How long will mediation take?
Family mediation is made up of two steps:
Individual assessment. We meet with each parent individually to hear their side of the story. Each of these sessions takes one hour. If mediation is the right process for both parents, we move on to the next step.
Mediation. A mediation typically takes an hour and a half. If parents need to take some time to reflect and it would be helpful to have subsequent sessions, these are possible.
The real restriction on how long the whole process will take is about how long it takes for each parent to be available for sessions. If the first parent is available quickly and the second parent is available within a week or so, it is possible that we could book a mediation within two or three weeks, however, the typical time-frame would take between four and six weeks.
We understand that parents have busy schedules, and mediation may be a stressful addition to their calendar. At Blackboard Mediation, we understand that parents have multiple demands on their time. While it may seem daunting, mediation is a process designed to resolve problems rather than create new ones. The sooner parents can book in, the sooner we can help them address what is not working. We make sure that we maintain some availability for emergencies that arise at short notice.
If you would like to know whether mediation is the right process for your situation, please do not hesitate to call our office for a free fifteen minute consultation.
