About Me
My name is Rebo (rhymes with “gazebo.”) I’m an outgoing introvert who is always trying to hit the magic spot between enough socializing and enough alone time because in the end, cats don’t make good conversationalists. I can’t live without my Google calendar, and I delight in remembering odd facts about people I know. I like trying new things and believe that we all have the right to change – or not.
When I met my husband in college, I believed wholeheartedly in fairytale relationships – and had no understanding of what “ever after” meant. We were in love, so everything else would take care of itself, right? I thought caring for someone meant anticipating their needs. Inexperience and immaturity meant mental telepathy was tried and inevitably failed. Misunderstandings escalated, and we could talk for hours only to reaffirm we cared for each other but never actually resolved anything. “Try harder” was our mantra.
We were a well-intentioned mess.
Years of self-work and therapy got us back on track, both as individuals and within our relationship. This gave me the space to accept another truth about myself: I’m polyamorous and am happiest when I can love more than one person. In turn, I had even more stuff to unpack, like sex negativity, body shame, and again – what makes a healthy relationship?
As I found my own answers to these questions, I began wanting to help people have happier relationships. I had led a sex-discussion group for years (Women Uncorked and People Uncorked), but what could I do more directly? I didn’t want to become a therapist, but I also wanted to be more than a generic coach.
Relationship mediation bridges that gap: I am a mediator in the District of Columbia and state of Maryland in areas ranging from community disputes to parenting plans and student attendance. I have also studied nonviolent communication (NVC), including NVC-centered mediation. In the middle is something uncommon: applying the structure and impartiality of mediation with techniques to teach people greater empathy towards themselves and others, which leads to being able to negotiate relationship needs.
If you’re ready for a change, please reach out.