A conversation between two or more people that a neutral person (mediator) facilitates. A mediator, trained in conflict resolution, helps the folks involved engage in a more constructive conversation. The folks involved in the mediation are called participants or sometimes parties.
In peace coaching or conflict consulting, a coach or consultant works privately with one participant or party. In mediation, the mediator works with all the participants or parties involved in a conflict or who seek help engaging in a more constructive conversation. Bruckner Mediation refers to coaching as working directly with one individual, while consulting includes working with an organization (even if only one person in the organization consults with Bruckner Mediation).
While counseling tends to delve into the past, peace coaching and conflict consulting remains future focused. While it is certainly important to understand the situation or circumstance that exists right now, Bruckner Mediation helps you clarify where you wish to go and the results you wish to create. Then, you may create a plan to bridge where you are with where you wish to be. Bruckner Mediation provides coaching and consulting. Besides being a licensed attorney and experienced mediator, Sherry Ann Bruckner is a certified Life Mastery Consultant with the Brave Thinking Institute.
Bruckner Mediation does not offer counseling. If you seek counseling, you are encouraged to find a trained counselor who best meets your individual needs.
If the other individual(s) involved in a dispute do not agree to participate in mediation, you may choose peace coaching, conflict consulting, or enroll in on-line classes.
While it may feel frustrating or disappointing that someone is unwilling to participate in mediation, remember they likely view this choice as the best way to meet their own needs at this particular time. It may be a time for you to continue to notice your needs and enhance your own conflict resolution, peace building, and transformation skills. You may also find complimentary resources for noticing needs and engaging in more constructive conversations online by clicking here.
For Bruckner Mediation, most mediations occur online through a Zoom platform, although you may certainly choose an in-person mediation in your preferred location.
The Zoom platform allows all participants to meet in a main room akin to a large conference room. It also allows participants to meet in private conference rooms, which Zoom refers to as breakout rooms. If anyone enters a breakout room, each participant will be asked to enter their respective breakout rooms. The mediator may still caucus with on-line mediation participants as requested, or for the duration of the mediation, based upon the preference of the participants.
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) allows you to participate in mediation from wherever you have an internet connection.
No. A mediator does not provide legal advice and cannot do so under Minnesota Rule 114. The whole premise of mediation is self-determination, meaning the participants or parties determine the outcome themselves.
Sherry Ann Bruckner practiced law for twenty years, and remains a licensed attorney, which gives her insight and understanding into the conflict situations people face. However, as the mediator, she remains neutral and impartial. If an agreement is reached, the participants or parties decide what is says.
The mediator remains neutral and impartial. The mediator seeks to understand each participants’ needs and provides space for an honest and constructive conversation. The participants decide what issues are discussed and what any agreement says.
It depends. Mediation participants or parties may be in the same room or different rooms. Whether you engage in online dispute resolution (ODR) or in-person mediation, you choose whether you see each other.
When participants choose to be in separate rooms, and the mediator goes back and forth between the rooms, it is called a caucus. The participants may stay in caucus for the duration of the mediation or may come together in the same space at some point.
Most mediations currently occur online through a Zoom platform. The Zoom platform allows all participants to meet in a main room akin to a large conference room. It also allows participants to meet in private conference rooms, which Zoom calls breakout rooms.
Mediation is appropriate when you need help engaging in a more constructive conversation. Sometimes just having a neutral person facilitate the conversation helps folks focus and behave in a more civil and respectful manner.
Some people choose mediation to get help with a conversation to prevent it from becoming a bigger problem. Others choose a mediator after starting a court action, or when ordered by the court to participate in mediation.
Bruckner Mediation facilitates conversations ranging from restoring relationships with estranged family members and caring for aging parents to custody and marriage dissolution cases, bias and discrimination charges, employment termination, housing and other civil matters.
You may contact Bruckner Mediation to facilitate a conversation about a family, workplace, or organizational issue.
Prior to the mediation, the participants or parties tell the mediator what issues they want to discuss.
The mediator facilitates a conversation allowing each participant or party to share views and wishes. The mediator actively listens and holds space for the participants or parties to share ideas. The mediator helps folks discern what options might best meet needs, goals or wishes.
The participants choose what to discuss, and if they reach an agreement, the participants or parties decide what is says.
You may download a complimentary guide to preparing for mediation by clicking here.