Alex is an estate planner, mediator, and the founding attorney at Sea of the North, a life & legacy law firm focused on helping families stay out of conflict through smart planning and compassionate resolution. With nearly a decade of mediation experience, Alex is known for seeing around legal corners—especially where family, emotion, and legacy are involved. Clients appreciate his ability to translate complex legal processes into real-world solutions, and for making even the most daunting transitions feel a little more human.   OVERVIEW: What if the most powerful tool in your mediator’s toolkit isn’t the purity of following a model—but your tolerance for contradiction?   In this (hopefully!) provocative session, Alex Glassmann, Esq., draws on 8+ years of experience in family and divorce mediation to explore the value of deep ambivalence. Rather than choosing between polar models—pure, facilitative neutrality versus unfiltered, directive evaluation—this session encourages mediators to dwell in the uncomfortable middle: a space where both client autonomy and mediator presence must coexist.   Through real-world examples, philosophical inquiry, and professional reflection, participants will examine how ambiguity and contradiction show up in their practice—and why embracing those tensions is essential for effectiveness.   You’ll get: ·  A clear-eyed look at why the “facilitative vs. evaluative” divide misses what real-world mediation demands. · A practical framework for navigating gray zones while still centering party self-determination. · Strategies for using your presence, tone, and timing to support—not overshadow—client agency. · Subtle, effective ways to help clients influence one another without stepping into a prescriptive role. · A deeper understanding of how your own professional ambivalence can become a source of clarity and strength.