Families are amazing and complicated entities. They can be the source of our greatest joys and our greatest frustrations. Often it is hard to have the important conversations about relationships, values, feelings and goals. Sometimes the challenge is in the details of how you get through your days and weeks.
As trained and skilled 3rd party our trained mediators can help you talk about all of these things and come up with approaches and solutions that will make your life less stressful and more enjoyable.
Here are some of the areas in which we can help you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have other family related concerns.
Age gracefully, with support from those you love
Challenges
- Downsizing, more accessible living situation, health issues, diminished capacity, . . .
- Aging can be hard and frustrating. It can also be rewarding.
- Family members and loved ones are often at odds
- You need a plan for moving forward
Solutions
- Caring conversations among family members and caregivers
- Respect for the capacity and desires of elders
- Balancing needs and resources
- Resolving issues today and planning for the future
Process
- You identify the family members, friends and caregivers to be included
- Our mediators speak to everyone individually to understand their perspectives and ideas
- We all come together for a facilitated conversation(s)
- Participants develop solutions for the current situation and the future
- Solutions can be documented and can be reviewed or references later
Co-parenting from separate households
Challenges
- You no longer have a close relationship with the other parent and may not get along
- Busy lives and conflicting schedules
- Different values and priorities
- New and blended families
Solutions
- Respectful conversations that focus on the needs of the children
- Detailed planning to avoid ongoing conflict in your daily lives
- Discussions about long-term goals and communication strategies
Process
- Our mediators will help you have the difficult conversations
- After talking with each of you separately, we will come together to discuss the issues affecting you and your children
- Attorneys and other support people are welcome – together we will determine how they can best contribute to the conversation
- A parenting plan can be created or modified
- The parenting plan can be filed with the court or serve as an agreement between the two of you
Living with teenagers
Challenges
- Your child is becoming more independent and demanding freedom
- Your role as a parent is shifting from caregiver to mentor and teacher
- Emotions run high and teens are often volatile and reactive
- You need new strategies to stay connected to your teen and determine your new roles and relationship
Solutions
- Truly listen to what your teen is going through and show how much you care
- Get your teen to recognize that he/she is not yet an adult and still needs support and guidance
- Work out a respectful relationship that sets boundaries while promoting independence
- Open lines of communication and strategies for dealing with future challenges
Process
- Our mediators will help you have a productive conversation with your teen
- We will all come together in one place. The mediator will talk with you and your teen separately and then we will all talk together
- You and your teen will come up with agreements to help you move forward
- The mediator will encourage you and your teen to focus on how you communicate and commit to new ways of connecting
- Solutions can be documented and can be reviewed or references later