Mediation - An Alternative Method of Negotiation (From Alternative Means of Family Dispute Resolution, P 229-237, 1982, Howard Davidson et al, ed. - See NCJ-92365)

• NCJ Number: 92169
• Author(s): P E Shahen; P M Vroom
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: American Bar Assoc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This document presents the introductory materials issued to clients seeking the services of Family Mediation of Greater Washington because couples have expressed a wide variety of misconceived expectations from family mediation consultation.

Abstract

The agency's handout is designed to acquaint the divorcing or separating couple with the options available to them for assistance in resolving the legal and property issues between them. In the handout, the two forms of negotiation available to them are contrasted -- negotiation through attorneys and negotiation through mediation. It is emphasized that deciding which form of negotiating to follow is one of the most important ways a person can structure the ending of his or her marriage. The material also emphasizes that mediation requires each spouse to take responsibility for his or her decisions and that one of the mediator's roles is to help the couple learn or enhance their skills of assertiveness, collaboration, good communication, and empathetic listening. Charts are provided.