Open Space Mediation Blog

Liz Merrill Essential Steps To Take Before Your Divorce Mediation: A Peaceful Separation When it comes to marriages and separations, prioritizing decisions that foster mental peace is paramount. Globally, the average divorce rate hovered around 1.8 % until 2021....

Liz Merrill How to Spot a Narcissist: Exploring the Five Types of… Ever encountered someone with a seriously inflated ego, always craving attention and lacking empathy? You may have come across a narcissist!...  

Liz Merrill The Psychology of Control: How Abusive Partners Manipulate… Abusive relationships can leave deep scars in our psyche and completely change the way we think, feel, and act. Abuse can even change our perception...

Liz Merrill Why Should You Choose Divorce Mediation Over Litigation? Each month I'll be writing an article for Brainz, sharing my expertise in divorce, mediation, conflict resolution, communication skills for high conflict situations, how to manage narcissists, and...

Liz Merrill How Witnessing Domestic Violence Impacts the Future Relationships of Children Domestic violence is an incredibly harrowing reality that unfortunately affects far too many families. This deeply distressing trauma leaves a lasting impact, not just on the...

Liz Merrill Domestic Violence and Mental Health: What’s the Connection? Domestic violence is an incredibly grave and alarming issue that not only seriously impacts an individual's physical well-being but has profound and long-lasting implications for their mental...

Liz Merrill Why Should You Choose Divorce Mediation Over Litigation? Navigating the complex landscape of divorce can be an emotionally and legally challenging experience. As couples contemplate the difficult decision of parting ways, the method they choose to...

Liz Merrill The Psychology of Control: How Abusive Partners Manipulate Emotions and Thoughts Abusive relationships can leave deep scars in our psyche and completely change the way we think, feel, and act. Abuse can even change our perception of the world around us....

Liz Merrill How to Spot a Narcissist: Exploring the Five Types of Narcissism Ever encountered someone with a seriously inflated ego, always craving attention and lacking empathy? You may have come across a narcissist! Narcissism is something that goes beyond just...

Liz Merrill Love Turned Toxic: A Psychological Explanation of Trauma Bonding Love is a beautiful and transformative emotion that has the power to bring people together and create fulfilling relationships. However, sometimes love can turn toxic, leading to a complex...

Liz Merrill Building Healthy Relationships: The Role of Emotional Intelligence and Empathy The relationships we have with our partners, family, colleagues, and friends can make or break us. But how do we ensure that these links are healthy and lasting? One key factor...

Liz Merrill What Makes Divorce So Challenging? Why is divorce a $28 billion a year industry that affects 50 percent of the people involved in marriage? At the end of the day, I think it all comes down to emotions. If people didn’t have strong emotions around the...

Liz Merrill Financial Abuse During Divorce: How to Recognize, Prevent, and Find Support According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, financial abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse experienced by victims of domestic violence, with nearly 99%...

Liz Merrill FAQs: Divorce and the Family Home in Colorado One of the most challenging parts of a divorce is deciding what to do with the family home - especially with the recent rise of interest rates and property values. The family home, OF COURSE, is charged with...