Another Way: Mediation
In mediation, you and another person meet to try and settle your disagreement in a safe way.
A mediator guides you through the meeting so things:
· Don’t get bogged down
· Anger doesn’t take over
You meet on neutral ground, in a safe place.
You and the other person each have a chance to explain what you want, with:
· No interruptions
· No insults
The mediator doesn’t take sides.
The mediator doesn’t make decisions. You do.
Here’s what you can expect in a mediation:
1. A mediator asks you some questions to get an idea of the nature of your dispute.
2. The mediator schedules an appointment with you and the other person.
3. The mediator talks with both of you about what to expect in mediation.
4. You and the other person establish an agenda with the mediator's help.
The agenda is a list of the issues each of you want to talk about.
5. Each of you tell your story, without interruptions from the other person.
6. The two of you work on ways to solve the dispute with the mediator's help.
7. The mediator writes up an agreement as a "memorandum of understanding."
8. You and the other person review the "memorandum of understanding."
If you have an attorney, you may want him or her to look at it, too.
9. The mediator invites you to sign the "memorandum of understanding."
Mediation can help in disputes between:
neighbors |
employers & employees |
landlords & tenants |
parents & children |
ex-spouses |
merchants & customers |
For more information, contact:
Another Way at (573) 636-0516 or paula@anotherway.net