Sessão iniciada como:
filler@godaddy.com
Sessão iniciada como:
filler@godaddy.com
As a family law attorney and mediator with more than 24 years of experience supporting families through some of the most difficult transitions of their lives, I’ve worked at the intersection of law, conflict, identity, and family systems. I’ve sat with people in moments of fear, grief, anger, and uncertainty. I’ve watched how legal processes can stabilize families — and how, on their own, they often fall short of addressing the emotional, relational, and psychological realities people are living with. Over time, I came to understand that families don’t just need legal solutions. They need support that honors their humanity. To deepen my ability to offer that kind of support, I pursued a Master of Science in Developmental Psychology, expanding my understanding of attachment, development, personalities, and relational dynamics.
That learning now lives alongside my legal training and lived experience in everything I do. In 2024, I created Bitter2Sweet to bridge those worlds. Bitter2Sweet exists to provide legal adjacent coaching and consulting that helps people navigate change with clarity, dignity, and connection — whether that change involves divorce, co parenting, identity shifts, relocation, leadership transitions, or rebuilding after high conflict and controlling relationship dynamics.
My personal work through Bitter2Sweet focuses on:
This work is not legal representation and not therapy.
Because of the nature of this work, we are able to support individuals and families almost anywhere in the world.
Bitter2Sweet operates through a collaborative, values aligned model that allows us to offer layered, responsive support. Through this model, I work closely with Jae Scates, MSW (Columbia University), whose services expand and strengthen the care we provide.Jae's work is grounded in education, lived experience, and systems awareness. Jae's practice is trauma informed, identity affirming, neuro inclusive, intersectionality aware, supportive of diverse learning and processing styles, and centering dignity, safety, and practical growth. In addition to customized services, Jae specifically brings to Bitter2Sweet:
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief:
People deserve support that sees the whole picture.
Not just the case. Not just the crisis. Not just the label.
But the person, the family, and the future they are trying to build.
Bitter2Sweet exists to be a partner in positive change —
so that those we serve can grow through change and thrive in connection.
If you’re here, you don’t have to navigate this alone.
I’m glad you found us.
— Jo

With over 24 years of experience in the field of family law and a Master of Science in Developmental Psychology, Jo has developed a unique approach to coaching, mediation, parent coordination and consulting that combines evidence-based practices with a client-centered focus. A graduate of Syracuse University College of Law, Jo has focused her work on that involving LGBTQIA2S+ families and children, non-nuclear family structures, families with special needs, and complex parentage situations. Jo has written extensively on the subject of Family Law and LGBTQIA2S+ issues and is published in NJ Psychology, NJ Family Lawyer and Law Journal, and various ABA publications, and has been a speaker for various organizations including NJICLE, the National LGBTQ Bar Association, AFCC, Gender Conference East, and for the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts.
*Curriculum Vitae is available upon request

jae scates, MSW. (Columbia University)
jae is deeply dedicated to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), bringing a personal commitment to advancing these principles through executive and personal coaching. jae’s framework isn’t just inclusive—it centers on neuro-affirming strategies tailored to each person’s lived experience. By integrating trauma-informed, anti-racist, and self-acceptance practices into coaching, jae creates a safe, respectful, and empowering environment. This approach shifts beyond symptom management and invites clients to rewrite their narratives—honoring their identities while building practical skills. People who come to jae often feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from themselves, even though they’re genuinely trying to do the “right” things.
Many are neurodivergent, disabled, LGBTQIA2S+, or navigating identity shifts, relationship patterns, burnout, or life transitions. They want practical skills and clarity with space to be human. They’re looking for support that honors their nervous system, values, and lived experience, rather than pushing them to change who they are. jae's client's have space to slow down, build understanding, and develop self-trust — with room for learning, repair, and growth.
jae's professional coaching involves a focus on driving systemic change, working with leaders to foster inclusive cultures that prioritize equity and belonging, empowering executives to lead with purpose and impact. Through this work, jae helps organizations implement meaningful shifts that enhance both individual and collective success, creating environments where everyone can thrive.