Positive Solutions: Mediation, Counselling & Training

Positive Solutions
Mediation ● Counselling ● Training
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What is mediation and how can it help you?

Mediation is a process of dispute resolution in which a neutral third party (the mediator) assists two or more parties to help them
negotiate an agreement about the dispute.

The mediators’ role is not to take sides, but to listen to both parties and assist them in looking at their issues, develop options
and reach an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.

Mediations are private and confidential and are conducted as informal discussions in a neutral environment.

Parties benefit from mediation in a number of ways:

they participate in the decision-making process (rather than having a Judge or Arbitrator make decisions for them);
they have an opportunity to tell the other party how they are feeling about the situation;
they have an opportunity to hear how the other party feels about the situation;
mediation generally costs a lot less than going through the Court system.

How is mediation provided?

Mediations require an individual session (pre-mediation) with each party before proceeding to a joint session, where the needs of
both parties are explored. It sometimes involves two mediators (male and female) and can be delivered in a variety of ways:

face-to-face - in this instance all parties to the dispute meet and discuss the issues.
shuttle mediation - in this instance the mediator(s) travel back and forth between the disputing parties to attempt a seek
a resolution to the issues under dispute.

Under the Family Law Act 1975 mediators are now known as "Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners" and counsellors are
referred to as "Family Counsellors". However, within this website, and solely for practical purposes,
we have continued to refer to "mediators" and "counsellors".