Including Children in Mediation - Considerations for the Mediator (From Divorce and Family Mediation, P 94-107, 1985, James C Hansen, ed. - See NCJ-100688)

• NCJ Number: 100693
• Author(s): K K Irvin
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Lockheed Martin
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reviews the mediator knowledge required for including children in divorce mediation, advantages and disadvantages of including children in divorce mediation, the format for including children, mediator roles with children, techniques for including children, and ethical considerations.

Abstract

Mediator knowledge required when including children in divorce mediation encompasses the developmental stages and needs of children, the emotional as well as the legal aspects of the divorce process, and research pertaining to the involvement of children in divorce and divorce mediation. Advantages of including children in divorce mediation are their observation of parents' concern to meet their needs under the divorce circumstances, the reinforcement of parental efforts to focus on the children, and childrens input regarding their needs. Disadvantages include the child's exposure to parents' conflict, complications of dealing with the child's feelings, and the mediator's inability to relate to children. Formats for including children are with both parents, with only one parent at a time, as a sibling group, as individuals, or in any combination. Mediator roles with children are as educator, supporter, confidant, messenger, advocate, resource, evaluator, and therapist. Ethical considerations include the confidentiality of information from children obtained in separate sessions with them, mediator bias, and custody recommendations in the event of a mediation impasse. 20 references.