Supporting Families Through Change
When family conflict arises, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. Black Forest Mediation supports families at every stage—whether you’re building a strong foundation for marriage or navigating a healthy transition through divorce—with knowledge, compassion, and care.
Meet Your Mediator!
Liza Schwartzwald
Liza Schwartzwald is an attorney, social worker, and mediator with a passion for helping families navigate life’s most difficult moments with compassion and care. For more than a decade, she has dedicated her career to supporting children and families—first by shaping policies that brought over $600 million in funding to strengthen services in New York and ensure all children received quality education and care, and now by guiding parents through conflict with empathy and practical solutions.
Liza has completed over 100 hours of specialized mediation training, is Part-146 certified in NY, and brings a balanced and child-centered approach to every case. Whether you’re preparing for marriage, struggling to resolve conflict within a current relationship, or going through divorce, Liza will help you foster healthy communication, protect the best interests of your children, and help your family move forward with peace and stability.
Liza earned her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law in 2015 and her Masters in Social Work from Fordham University in 2018. She is barred to practice law in the state of New York.
Our Services
Pre-Marital Mediation
Start your marriage on strong footing with premarital mediation. This process helps couples explore expectations, communication styles, and potential challenges before they arise. By working through key topics—like finances, family planning, and conflict resolution—you build a healthier foundation for a lasting partnership.
Marital Mediation
Every relationship faces challenges, but marital mediation offers a constructive space to address them before they grow larger. Whether it’s navigating disagreements, improving communication, or resolving ongoing conflicts, mediation helps couples work together toward solutions that strengthen the relationship and create more harmony at home.
Divorce Mediation
Divorce doesn’t have to mean a battle. Through divorce mediation, couples can resolve issues like parenting, finances, and future planning in a respectful, collaborative way. The process reduces stress and conflict, saves time and money compared to litigation, and prioritizes the well-being of the entire family—especially children.