Fantastic result. I cannot recommend Rich highly enough. I’ve had a challenging time with the mother of my children, who sought to drive a wedge between our children and me. After 2 years of legal dramas I’d almost given up hope of any communication with them. Everyone was telling me I’d have to wait until they’re adults, but with Rich’s help, I’ve since reconnected with both kids (16 and 14) and am now making up for lost time. If you’re a good parent, Rich can help you deal with the other parent, no matter how difficult they are. He’ll help your children to regain the confidence to speak with you and see your side of the story so you can rekindle your relationship with them. He’s very kind and professional, so do reach out to him. It’s worth it.

The Life & Death Retreat was life changing for me! It was so much deeper than standard psychotherapy, which I realised had only solved surface level problems as they came up, but did not help me address the root causes. I was able to experience my true shadow and power, which then enabled me to experience my true light and joy at a much higher level. By the end of the retreat, I immediately noticed a change. My resentment, anger and anxiety had gone, replaced with a sense of control and enhanced confidence in my own abilities. I also felt content and at ease, with an ability to experience the joy of being present and appreciating the little things around me.

On returning home that evening, my wife immediately felt that my energy had changed… in a good way! She said it felt like the “old me” that she had dated 20 years ago. I engaged in conversation with her that would have previously led to arguments, but they did not bother me anymore, and I was able to raise my points and advocate for myself without anger, anxious energy or defensiveness.

A friend the next day also noticed a change, stating my posture was different, that I look relaxed and was more engaging. The following day at work, problems that would have increased my stress seemed manageable now. I did not criticise myself internally for not achieving everything like I had done in the past, instead I prioritised my work and was more effective.

All of this was only possible due to the outstanding facilitation by Rich. His ability to tailor his therapy, be present with me, and guide me through this journey was phenomenal! He explained everything so clearly as we stepped through the retreat program. I felt comfortable but challenged, and fully supported throughout. His use of the wonderful setting on a property in the Northern Rivers area was ideal to connect with nature, with my primal shadow side and to experience re-birth into the warmth and light of being present.

I highly recommend this retreat to anyone who feels like they need to go deeper to solve an underlying problem in their relationship or anything else.

As a former family lawyer, Rich is adept at understanding the intricacies involved in navigating a resolution to help clients avoid litigation, wherever possible.

Rich’s ability to quickly build rapport with clients and put them at ease is invaluable, particularly in complex parenting matters.  Clients have repeatedly reported to me that Rich’s objectivity and child centric approach has enabled them to remain child focused in the midst of what can sometimes be an emotionally charged experience.

My firm has engaged the services of Rich in a number of complex parenting and property matters.

Given his background in family law, and as a psychotherapist, he has been able to provide a unique and specialised perspective in assisting parties resolve issues that have arisen in their relationships and following separation. That assistance in parenting matters has extended to, on occasions, a child inclusive process which clients have found beneficial in reaching positive and child focused outcomes for their family.

He provides excellent value and clients have consistently informed me that they appreciate his insight and assistance in resolving their matters and allowing them to move forward with their life with certainty.

Rich has played an integral role in assisting many of my clients who, for many of them, are battling the most difficult time in their lives. Through his extensive experience and skills developed over many years in the legal profession and more recently, as a psychotherapist and mediator, my clients leave the mediation process feeling heard and supported.

Rich allows my clients to communicate with him in voicing their concerns throughout the process, whilst also guiding negotiations to ensure positive and effective communication between the parties. Rich conducts an intake process well before the mediation which allows clients to build rapport with him and during that process, they gain confidence in the mediation process.

I have found Rich to be particularly effective in parenting disputes as he encourages child-focussed and positive communication whilst providing other perspectives around the views of a child and the other parent, drawing from his experience as a therapist. Rich has also supported many of my clients in achieving a resolution involving complex property disputes, allowing those clients the opportunity to move on with their lives with certainty and finality.

Rich is an exceptional mediator and has successfully mediated a number of matters in which our firm has been involved over a number of years.

He brings a clear understanding of the intricacies of Family Law and a deep understanding of clients’ needs. In my experience, he is highly adaptive in his approach and handles both property and parenting matters with equal expertise. His background in counselling, therapy and behavioural science makes him a particularly good choice in my view for high-conflict matters, or matters where one or both parties have adopted an entrenched position.

I have no hesitation in recommending Rich.

Rich has mediated a number of family disputes for me. His genuine compassion and empathy for people involved in these disputes helps achieve an outcome which would not otherwise be achieved.

He meets the parties’ needs to keep them focused on resolution. He is committed and engaged for the full duration of the mediation. He reality tests both parties to maximise the prospects of matters realistically resolving. He is calm, methodical, and very patient.

I recommend him highly.

I have known Rich as a mediator since 2019. I have also participated in family dispute resolutions in which Rich has been the mediator. As both a mediator and family therapist, Rich is able to conduct child-inclusive mediations whereby he holds the roles of both mediator and child consultant, offering him unique insight into the mediation process.

I have always found Rich to be a person of upmost integrity and professionalism. Rich consistently demonstrates respect and concern for the parties and is genuinely committed to achieving practical and sustainable outcomes for all involved. Rich is able to put people to ease and successfully facilitate discussions between parties to reveal needs and interests.

With a wealth of experience in family law, Rich is able to undertake critical thinking and analysis to assist the parties develop workable solutions for the emotional and financial wellbeing of the parties. Rich applies a child focused approach in parenting matters and is genuinely committed to helping people achieve positive outcomes.

Rich is a highly qualified, compassionate and skilled mediator.

Exceptional FDR Practitioner. My solicitor in Toowoomba referred me to Rich Mahler as a mediator to help me with a consent order for parenting. During my first phone call with him, he gave me the time to explain my concerns and validated how I was feeling. He explained the process clearly and said he would make an uncomfortable process be as comfortable as he possibly could. He also made himself available all the way along leading up to the scheduled mediation and responded promptly.

During the shuttle meditation I started with feeling a little uncomfortable but this quickly changed with his casual yet professional approach. He used humour regularly which I loved. He was very efficient and productive with technology during the entire process and when moving between each party on the day of mediation.

By the end of the day the draft consent orders had been finalised, signed and sent to my solicitor for filing.

I would highly recommend Rich for anyone seeking mediation or therapy. He has a very positive, compassionate, and encouraging nature. He had a way of making me feel comfortable with him right from the first e-mail communication. Even on video conference, he made me feel like I was in his presence.

Rich, very quickly and with little information, was able to see my situation clearly and accurately. He demonstrated great compassion, understanding and deep insight into my situation. He was a ray of light that shone through the vast darkness of the separation and family court process that I did not expect or even allow myself to imagine existed. He made me feel that he was truly honoured to help me, rather than burdened by me, something that was so refreshing and not found in this long and arduous process prior to meeting him.

Rich performed an absolute miracle in my situation, ending in one day what was a seemingly never-ending nightmare battle. He had an amazing way of being clear and firm, but also kind and understanding.

When you feel like your money is being endlessly diminished on lawyers and court fees, I can honestly say that Rich was worth every cent! You simply cannot put a price on the value of what he has to offer your situation and the peace that he makes every effort to bring to your life.

Rich is an exceptional family law mediator. In my circumstances, he successfully facilitated a result in a challenging environment where multiple other professionals have previously fallen well short.

Rich’s dual capacity as a lawyer and psychotherapist affords him unique and nuanced perspective, insight, and skill. He adroitly conducts his sessions with a patently sincere intent for reasonable and positive outcomes. He is personable, approachable, good-humoured, and impartial. He is clear, concise, articulate, calm, measured, patient and flexible. Yet, where required, he is respectfully assertive, pointed, and realistic in a dignified manner wholly devoid of judgement, intimidation, or condescension.

Appropriately, Rich always retains an unequivocal and consistent focus on the best interests of the children, but this is underpinned by a genuine and empathetic appreciation for each parent’s journey. He is concerned for the welfare of the whole family.

Rich helped bring to a reasonable end, my lengthy and arduous family law matter which otherwise seemed inevitably destined for trial. For this, and equally for the way in which he did so, I am deeply grateful.

Rich mediated a Property Settlement between myself, my ex-husband and our respective lawyers. Rich was very easy to talk to and supported us both through a most difficult time. Property disputes can be emotionally charged due to the split of financial assets and the prospect of becoming homeless.

I found Rich’s listening skills to be impeccable and his negotiation skills outstanding, which was required in this instance; however, it was his ability to remain impartial and professional that struck a chord deep within me. So often, in these cases, women are seen as less capable; however, this was never Rich’s approach towards me.

Before the mediation, Rich completed an intake process with me where he built a strong rapport allowing me to relax and know that in mediation my voice would be heard. My full respect goes to this amazing man that I feel is well suited to the role of mediator. Rich has the education, intelligence and experience to achieve good outcomes.

Through his patience and understanding he was able to get us over the line and agree on a property pool sum and then a percentage that we were both agreeable to where we could sign and move on with our lives. I am so grateful to Rich because I get to keep my home and I get to start a new chapter in my life. Words can’t express my deep gratitude to such a remarkable man.

I highly recommend Rich!