Mediation
Mediation
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At Tower Counselling we offer a mediation service for separating couples, conflict resolution and child access.Mediation is a way of sorting any differences between you and your ex-partner, or with the person you are at difference with, with the help of a third person who does not take sides. The third person is called a mediator.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is different from Couples and Relationship Counselling as most people choose to see a Mediator once their attempts to reach agreements have failed. Mediators work with a couples or those involved to settle disputes, reach agreement, make arrangements, to plan for an amical separation or divorce, or agree child access.
Mediation at Tower Counselling takes place in a neutral and non-judgemental environment in which people can discuss issues privately.
What can I expect in Mediation?
Unlike Couples or Relationship Counselling, Mediation usually requires both you and your partner to attend the sessions. However, at Tower Counselling each party is usually seen individually first, then you come together for joint sessions. Mediation gives both parties the opportunity to talk in a safe environment and deal with the conflict they are faced with and find practicalities to address it.
Sessions last for about an hour. There are usually around four sessions but there may be more or less, depending on the complexity and number of issues under discussion.
At the end of your sessions the Mediator will provide you with a document clearly setting out the proposals you want to go ahead with. This document is to enable you to take legal advice if you wish, before agreeing that the proposals are binding.
How can Mediation help you?
Mediation at Tower Counselling aims to strengthen communication and help you to make your own informed decisions. It will help each of you put forward your point of view and be heard by the other party. This will enable you to express your thoughts, ideas and feelings without arguments. The mediator will explain legal principles, then explore and identify various options with you both.
Mediation at Tower Counselling takes place in a neutral and non-judgemental environment in which people can discuss issues privately.
What can I expect in Mediation?
Unlike Couples or Relationship Counselling, Mediation usually requires both you and your partner to attend the sessions. However, at Tower Counselling each party is usually seen individually first, then you come together for joint sessions. Mediation gives both parties the opportunity to talk in a safe environment and deal with the conflict they are faced with and find practicalities to address it.
Sessions last for about an hour. There are usually around four sessions but there may be more or less, depending on the complexity and number of issues under discussion.
At the end of your sessions the Mediator will provide you with a document clearly setting out the proposals you want to go ahead with. This document is to enable you to take legal advice if you wish, before agreeing that the proposals are binding.
How can Mediation help you?
Mediation at Tower Counselling aims to strengthen communication and help you to make your own informed decisions. It will help each of you put forward your point of view and be heard by the other party. This will enable you to express your thoughts, ideas and feelings without arguments. The mediator will explain legal principles, then explore and identify various options with you both.
Before you go to Mediation
Before you attend Mediation think about what you want to get out of process before you start. Mediation is more likely to succeed if you can spend the sessions focusing on things you really disagree on.
If you’re trying to reach an agreement about money or property, you’ll need to fill out a financial disclosure form when you go to mediation. You'll have to include all your financial information, for example:
• your income - for example, from work or benefits
• what you spend on living costs - such as transport, utilities and food
• how much money you have in your bank account/s
• your pension statements
• debts you owe such as finance and credit cards
• property you own including mortgage statement and valuation
It will be helpful to get together your bills and bank statements to take to the first mediation meeting. At Tower Counselling we will send you a form to fill in before your first appointment.
It’s important that you and your ex-partner are honest when you talk about your finances. If your ex-partner later finds out you tried to hide something from them, any agreement you make might not be valid. Your ex-partner could also take you to court for a larger share of your money.
What happens in mediation?
In the introductory meeting, you and your ex-partner, or other party, will usually meet separately with a Tower Counselling mediator. After this, you’ll have mediation sessions where you, your ex-partner, or other party, and the mediator will sit together to discuss your differences.
The mediator can not give legal advice, but they will:
• listen to both your points of view - they won’t take sides
• help to create a calm atmosphere where you can reach an agreement you’re both happy with
• suggest practical steps to help you agree on things
If you have children, your mediator will normally focus on what’s best for them and their needs over what you want for yourself. The mediator might even talk to your children if they think it’s appropriate and you agree to it.
What happens at the end of your Mediation?
Your Tower Counselling mediator will write a ‘memorandum of understanding’ - this is a document that shows what you’ve agreed. You’ll both get a copy.
If your agreement is about money or property, it’s a good idea to take your memorandum of understanding to a solicitor and ask them to turn it into a ‘consent order’. This means you can take your ex-partner to court if they don’t stick to something you agreed.
If you’re trying to reach an agreement about money or property, you’ll need to fill out a financial disclosure form when you go to mediation. You'll have to include all your financial information, for example:
• your income - for example, from work or benefits
• what you spend on living costs - such as transport, utilities and food
• how much money you have in your bank account/s
• your pension statements
• debts you owe such as finance and credit cards
• property you own including mortgage statement and valuation
It will be helpful to get together your bills and bank statements to take to the first mediation meeting. At Tower Counselling we will send you a form to fill in before your first appointment.
It’s important that you and your ex-partner are honest when you talk about your finances. If your ex-partner later finds out you tried to hide something from them, any agreement you make might not be valid. Your ex-partner could also take you to court for a larger share of your money.
What happens in mediation?
In the introductory meeting, you and your ex-partner, or other party, will usually meet separately with a Tower Counselling mediator. After this, you’ll have mediation sessions where you, your ex-partner, or other party, and the mediator will sit together to discuss your differences.
The mediator can not give legal advice, but they will:
• listen to both your points of view - they won’t take sides
• help to create a calm atmosphere where you can reach an agreement you’re both happy with
• suggest practical steps to help you agree on things
If you have children, your mediator will normally focus on what’s best for them and their needs over what you want for yourself. The mediator might even talk to your children if they think it’s appropriate and you agree to it.
What happens at the end of your Mediation?
Your Tower Counselling mediator will write a ‘memorandum of understanding’ - this is a document that shows what you’ve agreed. You’ll both get a copy.
If your agreement is about money or property, it’s a good idea to take your memorandum of understanding to a solicitor and ask them to turn it into a ‘consent order’. This means you can take your ex-partner to court if they don’t stick to something you agreed.
