• MEDIATION • MEDIATION / ARBITRATION • FAMILY NEEDS CONSULTATION • PARENTING PLAN ASSESMENTS • PARENTING COORDINATION • COACHING • CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS

MEDIATION Mediation is a process in which the parties to a dispute (the inability to agree on a solution to a conflict) select a neutral individual to assist them in their discussions and attempts to negotiate a resolution of the dispute. The person chosen to be the mediator usually has special expertise or experience in the matter being contested. In the case of matrimonial and family conflicts, mediators are usually lawyers specializing in family law and/or mental health practitioners specializing in the unique parent and child issues of marriage, separation, and divorce. Both lawyers and mental health professionals receive special training to do this type of work. The goal of mediation is to settle the dispute, and to settle it in such a way that both sides believe that, although not perfect, the agreement is in the best interests of the children and "good enough" for both sides to live with. The process requires that the parties are open to resolving their difference via compromise rather than "winning." Couples seeking mediation must make a decision about the level of confidentiality they will adhere to. In this respect, mediation is decided to be either "closed" or "open." Where closed mediation is chosen the mediator will not voluntarily disclose to anyone who is not a party to the mediation, anything said or material submitted without the consent of all parties. In addition, the mediator cannot testify in court and the entire content of the mediation process is not admissible in court. Where open mediation is chosen, the parties agree that the full disclosure of both the process and content of the mediation may be made available to all parties, counsel, and the court. The mediator may also be called upon to testify. Mediation has increasingly gained in popularity as the foremost dispute resolution method turned to as an alternative to court room litigation. It is frequently faster, less expensive, certainly not as formal, and often results in less of an adversarial atmosphere. Of course, not every conflict can be successfully resolved via mediation. In these instances the parties may then turn to arbitration or choose to go to court. If the parties do reach an agreement on some or all of the issues, the mediator will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (parenting plan) with respect to those issues agreed upon. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, no report will be written. In our experience, couples who resolve their differences via mediation tend to walk away from the process with a better mutual relationship than those who engage in a traditional court proceeding. • back to top     Family Solutions Mediation Forms • Mediation Info_FS.doc • Mediation Intake Form_FS.doc MEDIATION / ARBITRATION We offer Mediation/Arbitration services with respect to parenting issues. Mediation/Arbitration is a process in which a neutral professional first attempts to assist the parties in the resolution of their dispute through mediation. If the dispute is not resolved, the Mediator assumes the role of Arbitrator and has the authority to making a binding decision. This decision or award becomes as enforceable as a Court Order. Combining mediation and arbitration offers parents a time efficient and cost effective process for resolving disputes. What is attractive to parents is the opportunity to first attempt settlement on their own, and to be able to narrow the issues, should they be unable to come to full resolution. Parents have suggested as well that they like the fact that the professional who ultimately makes the decision knows them and has a good understanding of issues related to the children. • back to top     Family Solutions Mediation/Arbitration Forms • MedArb Description_FS.doc • MedArb Info_FS.doc • MedArb Intake Form_FS.doc FAMILY NEEDS CONSULTATION Many families can rise to the challenge and do what needs to be done to begin restoring equilibrium and balance to a family system rocked with conflict and discord. The key element here is the phrase "do what needs to be done." That is the stumbling block, the obstacle to moving forward. We are referring to "knowing what needs to be done." The problem is not in the doing. The problem is more in the knowing. In order to provide families with the opportunity to discover the answer to the question, "Now what can we do?" the Family Solutions Team created the Family Needs Consultation. The Family Needs Consultation is a solution and action focused approach providing parents (and their lawyers) with clinical educational feedback plus specific feedback about appropriate dispute resolution interventions for their particular situation. The process takes approximately three hours during which time 2 or more team members engage the parents in a child-focused family interview while other team members observe from behind the one-way mirror. The team consults on occasion during the consultation. Prior to meeting the parents, they complete intake materials that the team reviews and discusses before the consultation. The full team meets briefly at the end of the process to formulate, based upon our collective knowledge of and expertise in the family dispute resolution field, suggestions about the most appropriate services and solution-oriented interventions to address the family's particular impasse and needs. These conclusions are shared verbally with the family and then followed up by a brief written report. The Family Solutions Team is available to work with the family and implement services and interventions. We are also available to refer the family to other individuals or groups capable of providing similar services. In either case, it is our hope that the parents l leave the consultation with a clearer idea of their children's needs, how to focus better on these, and about what needs to be done, how, and by whom. • back to top     Family Solutions FNC (Family Needs Consultation) Forms • Acrimony Scale_FS.doc • FNC CONSENT_FS.doc • FNC Info_FS.doc • FNC Intake Form_FS.doc • Research Consent_FS.doc PARENTING PLAN ASSESSMENTS This is a comprehensive family assessment by a qualified and experienced mental health practitioner which evaluates the individuals needs of the child in relation to the abilities of each parent and the quality of family relationships. The assessment typically provides information related to and recommendations about the most appropriate residential schedule for the child and the most appropriate structure for making child-related decisions. This assists the parents and judges in deciding on a plan that is in the best interests of the child for the particular family. These assessments are often helpful when: other methods of dispute resolution have been unsuccessful and the parents continue to have very different views of the best parenting plan; or there are very serious concerns about the child and/or the parenting ability of one or both parents. The assessment involves an objective, structured approach with information gathered from many sources and through varied methods. Information is gathered from clinical interviews, parent-child observations, collateral interviews/reports, psychological testing, review of court material, etc. The process usually involves a 3-4 month period, and is not confidential as information is shared with counsel and the court. For more detailed information about parenting plan (custody) assessments, please refer to...(our other link here). • back to top     Family Solutions Parenting Plan Assessment Forms • Assessment Agreement_FS.doc • Assessment Info_FS.doc PARENTING COORDINATION Parenting Coordination is an alternative dispute resolution service for high conflict couples. A Parenting Coordinator (PC) is usually a mental health professional, although lawyers and mediators sometimes perform this function. Regardless of profession, the PC must have experience with and knowledge of separation/divorce, high conflict families, child development, parenting time schedules, family systems, family violence, conflict resolution, arbitration and relevant legislation and family law rules. • back to top     Family Solutions Parenting Coordination Forms • PC Info_FS.doc • PC Intake Form_FS.doc COACHING Coaching is a profession that promotes excellence within individuals and groups by facilitating learning, engaging untapped potential, and supporting effective action. Coaches: • Help people set better goals and then reach those goals. • Ask their clients to do more than they would have done on their own. • Focus their clients better to more quickly produce results. • Provide the tools, support and structure to accomplish more. Coaching is a form of consulting. But the coach stays with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals to make sure they really happen. Therapy. Coaching is not therapy. We don't work on "issues" or get into the past or deal much with understanding human behavior. We leave that up to the client to know and figure out while we help them move forward and set personal and professional goals that will give them People hire a coach because • They want more. • They want to grow. • They want it easier. It's as simple as that. Coaches help a client get all three. Quickly. • back to top     Family Solutions Coaching Forms • Coaching Info_FS.doc • Coaching Intake_FS.doc CONSULTATION For Parents: We, as experienced mental heath professionals, provide advice and guidance about a variety of issues related to separation/divorce at any point during the separation process. This includes advice about how to tell your child about the upcoming parental separation and how to assist the children in the separation/divorce process. This also includes obtaining advice and information about children's reactions to divorce, and the dispute resolution services that are likely to meet your family's individual needs. We also address issues related to higher-conflict situations: such as providing advice about how to help a child who is alienated from a parent, or who is caught between the parents, assisting a child who shows distress/symptoms at transitions between parental homes, how to communicate with the other parent, and consultation about divorce disputes. Unlike counseling or coaching, the consultation process is typically a very short-term intervention that is informed by the clinician's experience, training and knowledge of the literature in this area. It is also a confidential process. • back to top     Family Solutions Parent Consultation Forms • Consultation Intake Form_FS.doc • Parent Consultation Info_FS.doc

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