Steps of the Mediation Process

The Steps 

Introduction: Mediators review the principles and steps of Mediation, including the rules: NO Name Calling and NO Interrupting.  They share with the parties that they will not Mediate in the presence of COERSION, HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT or DATING/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. If they think those are happening, they will stop the Mediation and have the case referred to other resources that are available to address those issues.

1st Joint Session: The Mediators will ask the parties to take turns sharing their perspective on the situation at hand. The Mediators will ask questions to gain clarity.

Mediator’s Break: The Mediators step away from the Parties to ask and answer these questions, “What do we know? What do we need to know? and Should we have Private Sessions?”

Private Sessions: These individual meetings with one Party and both Mediators are confidential. This is an opportunity for each Party to share important information with the Mediators that they may not feel comfortable sharing in the presence of the other Party at that moment.

Final Joint Session: This is where the Mediators clarify that both Parties have shared all of the relevant information needed to come to an understanding and they are willing to move to the next step.

Agreement Writing: In the words of the Parties, the Mediators write a balanced agreement that allows each person to have their needs met and meet the needs of the other person to move forward. This agreement is written in a positive frame with actions for both parties to take to solve the conflict and prevent further problems regarding this particular issue.

Follow up: After 4-6 weeks we will check in with the Parties to see if the agreement is being kept and is satisfactory to address the issues that were previously presented. If at any time either of the Parties feel that the agreement is not being followed by the other person, they are encouraged to alert My House Wellness immediately.  An investigation of the violation will take place and the following options will be offered: 

Meet again with the Mediators to augment the agreement until it meets the needs of both parties and establish a new follow up date or end the Mediation process and move to other resources to address the conflict.