Reduce the Stress and Trauma of Separations with Divorce and Family Mediation
Divorce can be a challenging life transition for many people, but it does not have to mean disaster. There is assistance to plan and prepare for many of the changes that divorce brings to a family. Many of our counselors have advanced training in divorce and family mediation and can help you design a comprehensive co-parenting plan to help your children adjust and adapt in a healthy manner. Talk with the counselors in Peoria IL at Chapin & Russell Associates today to discover your options for mediation.
What is Mediation?
Divorce means significant change for a family and children. No divorce is without feelings of loss, anger, uncertainty for the future, etc. Mediation works to address such feelings in a safe and inviting environment. Additionally, mediation advocates for reasonable agreements between spouses, leading to as stress-free a separation as possible.
Divorce mediation also acts as an alternative to other separation proceedings that can sometimes be more time-consuming and contentious than most families would prefer. Instead of having an attorney make decisions for your divorce, having a trained and certified family counselor as your mediator can mean:
- A confidential process
- Agreeable terms for all involved parties
- Avoidance or resolution of points of conflict
- Control over the outcome
- Doing what’s best for your children
What Can We Do?
Your mediator has the tools, skills and know-how to guide you through separation proceedings at a pace best for you, your spouse and your children. From beginning to end, our counselors allow your voice to be heard throughout negotiations, help everyone keep emotions in check and settle on terms agreeable to everyone. The mediation process involves:
- Introduction – The goals and rules of mediation are established up front to encourage cooperation between parties. Afterward, each party has a chance to voice their own goals or concerns, giving our counselors an idea of where negotiations will lead.
- Joint and Individual Discussions – The first mediation meetings occur with both parties present, which allows a constructive dialog, and determines where compromises can or can’t be made. Your counselor is likely to discuss privately with each party to further elaborate on a client’s ideas and discuss the current strengths and weaknesses in their position.
- Negotiation – Once the goals of each party have been clearly stated, Chapin & Russell will facilitate direct negotiations between spouses. We help keep everyone’s emotions tempered and provide guidance for what might work best between spouses and their children.
- Finalization – Upon reaching an agreement between parties, your counselor assists in putting the final provisions of negotiation into writing, sometimes done in conjunction with attorneys. Otherwise, if an agreement cannot be reached, we will continue to assist spouses by advising on possible next steps.
Talk with Our Counselors
To avoid some of the stress and trauma typically associated with divorce, allow Chapin & Russell Associates to lend a hand. Our team of family counselors and therapists has the experience and training necessary for providing reliable divorce and family mediation services. If interested in our other counseling services, contact us today at 309-681-5850 to schedule an appointment. We are located at 3020 W Willow Knolls Dr, Suite 2, Peoria, IL 61614. We offer general counseling services for clients in Peoria, East Peoria, Dunlap, Washington, and communities throughout Central Illinois.
