*Dawning Phoenix now offers Brief Solution-Oriented Therapy instead of private mediation. This format accommodates a maximum of 6 counseling sessions, up to 2 hours per session, focused on one area of conflict or topic of relational distress between individuals. Individuals attend therapy for the sole purpose of addressing a specific area of difficulty. All participants become clients in therapy, with appropriately executed informed consent. Dawning Phoenix refers/recommends registered neutrals (mediators) for formal conflict resolution (private or court-ordered), as we no longer offer conflict resolution as a service outside of psychotherapy.

Mediation is a structured manner of addressing disputes between individuals or organizations following guidelines designed to deescalate and hopefully resolve conflict without excessive or unnecessary litigious expense. Dawn M. Echols, M.S., LPC was a registered neutral in Georgia from 2012-2015, and as a mediator, specialized in divorce mediation. She specializes in aggression and anxiety in her counseling practice, as well as couples’ dynamics. Her background and qualifications are a natural fit for brief solution oriented therapy as well as couples counseling. To better serve clients seeking therapy, mediation/formal conflict resolution has been dropped from services offered at Dawning Phoenix.

Formal conflict resolution is conducted by a qualified mediator. In Georgia, mediators can be private, registered, and/or listed on court rosters by county or judicial district. At the very least, a mediator meets certain educational requirements. Formal mediation evolved from the U.S. Justice system seeking solutions to overloaded court dockets and delayed legal action. This led to the establishment of Alternative Dispute Resolution, commonly called ADR. (The term ‘alternative’ in this setting means an alternate path to resolution outside a courtroom and a judge’s decree.) In most counties in Georgia, mediation between divorcing (domestic) parties must be attempted before domestic parties appear in court. It is a common misconception to think that divorce requires a court appearance; however, if parties cannot agree, the conflict during divorce can escalate into the judicial system. When escalated, this particular form of domestic mediation requires parties use a Registered Mediator, or Registered Neutral, that is additionally approved for a county or district’s court program in the county of residence where the divorce is filed. (These mediators are listed at the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution www.godr.org). When court program mediators facilitate domestic mediation, agreements reached result in a binding legal document between two parties who desire to dissolve a legal marriage and such agreements become part of the final divorce decree. If agreement cannot be reached in mediation by a court program registered neutral, a judge may issue orders on unresolved issues of conflict.

Private mediation does not require the use of a court program, so mediation options depend on the case in question. Agreements reached in private mediation may not need to be drafted as legally executable documents, but rather, focus on reaching an understanding between parties and document the points of agreement between parties. Private mediation can be utilized in general/civil or domestic cases, but not in court programs. Counselor/Therapists can be effective mediators due to their training and experience in helping people bring about positive change. The facilitative model of conflict resolution is favored in Georgia, especially for divorce, and is a natural fit for therapist-mediators. Dawning Phoenix recommends individuals seeking this form of mediation contact our Ninth Judicial Administrative District office (https://www.adr9.com/)

For scheduling brief solution oriented therapy, please contact us HERE.

• Brief Solution Oriented Therapy for Conflict Resolution: $160 per hour

For mediation or conflict resolution, please call the 9th District office Gainesville for a listing of private mediators or court-registered neutrals, depending on your needs.