Family mediation is fundamentally an inclusive process. This means that where children are involved, mediation can incorporate not only the biological parents’ points of view, but also those of step-parents, other family members and legal guardians, as well as the children themselves,
Children can suffer from the stress of separation and divorce just as much as their parents, but mediation helps to give them a voice and more confidence in their future. When families think about divorce they usually think of going through the
MIAM stands for Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting. MIAM is a short meeting where each disputant meets with a trained Family Mediator to get information about how mediation works and to understand the benefits it can offer as a way to resolve
In the course of reading an article in the London Magazine, Time out, which comprised of a sequence of potted, very well-written reviews about films with a Valentine’s Day type theme*, I was delighted to chance upon an appraisal of Annie Hall
One of the greatest needs when someone is in conflict, or hurting, is to feel heard, to feel that their feelings and views on the situation are validated. Attentive, patient and active listening, is in my view, one of the most important
I have gone through divorce twice; the first one was 20 years ago and the second 12 years ago. Truth is going through divorce is never an easy process however amicable. It will hurt greatly at some point during the process both
It is quite apparent that marriage is on the decline. Many couples simply cohabit instead. Increasing numbers of people need help and advice in connection with cohabitation disputes rather than marriage disputes. What many cohabiting couples do not realise is that cohabitation
This article looks at how using child psychologists along side the mediation process can help parents to achieve the best possible outcomes for their children when they separate. Separation is a hard process for an adult to go through – especially where
If you ask a passer-by what she or he thinks family mediation is about the chances are that that person will mention divorce, separation or disputes about child contact. In one sense this is correct and it is certainly true that family
In family cases involving children, the law is clear-the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration. However, the adversarial UK court system that people so often use is such that even in the best run of cases, this all-important principle can
Does anyone remember the film, Annie Hall? In one scene, the screen divides into two showing Annie played by Diane Keaton and Alvie, the Woody Allen character discussing their relationship with their analysts. Alvie’s analyst asks him, “how often do you have
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.” This very insightful sentence, written by the renowned philosopher and academic, Elie Wiesel, essentially explains why so many partnerships and marriages flounder or fail. In some instances, the split that is announced to
