Mediation: Promising Method for Conflict Resolution

Mediation is rapidly coming to the fore at an effective method for conflict resolution. It is a process of facilitation which enables conflicting parties to enter a dialogue and seek solutions to their disputes. Mediation is widely used in a variety of contexts. This has led to different forms of mediation such as family mediation, workplace mediation, commercial mediation and international mediation (and many more).

In the United States, mediation is practiced in close association with the system of justice. Mediators there are mostly lawyers, who receive training in mediation during their legal education.

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, mediation is a developing area, which operates independently. In the Republic of Ireland, the Mediators Institute of Ireland (MII) is the main body involved the field and is the official body accrediting mediators. As for family mediation, the UK has a national association of family mediators. They provide specific and specialised training for mediators willing to practice in the sector. At the moment, mediation centres such as Mediation UK offer short-term training programmes in mediation. In future, mediation is very likely to become an institutionalised academic area, such as law.

Despite the fact that mediation is a rapidly developing field in the British Isles, it is still a challenge to establish a full-time career as a mediator. On a personal note, I am just after qualifying as a mediator, and I wish to begin a career in the field. At the minute, I am based in Northern Ireland, and I intend to practice in the areas of community, family, commercial and workplace mediation.