How She Started Doing What She Does:  After law school, Debra opened a divorce mediation practice, a role that gave her an up-close view of marriages torn apart by infidelity, poor communication, an inability to effectively resolve conflict, and other issues. Seeing how many of her clients had refused couples counseling and/or other forms of marriage help, or tried them but said they either didn't work or had made things worse, Debra saw a need to present struggling spouses with a professional and low-conflict alternative. 

She therefore shifted the focus of her practice to marital mediation to help couples stay together and avoid divorce if possible, opening her Marriage SOS™ mediation practice and pioneering an effective new method of relationship help. Eventually, her practice segued into one which also helped individual spouses manage an uncooperative or ambivalent partner—or a partner with a different agenda (e.g. an ongoing affair)—recognizing that the motivated spouse required unique guidance to bring a spirit of commitment and collaboration back into the marriage.

Debra’s Marriage Help Method:  Debra's marriage help method utilizes her background in law and marital mediation, and blends adapted conflict resolution principles with principles of relationship coaching and her own trademark strategies. It strives to deliver practical relationship guidance quickly and clearly, cognizant of the urgency required. It also strives to avoid some of the common pitfalls of couples counseling (e.g. a focus on the past, finger-pointing, the presence of a resistant or unforthcoming spouse, divisive discourse, ongoing discussion without practical suggestions, etc.). 

Debra's method also encapsulates her "Fair, but Aware" approach, which reduces the adversarial nature of relationship issues while promoting self-determination within marriage. It encourages spouses to be fair in terms of advocating for and respecting each other’s needs, feelings, and perspectives, but also encourages them to be aware of how they are both contributing to the conflict. This includes being able to identify and smartly manage an unfaithful, indifferent, self-focused, or otherwise uncooperative partner’s behavior. 

Collaborative Divorce Mediation: Yet because not all marriages can (or should) be saved, Debra also continues to offer divorce mediation. Here, her approach is also innovative, as she offers clients the option to involve her husband, Don Macleod, as co-mediator. This couple-to-couple option can help people feel more comfortable, respected, heard and collaborative during the divorce mediation proceedings. It can also help reduce any perception of mediator bias due to gender. The goal is to facilitate a dignified divorce so that separating individuals can have a cooperative and civil relationship moving forward, interacting and co-parenting as necessary without undue conflict or stress.

Credentials:  Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction) and a Juris Doctor. She has ADR certificates in interpersonal conflict resolution and divorce and family mediation.

Media:  Debra has served as an expert resource for major media in North America and around the world. Her past television appearances include FOX TV, CBC, GLOBAL TV, CTV, and regular relationship segments on SHAW TV and CITY TV. Her radio appearances include multiple guest spots on XM/SIRIUS Satellite Radio, regular relationship segments on Virgin Radio and Corus Radio, and guest spots on numerous local, national and syndicated radio programs.

Debra has been seen in popular international women's and men's magazines, including ELLE, COSMOPOLITAN, REDBOOK, BRIDAL GUIDE, SHAPE, ESQUIRE, MEN’S HEALTH MAGAZINE, WOMEN’S HEALTH MAGAZINE, WOMAN'S ERA (India), TODAY'S PARENT, READER’S DIGEST and ENTREPRENEUR. She has also contributed to various health and industry magazines, from APPLE to THE OGM (Oil & Gas).  Her pieces in THE HUFF POST have appeared in multiple editions including the USA, Canada, Arabi, Korea and Brazil.

In addition, she has been interviewed by the Associated Press, Canadian Press, THE NEW YORK TIMES and Fox News, and her work has received coverage in such newspapers as USA TODAY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE DAILY MAIL, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE TORONTO STAR, THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, THE NATIONAL POST, SUN and other local, national and international newspapers.

Debra has also been seen in such popular web destinations as TODAY.com, Yahoo.com, canada.com, CBS.com, msn.com, News.com.au (Australia), USA TODAY’s “Happily Ever After” book reviews blog, AskMen.com, SheKnows.com and others. Her articles have been syndicated to multiple websites and web portals.

About Don

Don Macleod is the co-author of The Shut-Out Wife: Breaking Through Your Husband's Midlife Crisis, and the taller half of Marriage SOS™.

Not Your Typical Relationship Specialist: Don's real-world sensibility shines through in all his work and consults, yet never diminishes his professionalism. 

His ideal client is the type of man who would rather have a root canal that visit a counselor’s office, and the woman who isn’t afraid to hear what her husband might really be thinking and feeling... all for her own marriage-saving advantage.

His Approach: Don uniquely combines his skills and experience to help both men and women assess the viability, strengths and weakness of their marriage in a logical and objective way. This can help them make some all-important decisions: Should I put effort into trying to save this marriage? Am I better off staying in this marriage or moving on? How can I increase the value of this marriage?