Preface by Hugh McIsaac Family mediation has quickly become a
significant means of legal dispute resolution, recognized in most
North American jurisdictions as a relief to already overburdened
judicial systems. Using an innovative practical approach, the
authors of Family Mediation incorporate the pivotal principles of
family therapy into this new context--the judicial realm of family
mediation. The practice model--therapeutic family
mediation--thoroughly treats history, specific issues, and practice
in an ecosystemic approach and responds to feminist critique of
mediation. In addition, the authors offer important perspectives on
mediating with multicultural populations and the role of the
mediator in child custody disputes and child protection cases.
Through examination of family mediation research as well as helpful
case history vignettes, the authors of this volume take action to
fill significant gaps between family therapy and mediation. Family
Mediation provides a new take on family mediation that will benefit
not only professionals and researchers in family studies, social
work, clinical psychology, and sociology but also professional and
volunteer mediators, conciliation court personnel, and family law
specialists. "Family Mediation is an excellent blend of scholarship
and practice, and it is the best of the books I have read on family
mediation. First, it is clear and well written. Second, it provides
an in-depth, current review of the divorce literature. The
literature on divorce is large, uneven, and difficult to interpret.
The authors have done a service to the profession by skillfully
reviewing and integrating this literature." --Stephen J. Bahr,
Brigham Young University "This book is one of the most
comprehensive and well-researched texts on mediation to date. The
authors have compiled an immense array of information regarding the
history of family mediation, the practice and knowledge base, a
review of literature regarding divorce, the principles of
mediation, gender and cultural issues, elements in a child custody
dispute, sharing parenting, cultural issues, and the use of
mediation in dependency, and they include an excellent summary of
research conducted. . . . Of particular value is the enormous scope
of the review of literature and the work of others, not only in
Canada but also the United States, Australia, and Great Britain,
underscoring the international nature of this transformation. What
Howard H. Irving and Michael Benjamin have done is chart a major
shift in the handling of conflict and they have done it very well."
--Family and Conciliation Courts Review "Howard H. Irving and
Michael Benjamin have surveyed and summarized an immense amount of
material within the covers of this volume, presenting it in a
clear, readable style. It is one of the rare texts on mediation
that does justice to the complexity of families generally and
families in North America particularly--to their diversity of
culture, to the scope of feminist thought and gender differences,
and to the ranges of social class. Their attention to divergent
forms of mediation and differences in practice across jurisdictions
is broadly sighted. An excellent choice for a text in mediation."
--Mary A. Duryee, Family Court Services, Alameda County, Oakland,
CA "Howard H. Irving and Michael Benjamin grapple with what is the
most difficult event that confronts almost half of all modern
families--divorce. Historically, the developmental issues and
problems surrounding divorce have been solved in the courts. But
modern-day courts are overwhelmed by an avalanche of divorce cases,
more than a million a year, and are unable to meet the needs of
separating parties. Family Mediation offers a fundamentally
different approach from the conventional legal system. The
empirical research and clinical experience Irving and Benjamin
bring to bear on this subject have resulted in the seminal work in
this area. This delightful and thoughtful book is a must for the
modern mediation practitioner who works with families and
children." --Duncan Lindsey, Professor, UCLA, and Editor-in-Chief,
Children and Youth Services Review "This book is unique in
providing a complete overview of relevant subject areas for family
mediation under one cover. Its writing is timely because it dispels
some of the myths in the rapidly expanding field of family
mediation. . . . Family Mediation is a comprehensive text that
follows the development of family mediation through the present and
concludes with the predictors of future directions. It is perhaps
the most thorough critical review of the literature pertaining to
family mediation and develops an inclusive practical model of
practice for practitioners. The book is readable . . . responsible,
and of interest to family mediators and the family law lawyers who
work closely with them. It may become a must as a background for
the novice family mediator about to embark on a course of
training." --Laurel Pearson, McWhinney, Metcalfe, and Associates,
Toronto, Canada
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