We really appreciate you taking your first step in contacting our service, but sadly we have had to take the difficult decision to hibernate ACCESS for the foreseeable future. We hope that we will be able to reopen, but at this time we do not know when this will be and therefore felt that it was unfair and unhelpful to keep you waiting to be seen by our service.
We appreciate that this will not be welcome news especially in the current background of a pandemic and you have our sincere apologies for this.
If you are still looking for support we advise that you contact your GP, but you may also wish to look at the following website: https://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/MentalHealthSupport
When we are able to open again we will update our social media accounts to reflect this and would be very happy to see you in the future.
Except for in exceptional circumstances the mediation we offer takes place within ACCESS rooms. This represents a neutral setting that is not associated with one party or another.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a process where an independent third party, (the mediator/s) supports parties in dispute to communicate with each other. The outcome of mediation is that, hopefully the parties will reach mutually accepted resolutions to any issues they may be experiencing without recourse to formal or legal procedures.
There are different styles and approaches to mediation. ACCESS adopts a facilitative style from a person-centred approach. ACCESS mediators avoid directing the parties to any particular settlement. The mediator/s use counselling skills to help support the family/couple while they communicate with each other. The mediator/s takes responsibility for the ground rules / boundaries and time while the family/couple takes charge of the content.
Mediation is not about:
Mediation is about:
Mediation is appropriate when parties:
Mediation is not appropriate when:
In mediation you may be encouraged to:
Robert. E. Valett
Mediation is invaluable in helping families to see each other as individuals with individual beliefs and ideas. This can enable family members to understand and accept each other’s differences. This then promotes the ability to feel mutual respect for one another.