FACTS ABOUT DIVORCE AND FAMILY MEDIATION

Mediation is a confidential, voluntary process that encourages and empowers individuals to solve their own problems in a caring, controlled setting. It can help parties learn and then refine the use of effective communication skills.
A trained, impartial third-party (the mediator) creates a safe environment for open communication between parties in conflict.  Mediators assist people in reaching solutions that are acceptable to everyone, while maintaining the dignity and honor of the parties involved at a reasonable cost. 

Nancy Cohen Nowak, MA, LPC, President of the Center for Divorce and Parenting, Inc., has completed thousands of mediations and can help you work with the other parent to develop a parenting time plan and decision making plan that will be in the best interests of your child(ren).  Ms Nowak was trained at CDR in Boulder in the early 1980’s and was instrumental in developing mediation in the Denver metro area when she worked directly in the Courts in Arapahoe County and Denver County. 

What happens in mediation is confidential.  The mediator may not be called into court, nor can her notes.  This is good in that it helps the parties to talk freely and openly about issues that may be fueling a fight in order to diminish hurt, anger and hostility.

Agreements reached through mediation generally last longer and work better than court ordered agreements because the parties in conflict create their own solutions. Mediation helps stabilize families before, during and after and divorce.  

Mediation can be used to help parents learn how to communicate in a positive, non threatening, business-like way, post divorce.  While parents may divorce each other, they still must have a working relationship at some level, for the sake of the children.  Mediation is a perfect opportunity to develop the mechanics of that ‘working or business relationship’ –one that is no longer an intimate one, but a respectful one. 

Attorneys may attend mediation sessions at the request and agreement of the parties.  Other specialists may also be brought in by the parties to assist in the development of the financial settlement.  This, too, only happens if the parties agree.