The Law defines Mediation as the process where one neutral person helps persons in conflict reach an agreement which resolves the conflict.
Mediation as Usual is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The alternative to Mediation is Litigation, thus Mediation is typically a process where a neutral third party, a Mediator, helps people find personalized solutions to issues creating conflict in their lives.
The process looks at the needs of the individuals to find creative solutions in a non-adversarial, dignified and respectful setting. There is no Winner or Loser. In Mediation, individuals create solutions they can live with by collaborating and at times compromising to develop a problem-solving solution with the support and guidance of a Mediator.
If individuals reach a solution, it is called an Agreement, or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the agreement is reduced to a writing which all individuals sign to commemorate the agreement and so they can use that document to guide them in the future.
If individuals do not reach an agreement, the process is still valuable. Often, individuals who do not reach an agreement after one meeting, upon having time to reflect and consider, ultimately find a way to reach a consensus and resolve the issues causing conflict.
Mediation as Usual is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
The alternative to Mediation is Litigation, thus Mediation is typically a process where a neutral third party, a Mediator, helps people find personalized solutions to issues creating conflict in their lives.
The process looks at the needs of the individuals to find creative solutions in a non-adversarial, dignified and respectful setting. There is no Winner or Loser. In Mediation, individuals create solutions they can live with by collaborating and at times compromising to develop a problem-solving solution with the support and guidance of a Mediator.
If individuals reach a solution, it is called an Agreement, or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the agreement is reduced to a writing which all individuals sign to commemorate the agreement and so they can use that document to guide them in the future.
If individuals do not reach an agreement, the process is still valuable. Often, individuals who do not reach an agreement after one meeting, upon having time to reflect and consider, ultimately find a way to reach a consensus and resolve the issues causing conflict.