What is mediation?
The purpose of mediation is to support two or more people find their own mutually agreeable resolution.
Sometimes conversations can reach a stuck place. There can be numerous reasons for this. Here are some examples:
It has been my experience that a third person with skills in how to help each person really listen to the other is often what is needed to re-build connection and trust which in turn brings about the possibility for resolution.
It is often a much more affordable (in time, money and emotional energy) option than going through the legal process.
Sometimes conversations can reach a stuck place. There can be numerous reasons for this. Here are some examples:
- The people involved are hearing blame and/or speaking in a blaming or criticising way rather than focusing on the underlying needs of both people
- There is old trauma being stimulated by the conversation for one or both parties
- Trust has been lost that one's own needs really matter
- The two parties have got stuck in black and white thinking: an 'either/or' paradigm
- One or both parties have confused their one strategy for their underlying deeper needs and so have shut down to other possible outcomes
It has been my experience that a third person with skills in how to help each person really listen to the other is often what is needed to re-build connection and trust which in turn brings about the possibility for resolution.
It is often a much more affordable (in time, money and emotional energy) option than going through the legal process.
Why choose mediation?
If you have reached a place where you no longer feel able to continue communicating in a dispute situation with another person, you have a number of choices. For example, you can:
- Try to ignore the situation/person and hope that doing this won't have long term consequences for you.
- Take the dispute through a legal process and allow an arbitrator to decide the outcome (this typically involves one person 'winning' the case and one person 'losing' it).
- Use aggression to try to force the other person to your way of thinking (not recommended and not legal!)
- Ask someone who is trusted to be impartial to mediate in order to support everyone involved coming to a mutually satisfying resolution. This is usually the most cost-effective solution and often the only solution that offers the possibility of a win/win solution.
Free 1/2 hour chat offered
If you think you could benefit from this kind of support please contact me to discuss your personal situation so that we can decide together whether I can be of help and at a price that is affordable to you and sustainable for me.
A story of two sisters
"My sister and I approached Penny to help us resolve a long-standing
relationship difficulty. She held a space for us to navigate previously
difficult subjects in a way that we both felt heard and supported. As a
result of her calm, professional and compassionate presence we were able
to say things to each other that had remained unsaid for too many years
and then move on to a new and much more open footing with each other.
Many thanks, Penny, I really appreciate your help and I would recommend
you to anyone."
Eva
