Separation and divorce causes palpable family stress. Parents' and teens' behavior may be uniquely altered during this life changing event. When parents separate and divorce boundaries within the family may become blurred and/or violated. Parent-Teen Mediation assists parents and teens recognize and honor boundaries that may be violated when parents separate and divorce, including, but not limited to "recruiting" teens to fight parental battles, and exposing teens to inappropriate/non age appropriate "adult" matters.
When they are separating and divorcing, parents may attempt to get their teen(s) to a therapist. However, teens may have a preconceived notion about people who are in therapy, and therefore may refuse to speak to a therapist. In Parent-Teen Mediation, trained adults and teens serve as co-mediators. A teen who refuses to speak to a therapist, may be willing to open up and speak to a teen mediator.
In my Maryland mediation practice Parent-Teen Mediation is not a replacement for therapy. Parent-Teen Mediation provides a safe environment where parents and teens openly discuss their individual needs and issues. Parent-Teen Mediation provides a forum for parents to "hear" teens as they previously may not have. Parents and teens in mediation discuss how each affects the other, as well as ways to deal with problem issues including parents' decision to separate and divorce.
While parents pursue divorce mediation alone (parents only), to discuss issues relevant to separation and divorce, a parent, or the parents may bring the teen(s) to Parent-Teen mediation to discuss issues relevant to the parent-teen relationship. Parent-Teen Mediation assists the family in conflict to think outside the box and find creative ways to meet the needs of parents and teens. Parent-Teen Mediation helps families change how the family communicates. While parents and teens may never see eye-to-eye on issues, Parent-Teen Mediation assists parents and teens acknowledge the existence of conflict, the needs of each other, and communicate more effectively.
