Program Overview

Parenting Coordinator | Facilitator | Mediator | Arbitrator

Click to read our blog interview with Kat

Kat has been working with people in conflict for over 20 years and has been providing services by distance for over 10 years. She has a diverse practice as a dispute resolution professional and registered social worker, in private practice. Kat’s practice emphasis is on relationship building and working across differences with a trauma informed and strength-based approach. Her main area of focus is working with families and groups with complex circumstances such as high conflict, a history of trauma or mental health challenges, addiction, involvement with the legal system or intercultural issues. Kat provides dispute resolution services, counselling and coaching, training, restorative justice circles, child interviewing and family assessments, organizational development, and group facilitation; She also provides the full range of her services by distance. She designs and provides training on mediation and conflict resolution skills, trauma informed practice, sexualized violence prevention, and family violence screening. Kat is also on the faculties of the Justice Institute of BC in both the Centre for Conflict Resolution and the Centre for Counselling and Community Safety, Continuing Legal Education of BC, and Herzing College in the Kompass Professional Development Program.

She has a Master of Social Work with a Clinical Specialization and her major project for her MSW was on the impact of grief and attachment in parenting coordination. She is a Chartered Arbitrator, Mediator, and Med-Arbitrator certified by ADR Canada, an Advanced Comprehensive Family Mediator certified by Family Mediation Canada, is on the rosters of Mediate BC, the BC Hear the Child, the BC Parenting Coordinator Roster Society and is recognized as a Qualified Parenting Coordinator in Saskatchewan. Kat received her Certificate in Conflict Analysis and Management and her Certificate in Family Mediation from The Institute of Conflict Analysis and Management with an emphasis on Conflict in Organizations and Group Facilitation Skills. She received her Certificate in Arbitration from the ADRBC (formerly BCAMI). She is on the Board of Directors of the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society, is President of the University of Victoria Alumni Association, and is a former member of the Boards of Directors of both ADRBC and Family Mediation Canada. Kat is a volunteer restorative justice facilitator with Restorative Justice Victoria, and is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (FDRIO), and the National Association of Forensic Social Workers (NOFSW).

Click here to read an interview with Andy and learn more about Arbitration careers and training 

Andy Livingston is the CEO of Dexterity Consulting. He is passionate about making the world more accessible for all. His expertise, mediation skills and work on accessibility accommodation issues are highly sought after.

Born with cerebral palsy, Andy’s parents were initially told by doctors that he would have difficulty integrating into society. Despite this early assessment, Andy went on to graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with a Double Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology; and, a Masters Degree in Sociology. Andy brings a unique perspective of lived experience to his work. As a wheelchair user, he is able to easily relate to people with disabilities and to organizations trying to improve accessibility at all levels.

During his time at the University of Saskatchewan, he participated in a number of groups aimed at making campus more accessible for people with disabilities. Following his Masters Degree, Andy worked as an Investigator/facilitator with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission for nearly ten years. During this time, Andy led numerous multi-party mediations and facilitations.

Over the last 20 years, Andy’s career focused on helping people improve their citizenship within society by allowing them greater levels of participation within their chosen communities. During his tenure with the Human Rights Commission, Andy was instrumental on noteworthy accessibility projects including the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina, and work on accessible transit in Regina and Saskatoon.

Most recently, Andy completed the educational components for his Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb) and Qualified Mediator (Q.Med) designations to further complement his years of experience in the human rights field.

Andy is a member of Alternative Dispute Resolution Saskatchewan, the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and the Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living advisory board through the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health. Andy has dedicated a number of years to serving on the volunteer boards of SaskAbilities (as President, Vice President and member), and the Canadian Disability Studies Association. In June of 2019, the Saskatchewan Minister of Social Services appointed Andy as a member of the Provincial Income Assistance Advisory Group for Social Services. This new group will provide advice and feedback on the development of income assistance policies, programs and services.

With a degree in Psychology, a Bachelor of Education from York University and Arbitration and Mediation Certifications with a focus on Family Law from Kompass, Cheryl has over 17 years of experience working with children and families. She is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers, the Ontario Association of Family Mediation, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association and a Qualified Arbitrator and an Associate Family Mediator with a Q. Arb Standing with both the governing bodies of ADRIC and ADRIO.

Cheryl is a driven Mediator/Arbitrator professional with a strong background in providing conflict resolution.  She is resourceful in gathering relevant information regarding disputes, providing appropriate documentation and guiding both individuals and groups to reach satisfactory agreements and settle complicated issues. Cheryl is devoted to adhering to ethical guidelines and laws throughout all casework.  She is an empathetic and self-directed therapist with excellent active listening and verbal communication skills, and she facilitates family, couples and individual counseling sessions to help clients pinpoint underlying emotions triggering instability and conflict. Cheryl is excellent in maintaining records and makes excellent written and oral reports concerning client care, counseling and therapeutic activities. Cheryl is a dedicated therapy professional and exceptionally well-versed in performing comprehensive assessments to identify client strengths, needs and overall functioning at micro and macro levels. She is experienced in developing and managing client treatment plans and is committed to establishing goals and objectives to help clients build healthy and positive personal relationships.