About Parting Waters
Our partnership is the Parting Waters difference.
Our goal is to support you to complete the restructuring of your family in a way that is compassionate, empowered, efficient, supported and safe. As a team, we seek to provide the highest quality of service to you at a critical and difficult time in your life - and we continue to add additional expertise to our partnership. Together, Linda, Katie, Kevin, and Emily have more than 45 years of experience and wisdom and it shows.
Parting Waters Mediation subscribes to the Core Standards of Mediation Practice set forth by the Oregon Mediation Association, and the Model Standards of Practice for Family and Divorce Mediation set forth by the Association for Conflict Resolution.
We welcome all families regardless of race, color, country of origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation or ability.
About Linda Scher
Linda earned her law degree at the University of Washington School of Law in 1986. She received her initial family mediation training in Bellevue, Washington and is a graduate of the Clackamas County Family Mediation internship program.
Linda is a member and past President of the Oregon Mediation Association and was honored with their Award for Excellence in Mediation. Linda is a practitioner member of the Family Section of the Association for Conflict Resolution, and served on the Oregon Family Law Advisory Committee (FLAC) for 15 years.
As a member of the FLAC, Linda served and at times co-chaired their Parenting Plan subcommittee, which provides materials and support to parents and professionals in creating parenting plans to suit the unique needs of each family. Shis is also a long-time volunteer with the St. Andrew Legal Clinic (a non-profit, sliding scale family law firm) and Clear Transitions PDX (a workshop for women experiencing divorce or separation). Linda lives in Portland with her husband Michael, and their adult son lives in Corvallis.
Linda’s availability is limited as she plans for retirement in August of 2024.
Contact Linda at linda@partingwatersmediation.com.
“I learned quite a bit and I feel I am walking away with some better life skills. I felt there was a lot of success at the end of the sessions…watching you work in those moments where I felt ‘I’m losing it here’ was beneficial to me.”
— CM
About Katie Behel
Katie has a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Oregon’s School of Law. She accrued her supervision hours and certifications as an Advanced Domestic Relations Intern at Clackamas County Resolution Services in 2014, where she also completed training for Imago counseling. Katie was in private practice before partnering with Linda Scher and co-creating Parting Waters Mediation in the Fall of 2019.
Katie is a warm, curious person who believes that mediation provides an opportunity to heal, empower, and practice essential life-enhancing communication skills. Katie specializes in helping with co-parenting solutions for matters like custody/decision making, parenting time, child support, property division, and helping to iron out the details that come with redefining a family.
Katie is available Monday thru Thursday 9 am to 6 pm.
Contact Katie at katie@partingwatersmediation.com
“Our Mediator kept the conversation moving forward without letting us get hung up on our issues. They also demonstrated comfort and respect for [the other person’s] name change and identity transition. They were an excellent and trustworthy guide through a challenging process.”
— KT
About Kevin McHargue
Kevin earned his law degree at the University of Texas School of Law in 1994. He was an attorney in private practice for 15 years before relocating to Portland in 2009 to become a full-time parent. He received his initial mediation training at the Resolve Center for Dispute Resolution and Restorative Justice in Medford, Oregon, and is a graduate of the Clackamas County Family Mediation internship program.
From 2017 to 2023 , Kevin was the Executive Director of the St. Andrew Legal Clinic, a nonprofit law firm providing legal representation, mediation and other forms of dispute resolution for low-income clients in family court. During this time he also served as Vice President of the Oregon Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and chair of the Multnomah Bar Association’s Public Service Committee. He lives in Portland with his husband Christopher and their son Carter.
Kevin is available Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 am to 6 pm, or by appointment on Saturdays.
Contact Kevin at kevin@partingwatersmediation.com
About Emily Shannon
Emily Shannon earned a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School in 2003 and has been an advocate for children and families for over twenty years. She has been mediating since 2009 both in private practice and as a certified court-connected Family Mediator in Clackamas County, assisting families map out creative and collaborative solutions. Emily honed her skills as a public high school teacher, a staff attorney at a juvenile rights law firm and as a mother to three active children. She has been training and mentoring mediators for over a decade. She is licensed to practice law in Oregon and is an adjunct professor of Family Mediation at Lewis and Clark Law School.
Emily effectively helps clients explore options, promote collaborative problem solving, facilitate difficult conversations and ultimately reach resolution. Her goal is to help clients shift from a place of discomfort and uncertainty to one of calm and clarity.
Emily lives with her three amazing daughters in beautiful Corbett, Oregon and is available at varying hours on Mondays, Wednesday evenings and Fridays.
Contact Emily at Emily@partingwatersmediation.com
