With the ongoing government restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it has been a challenge for family mediators to find ways to continue to help people through the mediation process. Family mediation is where a trained professional mediator helps a couple who are either separating or have already separated, come to agreements in relation to a whole range of issues including child arrangements, finances and divorce.
Prior to the restrictions mediation meetings were predominantly conducted face to face, however in recent months we have had to find alternative methods of conducting the meetings. I am an accredited family mediator and have developed a really effective way of helping people through online platforms such as Zoom or MS Teams.
There have definitely been some advantages to people taking part in online mediation. Those who are still working, whether it be from home or in an office, are finding that they can fit sessions into extended lunch hours rather than taking time off work. Geographical locations are no longer an issue; I have been undertaking mediations for people who live far and wide, including somebody who is currently working in the USA. In my experience most people feel more comfortable seeing each other on screen rather than sitting in a room together and this can be done from the comfort of their own home or a place of their choosing as long as it is confidential.
I have also undertaken shuttle mediations online and these have worked really well. Shuttle mediation is where the two parties don’t come into contact with each other, and in face-to-face meetings they sit in separate rooms and the mediator “shuttles” between them, hence the name. With online shuttle mediation we can use the technology to ensure that the mediator can see and hear you both and you can see and hear me but you cannot see or hear each other as you are in separate virtual rooms.
Moving forwards I can see remote mediation being another option along with face-to-face meetings and it will likely change the way that we all operate in the same way that COVID restrictions have affected many industries and forced us to develop other approaches which are likely to stay with us.
If you need any further information about mediation you can read through the mediation tab on the family law section on our website or please contact either Vicky Robertson or her secretary Francesca Gomez on 01245221699 who will be happy to help.
