Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Darsow.
Hi Molly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began my career by studying conflict resolution, which gave me a strong foundation in how people navigate disagreement and move toward resolution. From there, I moved into human services, working in addictions counseling, education, and group facilitation with people in very challenging circumstances. Through this work, I developed a passion for supporting individuals and groups in improving communication and achieving their goals.
A deeply formative part of my journey was supporting my mom through her cancer experience. Being in that role, while also navigating family dynamics and difficult decisions, gave me a personal understanding of how illness, grief, and caregiving can intensify communication challenges and reshape family relationships in profound ways.
That experience also deepened my awareness that families often struggle not only with the practical decisions in times of illness and loss, but also with the emotional weight of those decisions and the conversations that surround them. I came to see how essential it is to create space where people can speak honestly, feel heard, and work through difficult choices together.
Over time, I also saw how our legal system is not always set up to support families in resolving conflicts outside of court, especially when they are facing disputes related to end-of-life care or estate issues. Too often, families are left to navigate these deeply personal and emotional matters in adversarial legal processes, rather than in settings that prioritize communication, understanding, and collaboration.
This blend of professional training and lived experience ultimately led me to mediation. Today, I work with individuals and families to support the conversations they often avoid, especially during times of caregiving, loss, and transition, and when they are facing difficult decisions about end-of-life or estate matters, so they can move forward with greater clarity, understanding, and less conflict.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a professional with a counseling background rather than a legal one, I have worked hard to establish myself in a field largely dominated by attorneys and retired judges, demonstrating that my skills and distinctive approach are both valuable and effective.
We’ve been impressed with Still Waters Mediation, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Still Waters Mediation provides professional mediation services designed to help families navigate some of life’s most emotionally complex and important decisions. The practice focuses on elder care planning, estate distribution, and probate disputes, where conflict often arises during periods of change, loss, or uncertainty. These situations may involve decisions about an aging parent’s care, questions of capacity, disagreements among family members, or challenges related to trusts, power of attorney, guardianship, or estate administration.
At the core of the work is a structured, neutral process that supports productive communication. A trained Minnesota mediator facilitates conversation so that each person’s perspective is heard and understood. The goal is not to take sides or impose outcomes, but to help families clarify issues, reduce conflict, and reach agreements they can move forward with in a practical and sustainable way. When appropriate, mediation agreements are drafted to formalize resolutions.
Still Waters Mediation is known for its calm, respectful approach to difficult conversations. Families often come in feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or divided, and the process is designed to create space for clarity and forward movement. What sets the practice apart is a deep focus on both the emotional and practical dimensions of family conflict, especially in situations involving aging loved ones and legacy decisions. The work is grounded in the belief that even in high-stress circumstances, communication can be restored and agreements can be reached without unnecessary escalation.
The practice serves clients throughout the Twin Cities metro area and Western Wisconsin, with the flexibility to meet in person or virtually via Zoom. Mediation is intentionally private, offering families a confidential setting to address sensitive issues without the exposure, cost, or delay of court proceedings.
Still Waters Mediation is especially proud of its role in helping families stay connected through difficult transitions. By supporting understanding and reducing adversarial dynamics, the process helps preserve relationships where possible while still allowing for fair and workable outcomes.
To help individuals determine whether mediation is the right fit, Still Waters Mediation offers free 30-minute consultations.
How do you think about happiness?
Happiness for me comes from being fully present, appreciating the beauty of the planet, and spending time with my family and friends. As a mediator, presence is essential because it allows me to bring deeper awareness to the process. I strive to extend this same awareness into every area of my life, so I can truly enjoy life as it unfolds.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stillwatersmediation.com/
