What Is Mediation?

Mediation is a method of resolving conflict that involves disputing parties sitting down together with a skilled impartial individual called a mediator who helps them work out a voluntary solution to the problem that is acceptable to everyone involved.

A mediator is not like a judge; he/she does not decide who is right or wrong in a disagreement or tell the disputing parties how their problem should be handled.

During mediation, all parties involved in a conflict explain the problem situation as they see it and present their ideas for how they think the matter should be resolved. Then disputants decide for themselves whether they feel a voluntary settlement to their conflict is possible and, if so, what the terms of the agreement will be. The mediator assists the disputants by guiding them through a step-by-step discussion about their concerns and writing down what they agree to do to fix their problem.