Mediation is a process in which participants negotiate directly with one another, in the presence of a skilled mediator, until a mutually acceptable outcome is negotiated.

For divorcing couples this means they can come to terms that satisfy their individual needs and the needs of their children on their own rather than pay lawyers to negotiate or fight for them, or have judges decide what is best.

For contractors and other business people, mediation provides an alternative to law suites or binding arbitration. For city, state or federal agencies it means possibly avoiding an EEOC hearing.

The mediator is a neutral facilitator and cannot order either side to do anything. The parties themselves decide what they wish to do to reach resolution. Mediators help improve communication, overcome emotional barriers, bridge factual disagreements and help the parties reach a conclusion which best serves their needs for the future.