A humanistic approach to mediation

Abstract

Despite a growing recognition that mediation represents a preferable departure from the traditional American court system model for resolving conflict, policy considerations defining the scope of its practice have widely diverged. The multitude of descriptors used to define mediator involvement ranging from evaluator to transformer, evince this point. When viewed from a broader perspective, mediation offers the possibility of transforming relationships and enhancing personal fulfillment. The changing image of mediator, from that of agreement scrivener to one of peacemaker marks a shift of consciousness. The new view of practice values cooperation over competition, relying on the increased creativity borne from the synergy of the mutual exchange of ideas and the respect and dignity given to the individual and the world in which that person inhabits.