How can we help you?
Sometimes we are so close to our problems we can’t see the wood for the trees. Relationships can be especially emotional and stressful. Separation and divorce, for example, are regarded as two of the most stressful life events a person can experience. When you are under strain, trying to keep your head above water and forced at the same time to make major life decisions, it can be difficult to know how best to move forward.
In these situations it can be a relief and a great help to have an impartial person such as a mediator meet with you and the other party, or parties, in a safe, confidential and professional environment. A mediator listens carefully to all parties to help you identify and examine the issues at hand, assists in information sharing, generates alternative solutions that you might not have considered, and explores various settlement options in order for you to reach an agreement that everyone feels is fair. All parties are actively engaged in the mediation process and the outcome.
In these situations it can be a relief and a great help to have an impartial person such as a mediator meet with you and the other party, or parties, in a safe, confidential and professional environment. A mediator listens carefully to all parties to help you identify and examine the issues at hand, assists in information sharing, generates alternative solutions that you might not have considered, and explores various settlement options in order for you to reach an agreement that everyone feels is fair. All parties are actively engaged in the mediation process and the outcome.
What is a mediator?
A mediator is a neutral facilitator. As such, he or she will not make any decisions for you, but will rather assist you to reach your own decisions. Mediators have psychology and law training, but we are not necessarily therapists or lawyers and the mediation space is neither a therapeutic nor a legalistic one. We can, however, provide information about the legal processes and law in order for you to better consider the options available to you and we do provide a safe space to talk openly and honestly. We acknowledge that disagreements can create stress and we embrace emotion without allowing it to derail the mediation process.
How exactly does mediation work?
Mediation is a step-by-step process in which the parties, together with an accredited mediator, address all issues related to the conflict in order to achieve a resolution that everyone involved in the dispute can agree to and abide by. All discussions are confidential.
After one party has contacted us, an email will be sent to all parties to explain what mediation is about and what you can expect to achieve. If everyone agrees to go ahead with mediation, an initial session will be scheduled so you can ask whatever questions you need to. A mediation session is typically 1.5 hours. You will be asked to sign an agreement before starting mediation in order to protect confidentiality and your and the mediator’s rights.
After one party has contacted us, an email will be sent to all parties to explain what mediation is about and what you can expect to achieve. If everyone agrees to go ahead with mediation, an initial session will be scheduled so you can ask whatever questions you need to. A mediation session is typically 1.5 hours. You will be asked to sign an agreement before starting mediation in order to protect confidentiality and your and the mediator’s rights.
How long does mediation take and is it always successful?
The length of a complete mediation is variable. It can take one session to come to agreement, or many sessions, depending on the issue under dispute and the willingness of parties to negotiate. A divorce can take between 3 and 8 sessions to mediate finances and a parenting plan.
Parties who are committed to the mediation process most often find common ground and are able to settle their dispute. If any party, including the mediator, feels the mediation is not working, he or she can stop the mediation process at any point. Equally, if only some aspects of the dispute are successfully mediated, the mediation can be ended with resolution on those aspects while other issues may require an alternative dispute resolution method such as negotiation or arbitration. Parties may opt to rather litigate at any point, but you cannot initiate litigation at the same time as attempting to mediate a dispute.
Parties who are committed to the mediation process most often find common ground and are able to settle their dispute. If any party, including the mediator, feels the mediation is not working, he or she can stop the mediation process at any point. Equally, if only some aspects of the dispute are successfully mediated, the mediation can be ended with resolution on those aspects while other issues may require an alternative dispute resolution method such as negotiation or arbitration. Parties may opt to rather litigate at any point, but you cannot initiate litigation at the same time as attempting to mediate a dispute.