What is child inclusive mediation?

What is child inclusive mediation?

Child inclusive mediation, unlike the name suggests, does not mean your child will be physically present at a mediation process. At it’s core, child inclusive mediation is a process by which a suitably qualified psychologist or counsellor will speak with the child or children, seek to understand matters from the child’s perspective, and together with their learnings provide an assessment or feedback to the parents and mediator to assist the mediation process.

In a sense, it is including the child’s voice in the mediation, without the added pressure or questionable appropriateness of having the children involved in the discussions seeking to resolve the dispute.

Child inclusive mediation has steadily increased in popularity as it provides the ordinary support of mediation to the separating parents, while also ensuring the children’s needs and interests are presented during the mediation process.

The consultant who speaks with the child are specially trained with demonstrated experience in child and adolescent matters. They will explore with the child their thoughts, feelings and desires, to inform the mediation, but being under no pressure to do so.

Often parents may find themselves in situations of entrenched conflict and disagreement. Child inclusive mediation encourages parties to put such conflict aside for the sake of their children and ensure they hear what their children are really saying.

This style of mediation is not for all situations, parents, and children. However, the mediator and consultant will undertake careful assessments to ensure the suitability of the mediation proceeding, and ensuring the safety of all participants.