Therapeutic family mediation: Fitting the service to the interactional diversity of client couples

Abstract

Existing models of family mediation focus on the process of negotiation. Therapeutic family mediation is a model designed to accommodate couples amenable to mediation but not yet ready to enter negotiation.

Research in family mediation: Review and implications

“…However, given the weak comparability of the studies in question, this conclusion will require a good deal more support before it can be advanced with any confidence. In particular, studies using random assignment across court-based and private mediation settings would go a long way toward resolving this issue and a series of related issues concerned with the "fit" between client needs and service characteristics (see Irving and Benjamin, 1989).…”

Divorce mediation: Four models and their assumptions about change in parties' positions

“…By having the spouses answer these two questions, Haynes helped prepare them to engage in self-interested bargaining that, in turn, would enable them to reach agreement. Irving and Benjamin (1989) described the therapeutic family mediation approach, which fits into the therapeutic model: "The mediator's primary concern is to identify (an) affective block(s) that prevent(s) the couple from entering into negotiation when they are at an impasse" (pp. 122-123).…”

Discriminant function analysis of faces III and family satisfaction questionnaires to predict outcome in divorce mediation

“…Although a number of researchers have noted that family system factors are important in divorce mediation (Bahr et al, 1987;Beal, 1985;Brown & Samis, 1987;Duryee, 1985;Gaughan, 1982;Girdner, 1987;Grebe, 1986;Irving & Benjamin, 1989;Kressel et al, 1980;Maida, 1986;McIsaac, 1987;Saposnek, 1983;Volgy & Everett, 1985;Walker, 1986), how these factors relate to outcome remains largely unknown.…”