Role of Mediation in Counseliing

2276 Words10 Pages
What role does mediation have in counselling? People seek help from counselling and mediation for similar reasons and defining the difference between them both is important for the sessions to move as smoothly as possible and gives a clear understanding to the clients or parties involved. In counselling the focus is generally on change at an emotional and behavioral level, whereas mediation is not generally entered into to change something about themselves or their relationship but to resolve a dispute and reach a settlement (Lidchi, 2003). This essay will look at what role mediation may have in counselling, what skills may overlap and how mediation and counselling differ. Mediation is based more on gathering information to find the parties common interests, to negotiate the needs and then come to a mutual agreement, whereas counselling looks at the person, their perceptions and feelings to bring about self-exploration and change. Mediation and counselling employ some of the same processes and techniques such as, active listening, reframing, paraphrasing and summarizing, however these skills are used in counselling to look at underlying emotional issues, but mediation is purely for resolving conflict (Hodges, 2009). Mediation is time limited whereas counselling can be over many sessions, counselling relies on exploration of emotions and interpretation of these emotions whereas mediation works more on negotiation to reach a solution (Messing, 1993). In this essay it will be shown that there is link between counselling and mediation and that some of the methods used can be useful in a therapeutic approach but will also raise an awareness of good practice in both professions. Mediation is usually a step taken to help avoid legal matters such as going to court, but mediation does have a more formal structure similar to what one may see in a legal framework the
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