mediation: Rx for healthy relationships

by Carolyn T. Bryson

The demands of everyday life can wreak havoc on relationships with family members, colleagues, clients, and others. Misunderstandings fester, stress evolves, and emotions escalate, resulting in avoidance tactics or explosive confrontations. Unresolved issues can lead to sleepless nights, upset stomachs, depression, and other unhealthy symptoms.

When managed well, however, disagreements and issues can be a catalyst for positive change, leading to closer relationships, interpersonal growth, and more effective communication skills. A greater sense of self-confidence, relief, and well-being are outcomes welcomed after a stressful and frightening period of time. Mediation provides this opportunity.

There are countless numbers of situations where mediation can be extremely beneficial in maintaining civil relationships while keeping emotional and financial costs to a minimum.

• Couples facing a marital crossroads often use professional mediators to communicate more effectively, to help determine how to mend their relationship or proceed toward a marital separation. In uncontested matters, mediation can help spouses avoid costly legal battles.

• Adult children caring for aging loved ones can use professional mediators specializing in elder care issues. The mediator facilitates discussions about housing, respite and long-term care, finances, and decision-making. It can help families create a plan, easing loved ones’ anxieties about future care.

• Family members and unmarried couples can use mediation to resolve differences and create mutual understandings about behaviors and needs. Examples include prenuptial or palimony agreements.

• Consumers and homeowners dealing with business matters too large for small claims court, personal injury, insurance claims, or business conflicts with home construction contractors can use mediation. It is a more affordable way of having your day in court.

• Business owners and employers frequently use mediation to quickly ease tensions between people in the workplace. For both small and large businesses, professional mediators (often available through employee assistance programs) can help resolve issues involving contracts or other complaints between managers or business partners.

As a result of escalating costs of litigation, mediation is growing in popularity in many areas including: the insurance and securities industries, banking and finance, construction and consumer markets, and environmental, agricultural, labor, and industrial relations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carolyn T. Bryson is Executive Director of ACCORD Mediation and Arbitration Services, 1100 University Avenue, Suite 124, Rochester, New York. Phone: 585-461-2654. Web: www.accordmediates.com.