Mediation

Mediation is a process that empowers participants to identify and voice their needs and concerns through facilitated negotiation.  The mediator assists disputing parties to collaboratively discuss their concerns and problem solve their issues.  Mediators have no authoritative decision making power.  Participation is voluntary, private, and face-to-face. Mediators control the process but not the outcome.

The price of broken relationships is high today.  Conflict costs organizations millions of dollars in lost productivity each year and can plague families for generations.  Conflict can lead to divorce, teenage drinking and drug use, infidelity, anxiety, and loss of self esteem.  Learning techniques to have a conversation instead of a fight can create an atmosphere at work and home that leads to mutual respect and trust.  Mediation provides a framework for discussing family interpersonal issues, church and clergy disputes, neighborhood or community disagreements, and business or partnership concerns.

Advantages to using mediation over litigation include:

Mediation costs considerably less than litigation.

Mediation takes less time than litigation.

Mediation enhances and maintains relationships among participants.

Mediation reduces the recurrence of conflict.

Mediation allows participants more control throughout the process than litigation.