Facilitative Mediation

Providing facilitative mediation services in the lower mainland.

Susan Van Altena, Accredited Family Mediator
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Hi, I’m Susan van Altena. When I’m taking a break from my 40-year career in the legal field, you can find me exploring nature with my dog or enjoying the company of my two adult daughters and close friends. When I look back over the last few decades, it’s easy to connect the dots that led me to a rewarding career in family mediation. My 27 years as a paralegal and eDiscovery Manager at a boutique litigation firm played a significant role, as did my own divorce when my kids were 3 and 5 years old. I was a single mom, working part-time and caring for my younger child, who was undergoing cancer treatment. This treatment continued for 18 months after we separated. That humbling experience sparked an inner resourcefulness, tenacity, and a calm attitude toward life, which has carried us forward like a steady current. When I asked my friends and family about my best qualities, they told me I was an excellent communicator, full of curiosity, and well-versed in the art of conversation. They also described me as both an empathetic teetotaler and a social butterfly! I realized that providing mediation services to those struggling with access to justice due to economic conditions would be fulfilling and aligned with my personal journey in spirituality, healing, and growth. That’s how Van Altena Mediation was born. I’ve witnessed the challenges of the current court framework, particularly in family matters, and as a mediator, I help families and couples find unique solutions to parenting plans, separation, and divorce. My clinical counseling skills enable me to support families during stressful and emotional times. I completed my family mediation training with the Law Society of British Columbia and the required Family Violence Screening training. I continue to pursue education in dispute resolution and clinical counseling, and I am a member of ADRBC (Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute of BC). Please email me at svanaltena@telus.net to enquire about a free consultation.

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Susan Van Altena, Accredited Family Mediator
Susan Van Altena
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Land Acknowledgment

Van Altena Mediation acknowledges and respects the traditional territory of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations where we live and work. Their ancestors have been stewards of this land for at least 10,000 years. Traditionally, Maple Ridge was known by its Halkomelem name 'Z'wa? and Katzie -- q̓ic̓əy̓ “land of the moss.” When using facilities in Vancouver, we acknowledge and respect the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.