Marla Louw - Mediation & Social Work Services

01/04/2026

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🙏 Playful Curiosity 💜
Curiosity is a regulatory force.
It’s very difficult to be dysregulated and curious at the same time.”
— Lisa Dion

Curiosity creates space for regulation. When children feel safe enough to explore rather than defend, connection and understanding can begin.

18/10/2025

10/10/2025

Ek is goed genoeg.
Ek is slim.
Ek is nie perfek nie, maar ek word verbeter myself.
Ek kan vir hulp vra en dit is braaf!
Wanneer ek stop en asem haal gee ek myself tyd en spasie om te d**k voor ek doen.
Om weer te probeer is hoe ek leer.
Ek behoort hier🤍

This mental health mantra phrases for students are simple, affirming phrases they can repeat to build resilience, confidence, and emotional regulation: https://www.theottoolbox.com/lion-and-lamb-self-regulation-activity/

10/10/2025

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It's World Mental Health Day! We're sharing resources and tools to support mental health and awareness all day long. 🧡

09/10/2025

At Pathways to Peace, I help families navigate life’s messy seasons.

🌱 Divorce & family mediation
🌱 Parenting plans & co-parenting support
🌱 Counselling for individuals, couples & families
🌱 Child Participation

My approach is calm, fair, and always focused on what’s best for the children and the family as a whole.

If you’re tired of fighting and ready to move toward peace — let’s chat.
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By Pathways to Peace help ek gesinne deur die moeilike en deurmekaar tye van die lewe.

🌱 Egskeidings- en gesinsmediasie
🌱 Ouerskapsplanne & "co-parenting" ondersteuning
🌱 Berading vir individue, paartjies & gesinne
🌱 Maak seker dat die kind/ers se stem gehoor word

My styl is kalm, regverdig, en altyd gefokus op wat die beste is vir die kinders én die gesin as geheel.

As jy moeg is vir stryery en reg is vir vrede — kom gesels.

08/10/2025

Hi, I’m Marla 👋
I’m a mom of two busy boys, wife to the most supportive husband, a social worker, and a mediator with a heart for helping families find peace — even in tough seasons.

My practice, Pathways to Peace, is where I walk with people through divorce, parenting challenges, and big emotional crossroads. It’s not always easy work, but it’s real, and it’s worth it. I do not have all the answers, but I will gladly find them and learn with you.

Whether you’re figuring out how to co-parent better, struggling with family conflict, or just need a calm space to talk — I’m here.

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Hallo, ek’s Marla 👋
Ek is ‘n ma van twee besige seuns, huweliksmaat aan die beste man, ‘n maatskaplike werker en ‘n mediator met ‘n groot hart vir gesinne wat deur moeilike tye gaan.

In my praktyk, Pathways to Peace, help ek mense om deur egskeiding, ouerskap-uitdagings en emosionele draaipunte te werk. Dis nie altyd maklik nie — maar dis eg, en dis die moeite werd. Ek het nie altyd al die antwoorde nie, maar ek sal met liefde na die antwoorde soek en saam met jou leer.

Of jy nou beter wil "co-parent", vrede in jou huis soek, of net ‘n veilige plek nodig het om te praat — ek’s hier vir jou.

07/10/2025

Very useful information 🤩

🧠✨ Fear isn’t just in a child’s mind — it lives in their body and brain.

When a child feels afraid, their brain’s alarm system (the amygdala) takes over. In that moment, what they need most isn’t logic — it’s safety, connection, and calm. 💛

Our new infographic, “7 Brain-Based Ways to Help Your Child Overcome Fear,” shares gentle, practical strategies grounded in neuroscience — from co-regulation and play to building predictability and trust.

🌱 When we help children feel safe, we help their brains learn safety.

03/06/2025

31/05/2025

The Spoon Theory🤍

01/05/2025

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02/04/2025

What a Family & Divorce Mediator CAN and CANNOT do:

Divorce and family conflicts can be messy, emotional, and overwhelming—which is why mediation exists. But let’s clear up some common misconceptions about what a family & divorce mediator actually does (and doesn’t do).

What a Mediator CAN Do:
✔️ Help parents communicate better and reach agreements in the best interest of their child.
✔️ Guide discussions about parenting plans, financial arrangements, and living situations.
✔️ Provide a neutral, structured space for both parties to express concerns.
✔️ Offer solutions-focused guidance and help de-escalate conflicts.
✔️ Assist in drafting legally sound parenting plans or agreements (which can be made court-binding).
✔️ Encourage cooperative rather than combative discussions.

What a Mediator CANNOT Do:
❌ Take sides or make decisions for you—mediation is about mutual agreement.
❌ Provide legal advice (but we can guide you to legal professionals when needed).
❌ Enforce agreements—only the courts can do that.
❌ Force a parent to co-operate (mediation works best when both parties engage in good faith).
❌ Handle cases with domestic violence or abuse—those need legal intervention, not mediation.

Why Choose Mediation?
Mediation is faster, less expensive, and less stressful than court battles. It helps families move forward with clarity, rather than staying stuck in endless conflict.

If you’re navigating a separation or struggling to co-parent, mediation could be the step that brings peace and structure back into your family life.

Want to know more? Reach out for a chat. Let’s find a solution that works for you. 💛