Sydney McDowell - Collaborative Mediation in Portland, Maine

Why Choose Collaborative Mediation?

Because it encourages you to …

be true to yourself
be fully informed
keep your power
manage your emotions
conserve your resources rather than spending them on fighting
stand on your own feet when you make your decisions
make decisions that reflect the best in you - the intelligence, integrity and courage

Because the process…

is relatively peaceful
fosters communication and understanding
reveals ways that you can talk or negotiate in the future
is considerably less expensive than adversarial negotiation
is significantly less expensive than litigation

Disputes often involve both personal and legal issues. When the personal and legal are intertwined, the court may not be able to offer adequate resolution. In court, people may be unnecessarily positioned as adversaries; unity and self-determination may be undermined. Collaborative Mediation offers a way out of this dilemma. You may always consult with an attorney and you may choose to bring him or her to one or all of your mediation sessions.

In a study of people that used mediation in their divorce, people reported the following advantages:

They were better satisfied with the outcome.
They had better compliance with the terms of the settlement.
They were less likely to return to court for post-divorce court action.
There was better understanding and communication between the ex-spouses.
Mediation was less damaging to their children.

Collaborative Mediation is beneficial in divorce and in other types of disputes. People that use collaborative mediation learn new ways of working together. Choices made consciously enhance a person's self esteem. Agreements arrived at through mediation generally stand the tests of time. Mediation is cost effective.

Sydney McDowell
Supporting a peaceful dynamic toward resolution…
Phone: 207-415-0334
Meeting Location: 120 Exchange Street, Portland, Maine
Mailing Address: 7 US Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105