Mediation
Just want to resolve an issue between two or more people/entities? It’s the issue itself that mediation can help you settle, not the problems that led to the dispute. Mediation is a process that can take the emotion out of problem-solving, so you can shake hands and move on with your lives.
Mediation looks to resolve specific issues between two or more people/entities. It seeks to provide a solution acceptable to all the people involved, not necessarily the ideal solution for each person/entity. Mediation is issue specific not person specific.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a structured, practical, and future-focused conflict resolution process designed to help two or more parties settle a specific dispute. At Armchair Psychology in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, our neutral mediators help you take the destructive emotion out of problem-solving. We focus entirely on resolving the specific issue at hand, rather than unpacking the underlying emotional history that led to the conflict, allowing all parties to reach a practical agreement and move forward with their lives.
How Mediation Differs from Therapy
It is common to confuse mediation with relationship or family therapy, but the goals are fundamentally different:
Therapy is Person-Specific: Therapy focuses on healing past wounds, improving communication styles, and restoring emotional connection.
Mediation is Issue-Specific: Mediation is strictly about negotiation and problem-solving. It does not look for a “perfect” or emotionally ideal outcome for one person, but rather a mutually acceptable, tangible solution that works for everyone involved.
Common Disputes We Mediate
Our highly trained psychologists provide a neutral, safe environment at our Edgecliff clinic to facilitate difficult conversations. We commonly mediate:
Workplace & Corporate Disputes: Resolving conflicts between colleagues, management, or business partners to restore professional productivity.
Family & Co-Parenting Disagreements: Negotiating practical logistics, boundaries, and care plans following a separation or divorce.
Interpersonal Conflicts: Assisting individuals in settling specific financial, property, or boundary disputes without the need for costly legal escalation.
Have A Free Chat With Our Mediation Team
We’d love to get to know more about you. Fill in the form and one of our team will contact you as soon as possible.
Our Psychologists
Mediation Services FAQs
Is the final agreement we reach legally binding?
Mediation itself is a negotiation process, not a court hearing. Therefore, the informal agreements made in the room are not automatically legally enforceable on their own. However, once a mutually acceptable agreement is reached, you can take the finalised framework to your respective lawyers or HR departments to be drafted into a formal contract, workplace agreement, or legally binding Consent Order.
Do we have to sit in the same room if the conflict is highly tense?
Not necessarily. While face-to-face mediation is often the most efficient way to resolve an issue, we understand that high-conflict situations can feel intimidating or counterproductive. If necessary, we can facilitate “shuttle mediation.” In this setup, parties sit in separate rooms at our Edgecliff clinic, and the mediator moves between you to safely and calmly negotiate the terms.
What happens if we simply cannot reach an agreement?
Mediation is a voluntary process that relies on both parties being willing to compromise. If you reach an absolute impasse and a solution cannot be found, you are not trapped. The mediation concludes without an agreement, and you both retain your full rights to pursue other formal avenues of resolution, such as arbitration or litigation.
Can what I say in mediation be used against me in court later?
No. Mediation is a strictly confidential and “without prejudice” process. This means that the discussions, concessions, offers, and compromises made during your session cannot be subpoenaed or used as evidence against you in a future legal or workplace hearing. This legal protection is specifically designed to encourage open, honest, and creative problem-solving without fear of retribution.
Can I bring a lawyer or a support person to the session?
You can bring a support person or legal representative, provided that all parties (and the mediator) agree to this arrangement in advance. However, it is important to remember that mediation is not a trial. The mediator’s role is to facilitate direct communication between the people actually involved in the dispute, rather than listening to lawyers argue on your behalf.
How long does the mediation process usually take?
Most single-issue disputes can be successfully resolved in one or two dedicated sessions. Because we focus strictly on the issue at hand rather than unpacking years of emotional history, mediation is significantly faster, cheaper, and vastly less stressful than enduring a formal legal battle or tribunal process that could drag on for months.
General FAQs
Why should I see a mediator?
You should see a mediator if you are stuck in a dispute with another person, family member, or business entity and simply cannot find a way forward on your own. If a specific issue—whether it is a workplace conflict, a co-parenting disagreement, or a financial dispute—is causing constant friction and communication has broken down, mediation provides a structured way out. Instead of focusing on deep emotional healing, the independent mediators at Armchair Psychology offer a neutral, practical environment to help you negotiate an acceptable agreement, shake hands, and move on with your life.
How many sessions will I need?
Unlike traditional therapy, which is a longer personal journey, mediation is designed to be highly focused and efficient. The exact number of sessions depends entirely on the complexity of the dispute and the willingness of both parties to compromise. However, many straightforward, single-issue conflicts can be successfully resolved in just one or two dedicated sessions. More complex corporate or multi-layered family negotiations may take a few sessions to map out all the details. Our goal is always to help you reach a tangible outcome as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.
How often will I have sessions?
Because mediation is issue-driven rather than an ongoing therapeutic process, we do not usually schedule open-ended, weekly appointments. Sessions are scheduled based on the urgency of the dispute and the momentum of the negotiations. You might have one intensive session, or a few shorter sessions spaced a week or two apart to allow time for both parties to review proposed agreements, gather information, or consult with respective legal/HR advisors. We will work collaboratively with all parties to structure a timeline that keeps the resolution process moving forward constructively.
