What is Mediation?

Mediation is a forum in which the mediator facilitates communication between parties to promote reconciliation, settlement or understanding between them. Our mediators guide disputing parties through proven stages of communication that promotes reconciliation, settlement and/or understanding between them. The mediator does not impose judgment on the issues and, the two parties create an agreement according to the their own terms.

Mediation promotes peaceful, effective, and thorough conflict resolution. This process is used to resolve:

  • Disagreements within the family (ex: sibling, parent/child disputes)

  • Generational Disputes

  • Divorce and custody issues

  • Conflicts between couples

  • Extended family disputes

  • Peer Conflict Interactions

  • Elder Care Issues

  • Neighborhood disputes

  • In schools for interpersonal conflicts (student/student, teacher/student, and teacher/parent)

  • Unresolved Workplace Conflict

  • Corporations/employee grievance

 

Below is a list of our Mediation services:

Family Mediation

Family Reconciliation Mediation

We identify the problem issues in need of resolution, but also the strengths of each person and of the relationship in that period of time. Family Reconciliation Mediation can take months in counseling, but the structure of mediation promotes peaceful, effective, and thorough conflict resolution in areas such as: Conflicts between couples, marital issues, inter- and intra-generational issues, extended family issues, and mediating financial support of elderly parents.

Family Intervention Mediation

This form of mediation is used to intervene in families where a member must be confronted firmly but with expression of great care and support to seek treatment for any variety of issues such as substance abuse, mental health issues, sexual addictions, and/or anger problems. Many couples experience some form of domestic violence and studies cite as many as 75% of all people have been influenced by domestic violence.

Our Family Intervention Mediation works the same as the Family Reconciliation Model, but includes the mediation of safety, treatment, and support arrangements if it is not a safe environment for the family. The outcome is a written agreement for a specific treatment plan or the boundaries the family wishes to establish if the person will not seek treatment. The established goals and other treatment avenues will ensure these methods are effective.

Community Mediation

It’s not always the issue in dispute that people are most upset about, but relationship issues such as respect or dignity or broken trust. This is why traditional litigation processes are so unsatisfying, and mediation is so effective.

The following types of cases are ideal for mediation:

  • Local government and resident and/or business differences (city councils, commissioner’s courts, etc)

  • Neighborhood disputes between specific neighbors or one resident and the homeowner’s association or within the association!

  • Landlord-Tenant disputes

  • Dorm disputes

  • Retailer-customer disputes

  • Police and community disputes

  • Any relationship outside of family is considered a Community-Based Mediation

Divorce & Custody

Family Reconciliation Mediation

We identify the problem issues in need of resolution, but also the strengths of each person and of the relationship in that period of time. Family Reconciliation Mediation can take months in counseling, but the structure of mediation promotes peaceful, effective, and thorough conflict resolution in areas such as: Conflicts between couples, marital issues, inter- and intra-generational issues, extended family issues, and mediating financial support of elderly parents.

Faith Based Services

We offer our services in both Christian and secular formats. However, clients need to request a Christian counselor when making their initial appointment, and indicate how they wish to incorporate their beliefs into their treatment (e.g. pray in sessions and/or by examining behaviors, thoughts and emotional patterns in light of scripture).

If clients are seeking clarity on their beliefs, counselors will simply direct them to passages for study and ask them to discuss how these are impacting their thoughts, feelings and behaviors when they are ready. Clients are referred to their pastors for discussion of any denominational issues. With a client’s release, Innovative Alternatives, Inc. is open to consultation with pastors as needed.

One of our faith-based programs is the Ministry Assistance Program (MAP). It functions just like an Employee Assistance Program, but uniquely designed for churches. Through this program a church pays either a monthly or an annual fee, which covers a variety of services for its members. The Senior Pastor or pastoral minister has options to refer members to classes, mediation, counseling, or a combination of these services. We conduct a thorough assessment to determine which service is most appropriate for the member and/or their family. In some cases, a class or various services can be offered onsite at the church.

We also provide conflict resolution, confidential counseling, and mediation training for church leaders and members. All counseling provided by our staff understand the needs of church members is maintain a Biblically-based, professional environment.

School Programs

We provide school districts strategies to improve the educational environment through our Violence Prevention Programs. Over 300 schools in more than 28 districts in the Harris, Brazoria, and Galveston County implemented these programs to prevent violence, reduce anti-social behavior, increase academic achievement, graduation rates, teacher retention rates, and inspire healthy relationships. Feel free to scroll through to see the many Violence Prevention Programs we offer.

Victim Offender

National surveys of Victim Offender Mediation Program (VOMP) show that 60% of victims do wish to meet with their offender, and 96% of mediations result in contracts satisfactory to both parties and the court.

VOMP is a project of Innovative Alternatives, Inc. dedicated to providing positive correctional programs in cooperation with the local criminal justice system. Our agency can assist with counseling needs, upon request of the client, or refer you to other offender services within our community.

We are not a formal part of this system but do receive referrals from various criminal justice agencies. Depending on the source of the referral, we may also take responsibility fulfillment of that agreement and reporting successful or unsuccessful completion to the appropriate criminal justice agency.