Mediation for families, groups or companies is a process for creating agreements between people in conflict. Whether to prevent a divorce, to finalize a parenting plan, or to settle other differences, this process will help you to turn differences into agreements.

In situations when families disagree, or are going through a divorce, most of the time all the members will benefit from Values Based Mediation, especially children. That's because if differences can be settled and win/win decisions can be made, not only are problems solved, but also, the adults set a good example of problem solving for the children. The same applies to other groups such as business partners or a team of any kind. All employees and customers benefit when business leaders resolve conflicts, create agreements and learn skills to prevent and/or resolve future conflicts.

The fees for mediation are normally $75 per (adult) person, per hour. Sometimes people may pay on a sliding scale based on income.

Sometimes Dr. Gerling may recommend individual sessions in preparation for joint sessions. The first joint session is a minimum of two hours. Also, he may recommend additional follow up family mediation sessions depending on progress in the first one.

No. Dr. Gerling also offers individual and family counseling, but the process of family mediation is different and the goals are different. Family counseling is focused on health and in-depth, therapeutic change, while mediation is quicker, and focuses on particular issues to be agreed upon.

- Creating win/win/win agreements for you, the other person and others effected by your agreement.
- Improved communication in your family or group.
- Greater satisfaction with relationships
- Greater confidence in your ability to deal with any conflict, disagreement or differences with others.

In the privacy of his office, Dr. Kelly Gerling will help you through the process of family mediation. This is a process that involves intense listening to one another, the expression of problems and grievances, the formulation of goals, developing options, and making decisions to achieve those goals in such a way that each participant is satisfied. Then each person implements the agreement.

1. PREPARATION: Formulate your ideas, problems, goals and hopes ahead of time and at the first session. It is often helpful to write down what is important to you and give it to the mediator before or at the first session.
2. OPEN COMMUNICATION: The desired atmosphere for mediation is one of open communication, building trust and careful listening.
3. PROBLEMS, GOALS AND VALUES: The participants express their problems, their goals and their values while being heard by the others.
4. OPTIONS: If ways of solving problems, achieving goals and fulfilling values are not known right away, then the group generates options for doing so.
5. DECISIONS: Using the options, the group decides how to go forward in a way that satisfies everyone.
6. ACTION & FOLLOW UP: The group implements the decisions they make and follow up effectively