Marital Mediation - Restoring Harmony

The agenda: Identifying issues and negotiating mutually agreed solutions.

Some broad categories of issues:  

• ·         Money Management
• ·         Division of Household Responsibilities
• ·         Child Rearing
• ·         Holiday Observances
• ·         Vacation Planning
• ·         Parents and In-laws
• ·         Step Families
• ·         Senior Care
• ·         Retirement
• ·         Social Activities
• ·         Politics
• ·         Charities: Time / Money Donations
• ·         Time Together / Time Apart
• ·         Food Preferences

This service closely resembles the mediation of issues that create unnecessary unpleasantness within a business partnership. The structure is identical. Even couples that are skilled in business negotiation might not be accustomed to applying those skills at home with their significant other. After a few successful negotiations with the assistance of a neutral third party mediator, those couples will be equipped to resolve other issues quickly and peacefully on their own. Couples who have had little or no training in negotiation can begin to think of their issues in a new light – with optimism for their relationship.

Marital mediation is neither marriage counseling nor therapy, yet it is compatible with both. Unlike marriage counseling and therapy, marital mediation is designed to be of short term duration – no more than a very few ninety minute to two hour sessions, with a week or so space between.

There is another important distinction: While there should be no stigma attached to engaging in couple’s therapy or marriage counseling, the unfortunate fact is that, in some circles, stigma prevents some couples from benefitting from those services. Marital mediation does not suffer that burden. There is no need to delve into the past -- beyond clearly defining the underlying issues -- and no one is at fault. The focus is on improving communication and negotiation skills within the marital context. All aspects of the mediation are held in strictest confidence – as with all mediations. This is a very empowering process, as are all types of mediation.

Since you value your relationship and are committed to preserving and strengthening it, and you realize that negotiating some issues would be helpful, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the two of you. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We can meet at your home, if you prefer. Please give me a call or send an e-mail. I will get back to you as soon as possible.