Mediation is a private and confidential process in which an impartial/neutral person (mediator), encourages and facilitates communications between parties engaged in conflict striving to promote reconciliation, agreement and mutual understanding while preserving honor, respect and dignity. The benefit of mediation avoids the competitive nature of legal pugilism where one party wins and the other loses accompanied by excessive financial cost as well as damaged relationship. Mediation allows for both parties involved to walk away feeling a sense of satisfaction with a win/win or synergistic solution having achieved settlement through the merits of the dispute, while maintaining or restoring relationship. The mediation process is a powerful tool in which human needs can be satisfied while reducing any suffering that the parties would otherwise experience.
