Marie José Brizard, R.N., B.A. Faculté des Science Humaines, Consultant, Coach, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Professional, ADR /Litigation Support Provider, is the Principal at Parenting Through Transition LLC. Marie José’s practice focuses on conflict ridden co-parenting, custody disputes involving Intimate Partner violence/abuse, coercive control, harassment, substance abuse, alienating behaviors, gatekeeping measures and allegations thereof.
Marie José’s approach is informed by research and literature in education, psychological and social science, laws, along with codes of ethics and standards of practice used by mental health providers (e.g. APA) and ADR professionals.
Marie José is a trained Family and Community Mediator (Qualified neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice). She is a trained coach in High Conflict Communications. She is certified to administer “The Danger Assessment & Levels of Danger Scoring System”. She volunteers as a mediator in Harassment Court at Hennepin County, at the Conflict Resolution Center (CRC) and at Mediation and Restorative Services for Anoka county . She volunteered at Tubman as a facilitator of the Domestic Abuse Support Group and at the Legal Clinic. She attends the annual MN Family Law Institute, the annual National AFCC Conference and local AFCC Conferences, numerous trainings, lectures and webinars. She is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), the AFCC-Ontario Canada and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ). She recently received the “Spirit of Peace” award from CRC.
Marie José is fluent in French, English and Spanish. She adapts her approach to the particular challenges of individuals who identify as non-binary and LGBTQ.
Marie José’s greatest reward is seeing her clients make decisions no longer basing them on confusion and fear but on facts, newly acquired knowledge, skills and confidence.