MEDIATION & COUNSELLING

Mediation is about dealing with disputes between parties. It is Voluntary, Impartial, Confidential and Self-Determining. Its' aim is to help parties find a comprehensive, mutually acceptable, long lasting solution. Fundamentally, the parties agree to come together to try and find a solution to their dispute. Both parties get equal time and the mediator is not allowed to take sides or devise a solution. That is for the parties to do. The role of the mediator is to facilitate constructive communication, establish what are the real underlying interests of the parties, assist the parties in viewing the "conflict" as a problem they can solve, manage the process, not the solution and recognise the legitimacy of both sides in the dispute... Mediation is not counselling. If for example a couple decide that they want to try and repair their relationship they will be referred to a relationship counselling service. Unfortunately, however, we are seeing an increase in couples wanting to separate...