Welcome to Adobe GoLive 4

Meet the Mediators
We are not a formal agency. We are simply three mediators who are committed to mediation as a financially and emotionally cost-effective alternative to litigation. We believe in the benefits of helping individuals and families resolve their differences, make decisions themselves about what are the best interests of their children, and reach equitable compromises. We have worked together as co-mediators for several years, respect each other’s expertise and skills, and enjoy collaborating on cases.

We apologize if it was difficult to locate us. We do not advertise nor are we listed in the Yellow Pages. Our practice is limited to referrals from judges, attorneys, physicians, therapists and former clients.

Below is a summary of our respective educational backgrounds and professional experiences.

Susan Kraus has a B.A. (Montclair State, N.J., ‘71), M.A. (California State University at Chico, ‘72) and M.S.W. (University of Texas, Austin, ‘78). She did post-graduate training in marriage and family therapy at Menningers. She was with Washburn University, Topeka, (‘78 to ‘86) and adjunct graduate faculty at K.U. (‘86 to ‘99.) While earning assorted degrees, she worked as a waitress, nursing home aide, sales clerk, office clerk and teacher. She has also been a free-lance writer for two decades. Susan has maintained a private practice in individual, marital and family therapy for over twenty-five years, and is an approved insurance provider. She completed mediation training with the Kansas Bar Association in ‘94, and has since been involved in a variety of mediation venues, including domestic, agency, business and court appointed case management. Susan is a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator, often serves as a supervising mediator and mentor, and is currently serving a three year appointment on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee at the Kansas Supreme Court. She has been married for 27 years and has two kids.

Frank Barthell has a B.A. (Union College, N.Y. ’73) and an M.S. (University of Kansas, ’81), where he also taught for 3 years. He has worked at K.U. for 25 years in the Office of University Relations as media coordinator and radio & TV writer-producer-director. He trained as a mediator with the Kansas Bar Association in ‘00 and has been a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator since ‘01. He has also worked as a roofer, restaurant cook, longshoreman, psychiatric aide at Topeka State Hospital, IRS tax evaluator, teacher and custodian. Frank’s primary focus in mediation has been in the areas of domestic and case management. He has been married “for decades” and has raised two children, now aged 24 and 19. He has a particular interest in working with families with a special needs child, and in negotiating the extra demands, attention to detail and cooperation that trying to co-parent a special needs kid from two homes requires.

Verdell Taylor grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas,and graduated from Emporia State University with a B.S. in Education (‘68) and M.S. in Counseling (’71). In his younger years, he worked as a soda jerk, newspaper delivery boy, mover, custodian and on a loading dock. Verdell served as an officer in the Army, taught 5th and 6th grades for two years, and was an Associate Dean of Students at Emporia State from ’71 to ’78. He spent ten years as an Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools (Office of Student Affairs) in Colorado Springs working with high-risk kids, and was also Director of Student Affairs for a construction trade school. During this time he became increasingly involved with ministry, serving as an associate pastor in Colorado Springs from ’80-’92. Verdell was pastor at Washington Chapel AME church in Roswell, N.M. for 3 years and also worked for Counseling Associates, Inc., at an adolescent day-treatment center, where he was director from ’93-’95. He has been the pastor of St. Luke’s AME church and a therapist with Christian Psychological Services for over ten years. Verdell completed mediation training in ’02, and has been a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator since ’03, with a focus is on domestic mediation and case management. He has been married for 37 years, and has two grown daughters and three grandchildren.


			Susan Kraus has a B.A. (Montclair State, N.J., ‘71), M.A. (California State University at Chico, ‘72) and M.S.W. (University of Texas, Austin, ‘78). She did post-graduate training in marriage and family therapy at Menningers. She was with Washburn University, Topeka, (‘78 to ‘86) and adjunct graduate faculty at K.U. (‘86 to ‘99.) While earning assorted degrees, she worked as a waitress, nursing home aide, sales clerk, office clerk and teacher. She has also been a free-lance writer for two decades. Susan has maintained a private practice in individual, marital and family therapy for over twenty-five years, and is an approved insurance provider. She completed mediation training with the Kansas Bar Association in ‘94, and has since been involved in a variety of mediation venues, including domestic, agency, business and court appointed case management. Susan is a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator, often serves as a supervising mediator and mentor, and is currently serving a three year appointment on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee at the Kansas Supreme Court. She has been married for 27 years and has two kids.

		Frank Barthell has a B.A. (Union College, N.Y. ’73) and an M.S. (University of Kansas, ’81), where he also taught for 3 years. He has worked at K.U. for 25 years in the Office of University Relations as media coordinator and radio & TV writer-producer-director. He trained as a mediator with the Kansas Bar Association in ‘00 and has been a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator since ‘01. He has also worked as a roofer, restaurant cook, longshoreman, psychiatric aide at Topeka State Hospital, IRS tax evaluator, teacher and custodian. Frank’s primary focus in mediation has been in the areas of domestic and case management. He has been married “for decades” and has raised two children, now aged 24 and 19. He has a particular interest in working with families with a special needs child, and in negotiating the extra demands, attention to detail and cooperation that trying to co-parent a special needs kid from two homes requires.

		Verdell Taylor grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas,and graduated from Emporia State University with a B.S. in Education (‘68) and M.S. in Counseling (’71). In his younger years, he worked as a soda jerk, newspaper delivery boy, mover, custodian and on a loading dock. Verdell served as an officer in the Army, taught 5th and 6th grades for two years, and was an Associate Dean of Students at Emporia State from ’71 to ’78. He spent ten years as an Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools (Office of Student Affairs) in Colorado Springs working with high-risk kids, and was also Director of Student Affairs for a construction trade school. During this time he became increasingly involved with ministry, serving as an associate pastor in Colorado Springs from ’80-’92. Verdell was pastor at Washington Chapel AME church in Roswell, N.M. for 3 years and also worked for Counseling Associates, Inc., at an adolescent day-treatment center, where he was director from ’93-’95. He has been the pastor of St. Luke’s AME church and a therapist with Christian Psychological Services for over ten years. Verdell completed mediation training in ’02, and has been a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator since ’03, with a focus is on domestic mediation and case management. He has been married for 37 years, and has two grown daughters and three grandchildren.