA)
Executive Member, Ontario Bar Association, Family Law Section (OBA)
Member, The Advocates Society
EDUCATION / TRAINING
B.A.(Hons), McGill University
LL.B, University of Ottawa
LL.M. University of Toronto
CERTIFICATES IN:
Basic Family Mediation,
Advanced Family Mediation,
Family Relations
Screening for Domestic Violence and Power Imbalances
Level One and Level Two Collaborative Family Law
Basic Parenting Coordination
Advanced Parenting Coordination
National Family Arbitration Course
Q&A with Zahra
Q: What does mediation mean to you?
Mediation is the process by which agreement can be reached through an exploration and discussion. The family mediation process provides people an opportunity to discuss interests that extend beyond the law, including their needs, wants, fears, concerns, and goals for the future.
Q: What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about mediation?
A big misconception about mediation is that a mediator tells you what should happen (makes decisions for you). That is not the case. At Teal Mediation, we focus on letting clients drive the process.
Another misconception is that you don’t need a lawyer if you go to mediation. While the mediators at Teal Family Mediation are lawyers experienced in family law, in our role as mediators we cannot provide legal advice. That’s why we strongly recommend that all mediation participants retain their own independent lawyers to obtain legal advice before signing a separation agreement.
Q: How to see your role as a mediator?
“ My role as a mediator is to help couples to work out their differences and do so in a manner that might give them insight into themselves.
My goal is that this will lead to a better working relationship moving forward, especially if children are involved.”
Q: How does what you do benefit families?
Mediation provides families the opportunity to resolve issues by retaining decision making responsibility for their own lives and their children's lives which can be empowering. In fact, mediation is child focused. The guidance and resources we provide are specifically aimed at promoting the well-being of children, reducing conflict and promoting your ability to successfully parent together during this time of transition and into the future.
Q: What made you decide to become a mediator?
I want to be able to help people going through the transition of separation move forward in a peaceful manner with respect and dignity; to give them the space to reach a resolution without having deadlines and adversarial advocacy as part of the process.
Q: What would you like potential clients to know about you and what it would be like working with you?
I am calm and pragmatic and practical. I will guide them to resolve issues peacefully. I can show them the path of how to do that. Then it is their choice to move forward in the way that best works for them.