Mediation Barriers Boston MA

Mediation Barriers
We asked several prominent divorce mediators how to recognize and overcome some of the most common barriers to a successful mediation. Here's what they had to say.
Edited by Jeffrey Cottrill

Barrier #1: Failure to disclose important information

Although few mediators would argue that failure to disclose important information by either party could fatally impact the outcome of the mediation, how do you define "important information"?

Accurate and complete financial disclosure is "important information." But it is not the only "important information" that needs to be disclosed. Successful mediation also depends on disclosing personal information in a safe and non-threatening environment.

In the meeting with each client privately during the first informational meeting, the client has the opportunity to tell the mediator what he or she wishes mediation to accomplish, as well as what potential problems of communication or issues may come up. Such issues could include domestic violence or intimidation, how to raise a particularly sensitive topic, or certain sensitivities or "hot buttons" the other may have which otherwise might lie undisclosed.

Sorting and identifying "important information" through private conversation with each client also helps the mediator to move mediation along productively, helping clients to separate and deal with genuine ...