Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process, which helps people work together to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of issues. Mediation can also help to rebuild, maintain, and preserve trust in relationships. When people work against each other the relationship deteriorates; when they work together the relationship often improves.
Mediation has a problem-solving component (often referred to as alternative dispute resolution) as well as a component that acknowledges that people may need to continue to have a positive and working relationship after divorce, especially if children are involved.
The mediator does not take sides nor make judgments or decisions for the participants in the mediation process. The mediator helps the participants to talk with each other to find a common understanding and resolution of the issues.
Mediation is for couples thinking about separating, divorcing, and for post-divorce issues. It is also for parent and teen issues, adoptions, guardianships, non-traditional relationships, disputes over care for aging parents, grandparent visitation, and other family situations.
Mediation is both for people who agree and for those who disagree. The mediation process can be especially helpful for people who believe their differences are so great that they will never be able to agree. Mediators are trained to manage conflict. Mediators help people communicate in a safe and reasonable way.