BRIAN JAMES

DIVORCE MEDIATOR AND PARENTING COORDINATOR

Brian James is an experienced  Divorce and Family Mediator with offices throughout Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin. He started his mediation practice, C.E.L. and Associates, Inc., in late 2005.

Brian earned his B.S. in Sociology from Northern Illinois University in 1994 and completed training in Mediation and Conflict Resolution through Northwestern University.

The first 10 years of his professional career, Brian worked in the Criminal Justice System helping domestic violence and divorcing families resolve family conflicts. He assisted with the healing process that took place after these life-changing events had occurred. His approach to mediation is client driven. By aiding his clients with the resolution of their divorce issues outside of the courtroom, Brian helps create a win/win situation for all parties in a divorce.

He is able to help people work through their problems, and at the same time, give them skills to use in future conflicts. With mediation, we help people work through their conflicts while teaching them problem solving, empathy; self-determination and giving them the ability to make informed decisions for themselves. When confronted with a conflict, if they refer back to what they learned in mediation, I will have achieved my objective.

Brian recently celebrated 27 years of marriage to his wife Cindy. They have two boys, Connor, age 25 forever, and Evan, age 22. Connor and Evan are the C. and E. in C.E.L. & Associates, Inc.

MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATIONS

Association for Conflict Resolution (National and Chicago Chapter)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Wisconsin Association of Mediators
Children’s Rights Council of Illinois
National Parents Leadership Counsel Network

Frequent speaker at Chicago area Domestic Violence Shelters
Featured regularly in many online articles and ezine