Mediation Services
This is the Parting Waters difference.
At Parting Waters our goal is to support you to complete the restructuring of your family in a way that is compassionate, empowered, efficient, supported and safe.
Our practice is located in the heart of SE Portland. Whether online or in person, most initial appointments are two hours. The first hour is an introduction to mediation, including 20 minutes each of individual time with your mediator. After the first hour, either person may choose to end the session if mediation does not appear to be the right process.
The first hour is free; the fee for any further time is $200 per hour for Katie, $200 per hour for Kevin, $240 per hour for Linda, $250 per hour for Emily, and $300 per hour for a co-mediation with your choice of Linda, Kevin, Katie or Emily working as a duo together.
Alternative formats are available to those who are not comfortable or ready to meet jointly.
Why choose mediation?
Mediation is a powerful, confidential, and cost-effective way for people to reach resolution without destroying relationships and without the intervention of the court. It offers an opportunity for people to learn from the past in order to prevent problems in the future. Experience and studies have consistently shown that agreements reached through mediation last longer because parties are active participants in the decisions required to resolve the conflict. Mediation forms lasting agreements, gives clients the power to make their own informed decisions, costs less, is better for kids, and nurtures relationships by bypassing the adversarial nature of the courts.
What do mediators do?
Mediators are neutral facilitators who work to assist parties in their decision-making. Mediators help parties talk to one another in a productive way, through individual coaching, demonstrating and teaching active listening skills, and enforcing communication ground rules. They track issues to be discussed, and record agreements reached. Mediators look at the past in the context of forming solutions for the future.
Does mediation work?
Research shows that parents that mediate have less conflict, even when they do not reach agreement in mediation. Research also shows that agreements made in mediation are more likely to stick. When parents mediate there is less conflict, which is easier on kids. Most of our clients reach agreement on some or all of their issues. By focusing on underlying needs and interests, our clients avoid the painful, positional back and forth that can happen between attorneys. In mediation, clients open themselves to creative solutions not available through the court.
What types of issues can you mediate?
We specialize in separation, divorce, post-divorce, and nontraditional family mediation, including finances, property, custody, parenting time, open adoption, adult sibling mediation, parent/teen mediation, and most other family related matters. We serve clients throughout Oregon.