Article written by: Elisa Godino, author and professor of Civil and Commercial Mediation Course from Didactic Foundation XXI. Psychologist and family mediator.

dI have always known that I wanted to dedicate myself to the social field, so I specialized in topics related to intervention with families and couples therapy, fields that I developed at the COORDENADAS Family Guidance and Mediation Center. I still remember when I decided to make my first mediation course and The questions that were running through my mind about it: What really is Mediation? Why is it so important to use it to resolve family conflicts?

Mediation is an effective and useful conflict management alternative that encourages the positive and peaceful resolution of everyday problems that may arise in different areas of human relationships, such as family relationships.

But, Why is mediation considered the most appropriate means to resolve family conflicts?

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"The parties tend to find their support in exposing their facts and interests to the detriment of the other party, an attitude that is born from the lack of that I-win/you-win culture."

Reyes Coto Jimenez She is a lawyer and mediator specialized in Family and Health Mediation. He is a member of the Illustrious Bar Association of Seville and has publications in several magazines specialized in mediation. She graduated in Law from the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville and is currently a collaborator at the professional firm Abogados Campo&Carrasco.

Do citizens know mediation enough to make it their first alternative?
A: Not enough. There is still not enough information among citizens about what it is, how it works and the effects derived from the management and resolution of conflicts. through mediation. And we are all responsible for this situation: Public Administrations, political parties, the media and the social agents who interact most directly.

What does it take to be a mediator?
A: From a legal point of view, anyone who meets the legal requirements established in the current Mediation Law or in the regulations of each CC could be a mediator. AA. regarding family mediation. Now, from a personal point of view, it can be a mediator that person who sees mediation as a perspective or vision where the culture prevails that, to assert and win personal or/and professional interests, it does not mean that the other party has to lose. The mediator, in addition to having specific training, must be an honest and humble person, who feels the culture of agreement and dialogue as a tool to build positively.

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"People do not resort to mediation to decongest the courts, they go because they believe it is a good way to resolve their conflicts."

Eva Susana Fernandez He is a specialist in resolving family, civil, commercial, business and public administration conflicts. In addition, she is the founder of Tarc, the first private mediation center approved by the Generalitat of Catalonia, and completed a master's degree in Alternative Conflict Resolution. He is also a member of the Illustrious Bar Association of Barcelona and the Mediation Center of the Department of Justice, where he is also part of the group of experts in family and intrajudicial mediation. He has more than 10 years of professional experience in conflict management in the private and public spheres.

Can any mediator handle any conflict or are different specializations required for each type of confrontation?
A: There is an open debate about whether the specialization of the mediator is necessary or if, on the contrary, it is not. I think it is important that the mediator knows and feels comfortable in the area in which he is going to intervene, but In my opinion, it is not an essential requirement that it be specialized; In fact, this allows you to appreciate broader aspects that facilitate the resolution of the conflict. Nor should we forget that other professionals can intervene in mediation with the function of advising on any doubts that may arise.

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