Our Specialties
Parent & Youth Mediation:
Children and parent(s) can mediate a number of issues causing tension within the home. These range from privacy needs to personal responsibilities and substance abuse. Parents and children participate in this process as equals, with the same opportunities to express their needs, concerns, and ideas. These conversations can be difficult, yet they are always safe and respectful. Ideally, the family members develop solutions during the first session and use follow-up sessions to fine-tune the agreement. Parent and Youth mediation strengthens and preserves families.
What issues can we mediate?
- Curfew
- Privacy
- Trust
- Independence
- Nagging
- Peer relationships
- Discipline
- Time management
- Girlfriend or boyfriend concerns
- Household responsibilities
- Anti-social behavior
- School issues
- Drug/alcohol use
- Truancy
- Sibling/step-sibling problems
- Computer and online issues
- And anything else that concerns you
Couples Mediation:
Marital difficulties happen. Sometimes they take the form of minor misunderstandings, sometimes deeper problems threaten the relationship. Still, all couples can turn conflict into opportunities for mutual understanding. Simply hearing what your life partner is trying to express can ease long-simmering tensions. Whether the process recasts the entire relationship or simply breathes air into it, mediation will equip you and your spouse with new insights into the dynamics of your couple.
Custody/ Visitation Mediation:
Mediation has enabled untold numbers of couples to resolve issues of co-parenting. The mediator(s) will ensure your child’s well being by helping you tackle challenging co-parenting issues. These issues range from legal custody to communication. All too often, litigation causes unnecessary confrontation and rancor – to your children’s detriment. Studies have shown that parents who reach a mediated agreement are much happier than those who obtained judge-mandated, court-ordered ones. These studies also show that these agreements endure much longer. Parents come out of mediation feeling that they secured what is best for them and for their children.
What issues can we mediate?
- Residential custody
- Decision making
- Parenting time or visitation
- Grandparent visitation
- Birthdays, holidays and vacations
- Education
- Religious upbringing
- Information Sharing
- How to best communicate with one another
- Future plans
- Relocation
- The role of a new spouse or significant other.
- Respect and Trust
- And anything else that concerns you
Divorce Mediation:
Couples seeking separation or divorce are often pulled in opposing directions. This is a stressful and emotional time, especially when children are involved. At Family Mediation Matters, we aim to reduce this tension by helping you chart a plan that will work for your entire family today as well as tomorrow. If you have children, we will also help you create and maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship. At the end of the mediation, a written agreement is drafted.
What issues can we mediate?
- Division of Property
- Parenting Arrangements (see Custody/Visitation Mediation)
- Child Support
- Spousal Maintenance
- Retirement and pension benefits
- And anything else that concerns you
Family & Community Mediation
Beyond the nuclear family, we will also help you resolve other relationship-based disputes. Here too, conflict thrives where misunderstanding is left unchecked. We are trained in community mediation and have helped hundreds of siblings, neighbors, landlords and tenants, and more resolve their differences.
What issues can we mediate?
- Elder care
- Sibling issues
- Inheritance
- Tensions between parents and their grown children
- Neighbor disputes
- Landlord/tenant
- Relationship (all types) disputes
- And anything else that concerns you
