The holidays can be a joyous time for many, but it can be challenging for families that are trying to navigate a separation or divorce.

Rhona Buchan, board chair of the Family Dispute Resolution Institute Atlantic, says this time of year can be “triggering” and stressful for families in dealing with any level of conflict related to those types of situations.

That’s why she encourages dispute resolution, such as mediation, to help families move through it.

Buchan says mediation can help people develop a parenting plan for the holidays, and how to navigate important days such as Christmas and New Year’s. She argues that if parents decide to take the matter to court, the plan is decided by a judge who doesn’t necessarily know a person’s family traditions.