Pivot Point Mediation

Trauma-Informed Mediation and Consultation

Fork in the road
˜˜ Strategically neutral.   Intentionally compassionate. ˜˜

Why Pivot Point Mediation?

At our core, we believe mediation is not a transaction — it's a deeply human process.

We are a trauma-informed mediation practice dedicated to creating spaces where people feel heard and respected. Every individual who comes to us carries a story, and we approach our responsibility in the process with care, neutrality, and professionalism.

Our work is grounded in the understanding that trauma shapes how people communicate, make decisions, and engage in conflict resolution. We don't treat these dynamics as obstacles; we recognize them as essential context. That perspective informs every conversation we facilitate. We know that how the process feels matters just as much as how it ends.

We are committed to listening without judgment, maintaining true neutrality while honoring lived experience, creating an environment where all parties can participate meaningfully and prioritizing dignity over process. This is not about moving cases along. It's about helping people move forward.

Our team brings extensive experience across hundreds of cases involving trauma, including sexual abuse, with backgrounds in trial work, investigations, and alternative dispute resolution. That depth of experience allows us to navigate complex and highly sensitive matters with both compassion and clarity. We are trauma-informed, open in our approach, and deeply committed to the people behind each case.

At Pivot Point, we guide the process forward — helping resolve complex matters with care and a steady focus on meaningful resolution for all.

Our Trauma-Informed Mediation Approach

Trauma-informed mediation is effective because it creates the conditions where people can participate at their best. Conflict often triggers stress responses that can lead to defensiveness, miscommunication, or withdrawal. By prioritizing emotional safety, respect, and awareness of power dynamics, a trauma-informed approach helps support more thoughtful, balanced engagement and leads to resolutions.


At the center of this process is a commitment to ensuring every person is fully heard and understood without interruption, dismissal, or judgment. This creates the space for more open communication and deeper understanding, allowing all parties to move beyond positions and work toward solutions that reflect their real needs. The result is a process that fosters lasting agreements, strengthens communication, and supports more positive relationships moving forward. If you would like to learn more about our process, please e-mail us at .

Mission Statement

Our Mission

Our trauma-informed mediation practice provides structured conflict resolution services designed to support individuals and families in navigating disputes in a safe, respectful, and trauma-informed environment. Our approach integrates established mediation techniques with trauma-informed principles, recognizing the impact that past and present trauma may have on communication, decision-making, and emotional regulation.

Services include facilitated mediation sessions, pre-mediation consultations, case consultation, and ongoing support throughout the resolution process. Case consultation services are available to professionals, organizations, and parties seeking guidance on managing complex or high-conflict situations through a trauma-informed lens. We work with parties experiencing interpersonal, family, workplace, or community-based conflicts. Each case begins with an intake and assessment phase to identify participant needs, potential safety concerns, and any trauma-related considerations. We then design a mediation process that prioritizes emotional safety, empowerment, and voluntary participation.

During mediation sessions, we guide participants through structured dialogue, helping them communicate their perspectives, identify underlying interests, and explore mutually acceptable solutions. We use de-escalation techniques, grounding strategies, and pacing adjustments as needed to ensure that all parties can engage meaningfully.

The expected outcome of our services is the development of sustainable, mutually agreed-upon resolutions that address the needs and concerns of all parties. In addition to formal agreements, clients and consultees often achieve improved communication skills, greater emotional awareness, and reduced conflict intensity. Our goal is to foster long-term stability, minimize the likelihood of recurring disputes, and support clients and professionals in moving forward constructively.

Introducing Our People

Experience, Compassion & Integrity

John T. Broderick, Jr.
John T. Broderick, Jr.

John Broderick was a member of the New Hampshire Supreme Court for 15 years and during the last 7 served as Chief Justice. In that role, he established the first-ever judicial branch Office of Mediation and Arbitration that introduced alternative dispute resolution throughout New Hampshire's court system.

Following his judicial service, John became Dean of the law school at the University of New Hampshire where he also established the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership and Public Policy.

Prior to his judicial service, John was an active civil trial lawyer in state and federal court and was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He has served as president of both the New Hampshire Bar Association and the New Hampshire Trial Lawyers Association (now The New Hampshire Association For Justice).

For the last 9 years, with the full support of Dartmouth-Health, he has travelled over 125,000 miles throughout New England talking with students and adults at 370 public and private schools about the importance of mental health awareness and the need to eliminate the shame and stigma that too often accompanies mental health challenges. He authored Backroads and Highways: My Journey to Discovery on Mental Health, that was published by Dartmouth Health with a foreword by the now Chair of Psychiatry at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.

From 2022 to 2025, he was appointed by the N.H. Supreme Court, upon the recommendation by the New Hampshire Attorney General and counsel for abused claimants, to serve as Administrator of the $100 million YDC Claims Administration and Settlement Fund established by the state to compensate "long-ago kids" who were sexually and/or physically abused while in state detention for over fifty years. As Administrator and hearings officer, he conducted, along with an incredibly able and experienced trauma-informed professional, nearly 200 trauma-informed resolution hearings with abuse victims. Almost all claims were successfully resolved following those hearings.

John is an honors graduate of Holy Cross College and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Jennifer Adams
Jennifer Adams

Jennifer Adams has had a varied and highly respected career of more than two decades in trauma-informed consulting, resolution, and education. In her numerous roles she has been involved in investigating, supporting, and resolving highly sensitive claims of sexual abuse as well as other disputes involving trauma.

She serves as a resource for designing community safety, prevention and outreach programs as well as wellness initiatives in schools.

Most recently she served as a project consultant for the New Hampshire YDC Claims Administration and Settlement Fund where she played a key role in skillfully and compassionately conducting neutral and confidential interviews in a trauma-informed manner with dozens of claimants who alleged sexual and/or physical abuse while in state detention as juveniles. She was instrumental in advising the hearings teams, of which she was an essential member, on trauma-informed best practices. Her work was highly respected by all involved and resulted in countless resolutions.

Jennifer is a certified professional mediator who facilitates conflict resolution and strategic planning initiatives grounded in psychological safety and accountability. She is uniquely equipped by training and experience to ensure fair, consistent, and compassionate outcomes. She has a comprehensive grasp of trauma and how best to resolve claims where it is present.

Margaret Haskett
Margaret Haskett

Margaret Haskett worked for 31 years at the New Hampshire Supreme Court, 29 years as administrative assistant to four chief justices. From 2022 to 2025, she was the Executive Assistant to the Administrator of the YDC Claims Administration and Settlement Fund and was involved in its trauma-informed sessions.

Prior to working at the New Hampshire Supreme Court, she worked for Upton, Sanders & Smith for 12 years.

Peggy is an honors graduate of Franklin Pierce University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

Resources & Forms

Mediation Policy

Scheduling

To schedule a mediation, please reach out to us by filling out and returning the "Request to Mediate" form found on our website, by e-mailing , or by calling 603-496-1384.

Type of Mediation

Our mediation process typically blends facilitative and evaluative approaches and is always trauma-informed. It is neutral and compassionate. Both John Broderick and Jen Adams handle each mediation session as a team.

Mediation can be scheduled as a one-half day session (9:00am–12:30pm) or a full-day session (9:00am–4:00pm). If a half-day session exceeds 12:30pm, counsel will be charged for a full-day mediation session.

Mediation Process

Following the filing of the request to mediate form;

1. A notice will be sent to all parties stating the date, time, location of the mediation session and the mediators' procedural requirements.

2. The mediators may request copies of pleadings and motions.

Mediator's Role

The mediators are impartial professionals who will facilitate discussion and exploration of concerns and issues between the parties and identify, with the parties' full participation, options for possible settlement. The mediators will not provide legal counseling or legal advice but will, if requested, provide an impartial evaluation of the parties' positions. The mediators and Pivot Point will not be held liable to the parties for any act or omission in connection with services provided during or associated with the mediation.

Confidentiality

In order to promote communication between and among the parties, counsel and the mediators, all those involved or present at the mediation agree that the entire mediation process is confidential. This includes everything written or said during the mediation. All statements made during the mediation are considered to be privileged settlement discussions, and are made without prejudice to any party's legal position and are not admissible for any purpose in any legal proceeding unless allowed by law.

Pre-Mediation Discussion

Fifteen days prior to any scheduled mediation, any counsel may request a telephone conversation with the mediation team to discuss the case and to provide information about their client's trauma, if applicable, that would be useful for the team to know in conducting a trauma-informed mediation.

Memoranda

Within ten (10) days of the scheduled mediation session, each party should submit a brief summary (no more than ten (10) pages, not including attachments) of the pertinent facts of the case, their legal positions or arguments in the case, and any other documents, reports, or materials that would be helpful for the mediation team to review in advance of the session. All materials should be e-mailed to our office at .

Fee

Our fee is based upon a one-half day rate ($4,000) or a full-day rate ($6,000). Our experience suggests that in many cases a full-day session is best suited to a successful outcome. Our fee includes reviewing materials submitted in advance of the mediation as well as all in-state travel time and associated costs. It is expected that the mediation fee will be split equally between the parties. However, if one party has agreed to pay more than one-half of the fee, they should notify the mediation team no later than the date of the mediation session. Final payment of any outstanding balence is due upon receipt of the final invoice.

A letter of confirmation will be sent to parties confirming the day and time of the scheduled mediation. At that time, a $1,000 deposit is required from each party.

Termination of mediation session

At any time during a mediation session, either party can terminate the session before a final, signed agreement is reached by notifying the mediators.

Rescheduling or Cancelled Sessions

There is no charge for cancelling a mediation if done at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled mediation date. Otherwise, the deposit is forfeited. If the mediation session is rescheduled, the deposit will be credited to the rescheduled session.

Request to Mediate

Please complete the form below and our team will be in touch to confirm scheduling.

 

 

If a dispute is in litigation, please provide Case Information

Proposed Scheduling Dates (provide 3 to 6 options)

Get in Touch

Mailing Address
Pivot Point Mediation
P.O. Box 1195
Concord, NH 03302-1195
Phone
603-496-1384
E-mail
Website
www.pivotpointmediation.net

Send Us a Message