|
 WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation is a rigorous, structured process that involves a neutral third party (the mediator) who assists those involved in a conflict to develop their own solution to their conflict. Mediation is confidential, is cooperative, and has the capacity to mend personal, professional, and business relationships.
People work together to find mutually agreeable, lasting solutions. The process benefits businesses because it is a cost- and time-effective way to solve disputes with employees, customers, and suppliers. It helps workers solve problems that would hinder finding and keeping jobs. Parents use mediation to separate or divorce while keeping the best interests of their children at heart. Teens and their parents resolve difficult situations so they can live together. Adults find workable solutions for caring for elderly parents, and neighbors reconcile differences that may have lasted for years.
Mediators help people clarify issues, identify common interests, and seek their own solutions while creating agreements that satisfy the needs of everyone involved. The mediation process is flexible, informal, and promotes creative thinking. Mediation demands that people in conflict take responsibility for their problems and try to find resolutions to them. It is often successful in knotty, seemingly intractable conflicts.
Mediation is:
- A win/win process: no one loses by trying to resolve disputes through mediation. And mediation often results in outcomes that are better for both parties. Mediation is an effective way of resolving conflicts with the potential to save time and relationships.
- Voluntary: all parties involved agree to be a part of the mediation and anyone can withdraw from the process at any time.
- Neutral: mediators are impartial; they do not take sides, advise, or judge. Mediators facilitate.
- Confidential: mediations are done in a private and confidential setting. Under Massachusetts law, information from mediations will not be made public and cannot be used in court.
- Self-determined: in mediation, the parties have the opportunity and responsibility for designing their own solution to their dispute. Mediators do not make suggestions or tell people what to do.
- Informed: informed consent means no agreement is signed unless the parties have the knowledge and ability to fully understand and agree with the process and the terms of their agreement.
Top of page
WHY MEDIATE?
- Resolve problems without costly or time consuming legal battles.
- Work together to find mutually satisfying solutions. Mediation is a cooperative process.
- Mend personal and professional relationships. Mediation fosters confidence, trust, and good relations.
- Solve disputes with employees, customers, and suppliers to benefit businesses in an effective way.
- Solve conflicts among coworkers and help workers solve problems that would hinder finding and keeping a job.
- Reach concrete agreements between parents and teens in conflict.
- Work together to make divorce or separation agreements, keeping the interests of the children in mind.
- Find workable solutions for caring for elderly parents.
- Settle differences among neighbors that may have lasted for years.
Top of page
WHO IS MEDIATION FOR?
Quabbin Mediation mediates disputes of all types, including:
- Parent/Child
- Neighbor
- Small Claims
- Business
- Landlord-Tenant
- Divorce
- Family
- Workplace
- Minor Criminal
- Veterans
Top of page
HOW DOES MEDIATION WORK?
Mediation is voluntary. Parties request mediation or a judge or social service agency may suggest it. But either way, it's up to you. People work together to find mutually agreeable solutions. Quabbin Mediation usually uses a co-mediation model - two mediators working as a team. The disputants meet with the mediators, who help the parties solve their problem. The mediators will explain everyone's role and help develop the rules of mediation. Typically, mediation begins with uninterrupted time for each person to tell his or her story and describe the situation from their point of view. The mediators might then meet with the parties privately to try out some different ways to resolve the problem. Resolutions come from the disputants themselves with the meditors' help.
Mediation provides the opportunity to discuss the issues raised in the dispute, clear up misunderstandings, find areas of common ground, and, finally, to craft agreement that solves the problem. The mediators help everyone focus on the future rather than on the past.
When agreement is reached, it's put in writing and both parties agree to abide by it. In some cases, the agreement is entered as judgement with the court, giving it additional enforcement authority.
Mediation can take one, two-hour session or multiple sessions and is held either in Quabbin Mediation's offices or at a community location agreeable to both parties.
Top of page
WHAT DOES IT COST?
Services are free of charge for court-referred cases. For other cases, Quabbin Mediation may charge a variable fee.
For more information or to inquire about a case, contact us at info@quabbinmediation.org or 1-800-924-2600 or 978-544-6142.
Top of page
|
