Stephen H. Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D. is a lawyer, psychologist and mediator, and the president and founder of Integrative Mediation Bay Area. A clinical psychologist, attorney and mediator, Steve is an enthusiastic proponent of viewing divorce not primarily as a legal event, but rather as a human event that has emotional, legal and financial components, each of which must be addressed in order to achieve an optimal outcome. His years of experience helping families, couples and individuals meet the challenges posed by divorce and separation convinced him of the value of blending the expertise of the legal and mental health professions, both in terms of achieving the most comprehensive and durable results, and in terms of efficiency and conservation of resources. As an integrative mediator, solo mediator, and collaborative divorce coach, Steve works with divorcing couples to help them find ways to part emotionally as well as physically and financially, in a way that is in accord with their highest ideals, while always keeping the best interests of the children in the forefront of everyone’s awareness.
In addition to his clinical, mediation and collaborative practices, Steve is active as a collaborative and mediation trainer, and writes frequently on the subject of interdisciplinary approaches to dispute resolution. He is the co-founder, with Judge Verna Adams, of the Marin County Superior Court’s Interdisciplinary Settlement Conference Program. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford, and his doctorate in psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, where he was on the adjunct faculty in 2002 and 2003.