Blog Post

What’s the Mediation Experience Like

juliequinn • May 29, 2020

What’s the mediation experience like from our client’s point of view? Liza and I always want to know what things look like and feel like from our clients’ perspectives. So Liza decided to sit down with one of our clients and ask about what it feels like to go through mediation.

Liza Woodrome interviewed Sarah Fae Stuehlmeyer on May 28, 2020. This interview has been split into two posts.

1) Describe how you chose to use mediation, rather than hiring a litigation attorney, for your divorce? 

“I had heard about mediation as an alternative, was intrigued and interested in something that wasn’t so long, drawn out, without drama and fighting, with both of us in control of the process and having a calm conversation.  Speed and ease and price were all factors in my decision.”

2) Did we explain the mediation process clearly? Did you understand what would happen and when?

“You and Julie did an excellent job explaining how it worked and how many hours it would take, so we knew how long the process would last.  I felt very comfortable with what we were going to be doing when we sat down with Julie in the room.”

3) How would you describe our communication with you and the other party during mediation?

“I always felt very at ease.  You and Julie were very open and friendly and welcoming for questions and concerns.  I loved MyCase for document review and everyone being able to see and comment.  I felt very comfortable with all of you!”

4) During mediation, did Julie remain neutral rather than stating her opinion?  Did she help both of you listen effectively to each other? 

“I was JUST thinking that before you asked!  I was very impressed with her neutrality and her listening to both sides of our needs, wants and opinions and how she allowed us to communicate about those things. She is so good at what she does.  She gave us both the opportunity to speak and to talk freely even if it wasn’t the final decision, but we could come to the table with ANY thought we had.”

5) Using only a few adjectives, how would you describe your mediation experience from beginning to end? 

“Smooth, comprehensive, painless, and conclusive.  Also navigating compromise:  all relationships take compromise, even the ending of a marriage.  I would consider Julie an expert.”

 

Thanks, Sarah Fae! She had some really great insights and some very kind words. We appreciate it!

Check back next week to see the second part of this interview.

(Please know that we got the permission of the other participant in this mediation to post this publicly.)

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