How Mediation Works
A calm, structured path to resolution.
Our trained and certified mediators use Insight Mediation and Collaborative Resolution techniques to facilitate a confidential and productive conversation with the participants. Your mediator does not take sides, they do not provide you with advice or tell you what to do.
How our mediations work
What to expect
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Initial confidential consultation
Each participant meets privately with their mediator before the joint session to discuss their hopes, concerns, priorities, and expectations in a safe and confidential environment. The mediator listens without taking sides and helps participants feel comfortable and supported throughout the process. -
Preparation & information sharing
Your mediator asks questions about the situation and provides practical tools and guidance to help you prepare for productive conversations ahead. Participants can also use a guided workbook to reflect and prepare at their own pace before mediation begins. -
Guided mediation session
During the joint mediation, the mediator facilitates a structured and respectful conversation where everyone has the opportunity to be heard. Using transparent and collaborative resolution techniques, the process helps participants better understand one another and work toward practical and meaningful outcomes. Support people may attend if desired. -
Agreement recorded (legally binding if required)
Participants may agree on outcomes such as written agreements, apologies, or other mutually accepted resolutions. Any agreement reached is tailored to the participants’ specific needs, helping resolve disputes constructively without the need for court action.
To support your journey, we provide a guided workbook, allowing you to prepare at your own pace before the joint mediation process.
Free 15-Minute Consultation
If you think we may be able to help, or have questions? Let’s chat.
Book a free, no-obligation 15-minute phone or video consultation to discuss your situation and explore how mediation may help.
Our Services
How we help
We can provide some services online or by phone. However, to achieve the maximum benefit of our services we prefer to work with people in person. We meet you at the door and support you to feel as comfortable and confident as possible.
The process is there to assist you to address and resolve the dispute without the threat of court action.
We recognise that conflict can be very stressful and challenging, and that some participants may need additional support. We provide access to collaborative, neutral professionals that will join the team as agreed, such as lawyers, coaches, financial experts, real estate agents, medical experts, child specialists etc. We can also recommend mental health professionals and other support services to individuals.
Any Agreement that results from participation at Blue Door Mediation is tailored to your specific needs. We assist you to work out a plan on agreed terms without going to Court.
Preparation Checklist
Preparing with confidence
Are you anxious about coming to mediation? At Blue Door Mediation, we will be with you every step of the way. Here’s what you can expect when you choose us to provide you with mediation assistance.
1. Initial 15 Minute Call
One of our mediators will speak with you. We will discuss the timeline, process and cost. We will either ask you to contact the other potential participant(s) about the mediation process, or we can contact them to get the process started. If the other party is not interested in mediation, you may still benefit from our Conflicting Coaching service. We can also refer you to another professional or agency who may be able to help.
2. Getting started
We will ask you to complete an intake form. If there are documents to be shared with the other participant(s), we will help facilitate that. We can also post out a hard copy of the form.
3. Workbooks
If your mediation is in relation to a contracting out agreement / living together / pre-nuptial agreement, separation or parenting dispute, you will either receive a physical copy of a workbook or an online link to an electronic copy of the workbook. You will be asked to work through some pages of the book before you meet your mediator for the first time.
4. First Meeting with your Mediator
Each participant will meet individually with the mediator for around 90 minutes to discuss the issues together. This meeting is to help get to know one another and answer any questions you may have about the joint sessions. You are encouraged to bring your workbook to the meetings.
5. Coming Prepared with all the Paperwork
People are at their best when they have all of the information required to make a good decision. So, if you want a robust agreement, we ask that you please provide all of the information requested by the participant(s). We will walk you through this process.
6. Mediation Meetings
We will schedule joint sessions with you and the other participants at a time that best suits everyone. We are flexible with scheduling, and it really depends on the topic and the needs of the participants involved as to how long each joint session takes. Typically, we schedule sessions for 2 to 4 hours maximum. Online options are available, but we find that face-to-face meetings are most productive. Our venue has breakout spaces, and tea and coffee facilities. We will meet you at the door and ensure that you feel comfortable and safe. You may need to have more than one joint meeting before an agreement is reached, depending on the matters in dispute.
It is not unusual for emotions to run high during joint sessions. In the heat of the moment, people can say hurtful things. We will encourage everyone to take regular breaks, and we will stop the mediation if anyone doesn’t feel safe or requires additional support. We will remind all participants to reflect on what their options are if they cannot work together to reach agreement. Urgent matters can be discussed first.
7. The Legal Process
The goal of a mediation may be a written agreement that is legally binding on the participants. For some mediations, a further legal step may be required (such as signing a contracting out or separation agreement or taking an agreement back to the Board for final approval). We will ensure that you have the opportunity to have the legal requirements explained to you by your legal advisor(s) throughout the process, and that you have the opportunity to access legal advice when you need it. We will also ensure that the people who may have the authority to make the decisions have been considered in the agreement reached.
You can ask questions about legal issues at any time. Our mediators are all practicing collaborative lawyers. They can provide you with information about the legal process. As mediators they are not able to provide you with legal advice themselves, but they will ensure you have the opportunity to seek legal advice.
8. Consulting Lawyer
You may wish to retain a “consulting” lawyer to advise you on legal issues that arise, help prepare for meetings, or to review the final agreement. Consulting lawyers are encouraged but not required. Your mediation may require your lawyer to be present at some of the meetings.
It is helpful if your consulting lawyer is also a mediator or collaborative lawyer. You will want to select one who is trained in and familiar with the mediation process and will support your choice to attend mediation. We can provide referrals or point you to websites with mediation friendly consulting lawyers. Whilst our Blue Door Mediators may also work as lawyers, they will not provide you with legal advice.
9. Other Professionals
To achieve the most cost effective and successful process, we may suggest the use of other professionals. Those might be a neutral financial professional / accountant, a coach, child specialist, real estate professional, or valuer. This would be done after a full discussion, and only with your joint agreement.
10. Outcome
After all the decisions have been made, our office prepares the final agreement and all related paperwork for your review, revision, and signatures. We walk you through the signing process, co-ordinate with any other professionals involved, and you have your final agreement; or
After all discussions and joint sessions, you may not want or need a written agreement. This is quite common. People often are looking for a space to have a difficult conversation and once they have experienced this positively in mediation, they are able to move on with their new way of relating without any further major hitches.
Very occasionally people come back for a follow-up session to get back on track. We are happy to assist returning participants as needs and circumstances change.