More About Mediation & ADR

What is Mediation or ADR?

Mediation offers an opportunity to prevent or to resolve conflicts and disputes easily and quickly through the involvement of a neutral third party. It can be used to:

• Clarify problems
• Avoid litigation
• Manage impasse situations
• Handle conflict positively
• Negotiate contracts or agreements
• Provide a safe environment for sharing concerns
• Establish policy where there are conflicting views

Mediation is straightforward and practical – an ideal method of resolving disputes or conflicts. By bringing all parties involved in a dispute initially together and then, by working with them both separately and together in total confidence, an acceptable way forward to resolve the dispute can often be found. The process is confidential and nothing is shared with the other party unless there is specific agreement for the mediator to do so.

Often conflict produces powerful emotions that get in the way of the facts and the reaching of an agreement. The sessions, therefore, provide an opportunity to share those feelings and emotions as well as explore the 'facts'. By helping people work through confrontational situations, open up new areas for discussion and understand and manage their emotions they are able to stand back, gain a different view and reach resolution.

xué's approach

xué's aim is to support those who find themselves in a dispute situation by facilitating them to reach a resolution that is mutually acceptable and agreeable. Our approach recognises the need for effective mediation skills to run parallel to those required for successful counselling and coaching. We quickly 'read' emotions and assess the aims of all parties so preventing disputes running out of control or into impasse.

Our mediators are trained and accredited by organisations approved by the Law Society and the Bar Council as well as by the Legal Services Commission which, where appropriate, entitles our clients to Funding Assistance (Legal Aid). They are also included in The Judicial Studies Board in its list of Mediator Providers circulated to Judges and Courts throughout the UK.

Prevention being better than cure.

The skills required by mediators can be learnt and applied more generically to help our clients avoid conflict. We work with organisations and individuals to give them access to a wide range of skills and methods that facilitate not only successful conflict resolution but also conflict avoidance.