Florida family court mediation programs have predominantly been assessed using numerical data. To understand the complexity of mediation, programs may benefit from increasing systematic qualitative research. One attribute for consideration - metaphors, as they are snapshots of the mental models that mediators use. For example, mediation might be defined as a journey or the peeling of layers from an onion. This study was a qualitative content analysis of 85 Florida family court mediators’ conflict metaphors, couched in relevant theories, providing insight into their experiences. A statewide questionnaire resulted in predominantly negative metaphors for conflict and mediation parties, and positive metaphors for mediation and mediators. Meta-metaphors emerged and findings were presented as major categories and subcategories, indicating coherence in their metaphors regarding conflict, mediators, mediation, people in conflict, divorce, anger, and forgiveness