Dr. Steven E. Handwerker

Licensed Psychologist | Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator

Palm Beach County Divorce Mediator | Co-Parenting & Family Conflict Resolution | Serving Florida Statewide
________________________________________

Steven E. Handwerker is a Licensed Psychologist and Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator serving individuals and families throughout Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and the State of Florida.

With decades of experience in psychology, trauma-informed conflict resolution, and family mediation, Dr. Handwerker helps individuals and families resolve emotionally complex disputes through structured communication, collaborative dialogue, and practical problem-solving outside of the courtroom.

He is particularly well known for helping parties navigate:
• divorce mediation,
• co-parenting disputes,
• parenting plans,
• blended family transitions,
• post-divorce communication issues,
• and emotionally driven family conflicts where traditional adversarial negotiation may be ineffective.
________________________________________

Professional Overview

Dr. Handwerker has been licensed as a psychologist in New York since 1984 and in Florida since 1996. In 2000, he expanded his work in peacebuilding and conflict resolution by becoming a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator.

His combined background in psychology and mediation allows him to work effectively with individuals and families experiencing:
• emotional escalation,
• communication breakdown,
• parenting conflict,
• unresolved interpersonal dynamics,
• and high-stress family transitions.

Unlike purely litigation-oriented approaches, Dr. Handwerker’s mediation process focuses on helping parties improve communication, reduce conflict, and develop practical agreements designed to support long-term family stability.
________________________________________

Mediation Approach

Dr. Handwerker’s mediation style emphasizes:
• Neutral facilitation
• Interest-based negotiation
• Trauma-informed conflict resolution
• Communication repair
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Reducing emotional escalation
• Long-term co-parenting stability
• Constructive family restructuring

He works with parties who:
• want to avoid unnecessary litigation,
• seek healthier communication patterns,
• prefer collaborative resolution over adversarial positioning,
• and want to preserve important family relationships whenever possible.

His process is particularly effective in disputes where emotional dynamics and relationship structures play a central role in preventing resolution.
________________________________________

Professional Leadership & Background

Dr. Handwerker is the Founder and Chairperson of the International Association for the Advancement of Human Welfare, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1997.

His professional work reflects a longstanding commitment to:
• peacebuilding,
• human welfare,
• interpersonal systems,
• conflict transformation,
• and constructive communication practices.

His experience working within trauma-informed and interpersonal systems provides unique insight into emotionally sensitive mediation matters.
________________________________________

Why Parties & Professionals Refer Matters

Dr. Handwerker is often sought out by:
• families experiencing communication breakdown,
• parents struggling with co-parenting conflict,
• individuals seeking a less adversarial divorce process,
• and professionals looking for a mediator skilled in emotionally complex family dynamics.

His ability to remain calm, neutral, and structured during emotionally charged discussions helps parties move toward practical and durable resolution.
________________________________________

Representative Matters

Experience includes:
• divorce mediation,
• parenting plan negotiations,
• co-parenting communication disputes,
• blended family transitions,
• post-divorce conflict resolution,
• emotionally escalated family disputes,
• workplace and organizational mediation,
• and structured communication facilitation for high-conflict interpersonal matters.

Available for divorce mediation, family mediation, parenting disputes, and trauma-informed conflict resolution matters throughout Florida.
________________________________________