Dora Mitchell is an expertly trained, highly experienced family mediator and the Founder and CEO of Midwest Mediation. Serving her local community in Northeast Missouri, and throughout the state, Dora has dedicated her practice to providing nurturing, court-approved guidance for parents navigating child custody and co-parenting disputes.

With over 15 years in private practice specializing in chronic mental health, family dynamics, and child welfare, Dora has witnessed firsthand the collateral damage of traditional litigation. She knows that when lawyers enter the arena "in it to win it," the courtroom produces winners and losers—but it is almost always the children who lose.

To break this cycle, Dora offers an alternative rooted in emotional regulation, mindfulness, and deep empathy. Her approach honors the five core human needs—affiliation, autonomy, status, appreciation, and role-modeling—to teach families how to handle conflict constructively. By shifting the focus from a rigid legal battle to an actionable, guided process, she helps families build lasting agreements and mutual healing.

"Most family disputes aren't legal problems—they are conflict problems. You can't change the law, but you can change how you navigate it. When parents choose mediation, they aren't letting a judge decide their future; they are building a better buy-in for their family's tomorrow." — Dora Mitchell

When she isn’t guiding families through the mediation process, Dora is a busy mom cheering on her son at his sports games and staying deeply involved in her local community. She firmly believes that every family deserves a chance to resolve conflict with dignity, keeping kids out of the middle and putting their well-being first.