Transformative Mediation

Transformative Mediation

Transformative mediation has been around for over 40 years and is a powerful mediation practice that takes a social and communicative view of human conflict. Ideal for interpersonal conflicts (family conflicts, conflicts between neighbours, co-workers, etc.), transformative mediation is just as applicable in other settings as well.

Transformative mediation does not necessarily seek immediate resolution of the problem but instead seeks the empowerment and mutual recognition of the involved parties. According to Baruch Bush and Joe Folgers, authors of The Promise of Mediation, empowerment means “enabling the parties to define their own issues and seek solutions on their own,” while recognition means “enabling the parties to see and understand the other person's point of view.”

In most cases, empowerment and recognition act as catalysts towards reaching a mutually-agreeable settlement, also helping to solve future problems that may arise with a stronger, more open view. Unlike other forms of mediation, transformative mediation believes that conflict is an opportunity for moral growth and that conflict tends to be a long-term process that can be solved with both mutual respect and the empowerment of others.

In transformative mediation, the mediator works to let the individual parties set goals, direct processes and design ground rules. He or she will make it clear that settlement is only one of a variety of possible outcomes, encouraging discussion of all issues that are of importance to the parties, regardless of whether or not they are easily negotiable. Also encouraging expression, during transformative mediation, the mediator encourages emotions and takes an optimistic view of the parties' competence and motives.

By allowing each party to structure both the process and the outcome, facilitative mediation empowers parties, and helps each side take responsibility for their own disputes and the resolution of the disputes. While detractors often claim that it takes too long and frequently ends without agreement, facilitative mediation is effective in that it successfully and strongly emphasizes relationship-building, empowerment, and recognition


By: Dayna

http://www.themediator.ca