When it can’t be ignored and you’re powerless to resolve
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Family and Interpersonal Conflict
When it can’t be ignored and you’re powerless to resolve
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Oftentimes, people find themselves in conflict within their family, community, or church that are too important to walk away from but too delicate to handle directly. These might include adult children facing the challenges of caring for an aging parent, blended family challenges or a neighborhood problem that can potentially escalate, to name but a few.
Our experienced mediators can open blocked channels of communication. We will guide you through the process of narrowing the issues in dispute and developing a mutually acceptable agreement.
Resolving substantive issues is a significant goal in the mediation process, however, addressing the relationship aspects is also vitally important if you hope to prevent future conflict. Our hope is you will leave with an agreement as well as better communication and conflict resolution skills and without bitterness.
We will meet with each party in separate, confidential intake / pre-mediation sessions of at least two hours to gain an understanding of your differing perspectives and explore approaches to resolution. Before the joint sessions begin, we will be providing homework and potentially additional coaching with a focus on your contributions to the conflict and a productive path forward.
During the joint mediation sessions that follow we will encourage each party to share their hopes and expectations. We will help you to identify and unpack the major issues contributing to the conflict and help you seek to understand and dismantle any barriers to resolution. We will guide you through forgiveness and reconciliation of personal relationship conflicts. We will encourage you to confess, where needed, and to offer forgiveness to one another. After barriers have been removed we will brainstorm with you in search of creative solutions to material issues. Lastly, we will help you arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement.
Our mediators are certified through the Judicial Council of the Virginia Supreme Court but we help parties from any jurisdiction in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, including Virginia, Maryland, or beyond.
Please call us with any questions or to arrange an initial, free consultation. We can evaluate your situation and recommend a specific approach that best suits the nature of the conflict and the needs and beliefs of all of the participants. You then decide for yourself how you wish to proceed.