Family
Mediation
Mediation provides a neutral environment where parents can come together, reach an understanding and learn to resolve conflicts in a more positive manner. A mediator is trained to acknowledge feelings, but encourages clients to not allow feelings to control the decision-making process. A mediator will help focus on the positive, assessing whatever goodwill may remain between the divorced parents, and encourages the ability to improve future contacts between them. A trained mediator will help recognize and teach clients to avoid language that triggers anger and resentment and will help the clients develop healthy dialogue patterns.
The couple choosing mediation can have greater control in the divorce process. The pace, slow or swift, can be determined in large part by the clients. Many people who have been through mediation feel that the process provides closure and helps the individuals move forward without the additional pain and anger that comes from a court battle.
There are different styles of mediation. Clients can be in different rooms with the mediator moving back and forth between the two rooms. This is called “Caucus” style. If both clients prefer, we can all be in the same room to reach agreements. The mediator is neutral and cannot give advice to either client.
Confidential Mediation
Mediation is a confidential process. What happens in a mediation session cannot be testified to in court by the mediator. Papers created in a mediation settlement are confidential and not to be revealed in court. As a non-attorney mediator, Ms. Brown can assist you both with the following:
- Create a parenting plan for a divorce or separation. Parents can take the Mediated Settlement Agreement to an attorney to review and/or file with the court.
- Resolve differences in an existing parenting schedule that is not currently working well for your restructured family.
- Reach a non-binding agreement on how to parent your children. This would not involve having a Mediated Settlement Agreement – but would be a more informal agreement between the parents.
Ms. Brown requires that mediation clients utilize an attorney to file a mediated Settlement Agreement to finalize a divorce or other legal settlement. She cannot give legal advice to either client. As a mediator, Ms. Brown can help clients reach an agreement. Only an attorney is qualified to render legal advice. During mediation, you may call an attorney for advice. If both parents agree to it, they may have attorneys at
the mediation. Ms. Brown does not allow one client to have an attorney at the mediation if the other client does not bring an attorney. However, she will allow a client to take a break during the process and call an attorney for consultation on an issue while we work on the parenting plan.
© 2018. Teresa Brown, M.Ed., LPC, NCC, Registered Play Therapist | Family Therapy Solutions, PLLC