When all participant are willing to mediate, the fist mediation session is booked. This will be for 1 and a half hours and both participants will attend with the family mediator.

Usually, both participants and the mediator will meet in the same room, around the same table. Everyone being in the same room is always the preferred model as it allows for a free flowing discussion between the participants. The mediator is there to facilitate the discussions and help the participants explore the issues and come to considered agreements.

In some cases it is difficult for the participants to meet in the same place. One such circumstance is when the participants live a long way apart, or even in different countries. When this happens the mediator can arrange an online mediation which takes place over a hosted video conferencing facility. These types of mediations are becoming increasingly popular and past participants have given extremely positive feedback as to how they have benefited from online mediation and / or MIAMs.

In other cases the relationship between the participants may have broken down so far that for them to sit and meet in the same room is extremely difficult. In those rare circumstances, they can still mediate but through a shuttle mediation. This is where each participant sits in a separate room and the mediator moves, or shuttles, between them, facilitating the discussion.

In general, family mediation falls into 3 types, namely child arrangements only, finances and property only, and all issues.

Child arrangements only is where the issues in discussion are surrounding making arrangements for the children and co parenting agreements for the future. This type of mediation generally takes between 1 and 3 sessions. At the end of the mediation sessions a memorandum of understanding may be produced by the mediator if required.

Finances and property mediation is generally where there are no children or those arrangements have already been agreed between the participants. The division of finances and property can be complicated and each participant will be asked to complete a financial disclosure booklet. It is vital for a successful mediation that both participants are completely transparent with their finances. At the end of the mediation sessions an open financial statement may be produced by the mediator if required. This type of mediation generally takes between 2 and 4 sessions.

All issues mediation encompasses all of the above. It is for the participants to decide in which order the issues are mediated although it can change depending on how the mediation unfolds. This type of mediation generally takes between 3 and 5 sessions.

At the end of the mediation sessions a Memorandum of Understanding and /or an Open Financial Statement may be produced by the mediator if required.

If you would like to speak to a mediator regarding mediation sessions or just to make a booking please call on 01625 359075 or click here to send a message.