Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process that helps disputing parties develop their own resolutions. Mediation is often a faster, easier, less expensive, less stressful and more private method for resolving disputes.
What is Mediation?A mediation session usually includes:
- An agreement to mediate in good faith and with confidentiality.
- Ground rules including: be respectful, do not interrupt, and refrain from name calling and blaming others.
- Listening and being heard.
- Clarification of each party's interests.
- Generating options for resolution.
- Writing an agreement, if appropriate.
Our mediators are:
Neutral.
Our dispute resolution specialist are trained and registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. They do not take sides or advocate for any party's position or any particular outcome. They do not offer legal or financial advice.
Good listeners.
They are trained to listen to each party's concerns and to help the parties listen to each other.
Good communicators.
They help parties communicate in a way that empowers them to understand each other's interests and, if they choose, to come to a resolution that works for both parties. The mediator:
- Listens to both sides of the story.
- Asks questions about what happened in order to get information.
- Helps both parties find a satisfactory solution to their dispute.
- Does not take sides.
- Does not place blame on either party
A mediation session is not:
A court hearing.
This is a voluntary process and can be terminated at any time by any party, including the mediator at any time.
A process to determine who is guilty or innocent.
The process isn’t about establishing right or wrong. It isn’t about establishing blame. It is an effort to find a mutually agreeable solution to dispute that allows the parties to move forward.