Trust, Confidentiality, Neutrality And Individual Characteristics

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Mediation Practicum
A mediator can be described as a “go-between” whose primary role involves resolving a dispute. A good mediator possesses specific characteristics including but not limited to the following. Being prepared for the unexpected. This would imply adaptability and open-mindedness. Good listening skills and empathy are essential characteristics that all mediators should have. Trust, neutrality, confidentiality, punctuality, knowledgeability, and optimism are some of the traits that a mediator should also possess (Shachar, 2011). Neutrality means taking no sides; confidentiality ensures that whatever is disputed remains among the present parties and no additional person should know of the disputes, knowledgeability means knowing how to solve a dispute while optimism implies a mediator should be realistic.
Mediation can be …show more content…

The mediator was confidential and neutral. In this case scenario, the mediator first explained the rules, processes, and procedures to be followed in the mediation. Each party was given an opportunity to describe why they should be given custody of the child. The mediator portrayed neutrality by asking each party the same questions to have a good grasp of what the terms and reasons for custody are. The mediator had one private meeting with each parent to get a good understanding of every participant's side of view to access possible solutions to the problem and if the possibility of fifty-fifty custody were present. To reach an agreeable solution, the mediator put the agreement in writing for future reference (Shachar, 2014). Each of the parents was supposed to have a signed copy of the alleged agreement. No solution was reached even after each party was issued with a copy of the agreement, so the mediator took the case directly to court. The mother of the child felt as if she wasn’t being considered having raised and catered for the child over the

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