How does mediation differ from therapy or counseling?
Therapy tends to address issues in a person’s past or emotional issues that may be hindering his or her present actions or decisions. While mediation may include some discussion of past events, usually it only addresses those issues pertaining to the conflict. Mediation may be an emotional experience for some people but its focus is primarily on finding a solution to the conflict and moving beyond it in a way that satisfies everyone. Therapy also tends to be a more long-term process than mediation. Individuals in mediation may be in individual, group, family, or couples therapy and still participate in mediation. If it is appropriate, NMS may suggest therapy instead of or in concurrence with mediation.
