What is Mediation?
Mediation is a process in which the mediator assists parties in reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.
You need a mediator if you want to end a conflict or if you want to avoid starting a conflict. Some of the many areas of conflict resolution that we deal with at the Edmonton Mediation Centre include:
Divorce mediation: including parenting plans, child support, spousal support and division of assets and debts.
Workplace mediation: any type of dispute in the workplace involving co-workers, workers and supervisors, or management and owners.
Elder mediation: family members meet to discuss the needs and wishes of an aging family member, such as accommodation, socialization, finances and health.
As people enter into conflict, trust in the other side tends to diminish and each party becomes anxious and fearful of the other's motives. At this point, both sides tend to withdraw and look for ways to protect themselves from the perceived threat of the other party. The adversarial style of negotiation that ensues tends to increase those feelings of fear and anxiety, rather than diminish them. The longer the conflict lasts, the greater toll it takes on all of the parties involved.
Most people that are dealing with conflict have a very nominal understanding of how mediation might help their situation. Mediation works because it allows people to discover that through working cooperatively, rather than competitively, they can still create a resolution that satisfies their own interests.
Contact the Edmonton Mediation Centre and a knowledgeable professional will be happy to answer any questions you may have concerning dispute resolution and the many services we provide.
