Sometimes both parties want a neutral mediator to facilitate a session where they all meet to discuss the situation. During this session the mediators will ask each of you about what happened, how you were affected, and what's most important, in order to help clear up misunderstandings and improve communications. Then you'll be asked to do some creative problem-solving, look at possible options, and come to an agreement that you both feel you can accept and agree to. Usually the agreement is written down and both parties get copies to remind them of what was agreed. But my neighbors are impossible.
Many people come to mediation as a last resort, feeling frustrated by the situation.
The success and relief that people feel after mediation assistance convince us that we can help resolve most of the difficult situations that come our way. This is a sensitive matter that I don't want others to know about. The mediators and staff keep all conversations confidential. No information goes outside the program. Before the agreement is written, we try to make sure it can realistically be kept.