The Handbook of Family Dispute Resolution: Mediation Theory and Practice - Softcover

From its beginnings in clinical practice to its current widespread use in court procedures, the use of dispute resolution to settle family conflicts has grown dramatically in the past twenty years.
The Handbook of Family Dispute Resolution offers a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of family mediation theories and practices and includes specific recommendations for handling both routine and challenging cases. Written by Alison Taylor— a leader in the field of family mediation— this book will be a definitive resource for new and seasoned attorneys who are not trained in the process of working with families, as well as for clinicians and other conflict resolution professionals. Because family mediation differs from all other types of conflict resolution, Taylor presents a proven systemic approach for working with families in conflict. She examines the family as a system and includes vital information on diverse types of families: single-parent, black, Hispanic, Asian, gay and lesbian. And in order to make the process safe and fair for all parties, the book includes suggestions for working with families that are affected by domestic violence, drugs and alcohol, abuse, neglect, and other major family problems.
The Handbook of Family Dispute Resolution highlights key legal and negotiation skills necessary for work in the field, includes an examination of the most commonly mediated family disputes— marital problems, prenuptial agreements, divorce and custody issues, elder care, and parent-teen problems— and shows how to conduct the process to reflect best practices. The author also gives professional mediators guidance for assessing their own model or approach to family mediation so they have a clear idea of their current skill level and how to present their services to clients. Reviewing the often confusingly different approaches and practices, the reader will discover how practical theory can increase effectiveness.