And How do Kirkbride Bridge Mediators Practice?
Mediation is a problem-solving, strategic conversation between two or more people, facilitated by an experienced third party who is outside of the problem, plan or challenge. Mediation resolves a broad range of conflicts across various settings.. It is a process by which a third party facilitates communication and negotiation and promotes voluntary decision making by the parties involved in a plan or dispute.
Mediation helps parties define and clarify issues, understand different perspectives, identify interests and priorities, explore and assess possible solutions and, when desired, reach mutually satisfying agreements and plans.
Mediation Styles
There are different styles of Mediation. Kirkbride Bridge Mediators combine different approaches depending on the people involved and the issues at hand. Generally, we practice two main types of Mediation:
Facilitative mediation
Focus: The mediator facilitates discussion, helping parties explore their interests and goals to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Mediator’s Role: A neutral guide who helps parties communicate and understand each other’s perspectives.
evaluative mediation
Mediator’s Role: Often a neutral expert with knowledge of the subject matter.
Goal: To guide the parties toward resolution based on legal merits or potential outcomes.
What Happens During Mediation?
Generally, a mediator begins with an opening statement to explain what mediation is, its advantages and its limitations. Next, the mediator discusses the goals and challenges and ensures all parties understand what the mediation will cover.
Following this, the mediator may invite the person who initiated the mediation to speak first, while ensuring everyone speaks without interruption or judgment.
From that point the mediator will use carefully honed skills to bridge gaps in understanding between the parties by reframing issues or using metaphor so that each side may eventually reach an understanding of the other. Often, the mediator holds private caucuses in separate rooms, meeting with each party individually until they reach consensus. Once they establish a middle ground, the mediator brings all parties back together to formally outline decisions and goals in writing. These agreements may take the form of deal points, schedules, care plans or simply lists.
What is a mediator?
Author, speaker, educator and senior mediator, Kenneth Cloke, provides one of the most succinct descriptions of a mediator:
The mediator is neither a judge nor a censor, but may express personal opinion or subject matter expertise if it will help the settlement process. The mediator is not practicing law or therapy during mediation, but may help the parties reach a settlement by providing them with legal information or psychological insight. Mediators are less “neutral’ than “omni-partial,” and on the side of each party at the same time.
No matter how a mediation ends – whether there is consensus, settlement or not — it has been the universal experience of the Kirkbride Bridge mediators that everyone with whom they have participated in mediation leaves better off than when they arrived . . . if for no other reason than they have a more complete understanding of the other party’s perspective.
Kirkbride Bridge Mediators are DRPA Certified, having completed at least eighty hours of training in a DRPA Certification Program. Kirkbride Bridge Mediators possess extensive experience as Orange County Superior Court mediators, accumulating hundreds of hours of successful mediation practice.. Let us help you settle your disputes with dignity.
