In one particularly challenging mediation, the wife would not even allow the husband into my office to mediate. She was so angry and entrenched in her positions which were focused on revenge, I was concerned mediation would fail. To navigate this deadlock, I listened to her, allowing her to get past old hurts. I then employed a strategy of reframing issues to shift the focus from past hurts to future goals. By carefully facilitating a conversation that emphasized the mutual benefits of cooperation for future success, I was able to successfully guide the parties through mediation to a resolution. Additionally, I introduced creative options on custody and parenting issues, support and division of complex deferred compensation that neither party had considered. Those ideas opened up new avenues for compromise. These techniques not only broke the initial impasse, but also allowed both parties to reach a resolution that aligned with their core interests, fostering a sense of shared success. In fact, after mediation they both called me from the courthouse on the same phone to ask a clarifying question on an issue before putting through their divorce. That call showed the positive move from revenge to future success.