A Family Therapy Perspective on Mediation

Abstract

Many times, family therapists are both the first to learn that a couple may separate and the last to see them in the same consultation room, still relating to each other and the same professional before the adversarial system takes over. Mediation offers a viable alternative to that system because clients are helped to speak directly and craft the decisions that will delineate their move toward separate lives. Mediation is defined and the divorce process demystified, and the similarities and differences between mediation and therapy are discussed. Brief examples and a longer case discussion are provided to illustrate the mediation process. A familiarity with this process will enable therapists to hold more informed discussions about mediation with their clients and invite them to consider a process that is congruent with many of the values of family therapy.

Styles and Goals: Clarifying the Professional Identity of Divorce Mediation

“…Moreover, this lack of theory fostered an unsubstantiated confi dence and dependence on the theories of other disciplines (Della Noce, Bush, and Folger 2002). For example, the widespread use of interventions from family systems theory can create diffi culty in discriminating between mediation and marital and couples therapy (Katz 2007). Similarly, the legalistic and adversarial features in evaluative mediation are sometimes considered a mere reproduction of family law practice (Kelly 2000;Shestowsky 2008).…”

Divorce and Coparenting: A Qualitative Study on Family Mediation in Italy

“…From this perspective, mediation could be considered a beneficial dispute resolution process that serves as an alternative to litigation and legal actions for divorcing couples (see Amato, 2001;Amato & Keith, 1991;Shaw, 2010, for meta-analyses). Specifically, some studies have shown that mediation is associated with many positive outcomes related to coparenting, such as a reduced level of conflict and increased cooperation and communication between parents concerning child-related issues, as well as better parent-child relationships (Katz, 2006;Lowenstein, 2009;Tishler, Landry-Meyer, & Bartholomae, 2003).…”

Rearranging the Puzzle: Working Systemically with Stepfamilies when Parents Re‐partner

“…Furthermore, some clients may lack the resources and motivation to work on their relationships with the intensity requested by a Bowenian approach (Brown, , p. 101). Additionally, if ex‐partners do not wish to revisit their emotional connections, but are aiming for a concrete co‐parenting agreement, mediation may feel more contained and purposeful (Katz, , pp. 94–98).…”