Family Mediation

Donna Soules has mediated many family conflicts since she began her practice in 1993. She assists parties to resolve issues of parenting plans and division of assets.

Initially, a pre-mediation session is arranged separately with each party prior to the mediation to:

• determine the appropriateness of the issues
• assess the willingness of all parties to mediate
• provide an opportunity to meet the mediator
• explain the mediation process and the mediator's role
• discuss difficult issues
• assess any concerns of each party
• determine the ability of each party to negotiate a fair agreement
• design an agenda of topics to discuss

Once the pre-mediation session is complete and the appropriateness of the mediation is determined, a three-hour session is scheduled.

The length of time needed to successfully complete a mediation depends on a number of factors:

• the number of issues to be resolved.
• the emotional readiness of the participants.
• the amount of preparation each party has completed to bring to the sessions.
• the willingness of the parties to reach an agreement.
• the ability of each party to negotiate a fair agreement, with the assistance of the mediator.

In family mediations, the participants are expected to:

• participate
• communicate openly and honestly
• provide all relevant information
• listen without interruption
• keep an open mind
• speak from their own perspectives by using "I" language
• refrain from judging and blaming others
• clarify assumptions
• communicate respectfully

The mediator's role is to:

• guide the process
• provide a safe and supportive climate for the discussion of difficult issues
• be neutral and not take sides
• refrain from giving advice
• focus on the agenda topics and keep the process on track
• manage the emotional climate
• assist people to listen and understand each other
• help people follow the guidelines they have designed
• support people to talk about difficult topics they wish to resolve
• keep the interactions respectful