Mediation is a process of facilitated collaboration in which both parties reach an agreement about the outcomes of a pending divorce, combining ideas and solutions generated by each side.
What Can Mediation Do? Mediation Will…
- Encourage and foster the ideas and solutions of both parties, so everyone gets heard.
- Create a collaborative division of property, parenting time, and child support.
- Allow for creative solutions which are broader in scope than those which are court-ordered.
- Empower parents, instead of the court, make the most important decisions on behalf of their own children.
- Set the tone for a more collaborative future.
How Does Mediation Work?
It is the job of a mediator to create a safe and prepared opportunity for divorcing couples to speak, to be heard, and to create options. Mr. Anderson will gather and study a great deal of information from both parties so he understands the context and goals of the mediation beforehand. The mediation meeting can take place in one room, or it can take place in separate offices with Mr. Anderson going back and forth to communicate both sides, and a locked security door can be between each office if needed for a sense of security. The process includes listening to the feelings and opinions of each party, identifying the interests of both, and generating and evaluating new ideas with the goal of creating solutions that work for both parties. A mediation session lasts two to three hours, and the whole process typically takes two to five sessions.
Mediation benefits divorcing couples by putting the power to decide in their own hands. The divorcing couple are also the ones who know they’re own relationship and household situation best, so better-informed decisions can be made because they are communicating. Any decision made will end up being something that both parties have agreed on, which makes it easier to accept. Mediation also keeps divorcing couples out of court, making it a far less expensive alternative.
Mediation benefits children by helping their parents create a more collaborative future for co-parenting. It encourages parents to think about how to stay a family in two homes, even though the marriage is ending. The process of mediation, when well-planned and well-implemented, is one that will keep children at the center, and out of the middle.
Do you want to move forward with your life while leaving the conflict and combativeness behind? Jim Anderson has been working with families going through divorce for a number of years, and also brings his personal experience to the table. Mr. Anderson will assure that your mediation process is handled with empathy and expertise, as well as professionalism and patience.
The extra component you will find with Mr. Anderson’s mediation services is a key principle of all services at Cashman Center; our wellness model sets the goal of not only solving the current problems, but setting up a lifestyle which supports a healthier future. In mediation this means:
- anticipating future changes,
- fostering better communication,
- and creating a stable path for the future.
