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CFR Mediation offers divorce, family, business, civil, and workplace mediation services throughout the US. Our mediators are local, expert, and experienced professionals who are committed to resolving conflicts efficiently and effectively.
CFR Mediation currently has mediators throughout the US. All mediator services are accessed by contacting CFR’s main office at 866-922-2370 or submitting a request (more…)
We provide mediation services for most any dispute with offices and mediators throughout the US. If you are interested in finding out if CFR can facilitate an efficient and effective resolution to your conflict or dispute contact us.
If mediation is going to be successful it is important that everyone first agree to participate and then agree on the provider. (more…)
As in most choices, it is important to choose a mediation firm or mediator with care.
Mediation is a great option for those who find themselves in a dispute, conflict, or disagreement that they are not able to resolve on their own. Choosing a mediator is not always as clear cut as one would think, and parties should do their due diligence before settling on a mediator provider. (more…)
CFR Certified Mediators are conflict resolution professionals who meet our quality standards in experience, training, and commitment to the field. These individuals apply to be part of our provider panel and are thoroughly vetted by our staff before being offered an opportunity to be a CFR Certified Mediator.
Our mediators are local professional mediators, in 27 states, who have been chosen to be CFR Certified Mediators due to their commitment to and experience in the field. Our mediators come from a variety of backgrounds including law, behavioral health, real estate, human resources, business, finance and medicine. Regardless of their backgrounds, all of our mediators have demonstrated that they possess excellent mediation skills.
All of our mediators are thoroughly vetted and have successfully met the requirements that CFR has set out to ensure that our mediators meet high quality standards. Each person has been vetted by our mediation provider credentialing committee which includes CFR’s founder, Erin Johnston, MSW, LCSW. In essence no one is accepted to the as a CFR Mediator unless the committee members would choose to hire that mediator to resolve their own conflict.
Clients who choose CFR, receive mediation services from highly qualified and experienced mediators, without having to research providers on their own. A CFR Mediation Coordinator works with every client to ensure that the best CFR Certified Mediator is assigned to conduct every mediation.
Find out more about some specific mediators in our “CFR Mediator Spotlight” series on our blog where we spotlight a specific CFR Mediator.
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CFR is not a mediator referral service. We are an actual provider of mediation services, headquartered in Chicago with over 100 mediation providers and offices throughout the US.
When people decide to seek mediation it is because they are unable to resolve a situation on their own. While both sides have to agree to mediate – they also have to agree on the mediator. Sometimes this can be another stumbling block in the resolution process. Was the potential mediator swayed or influenced by the other side? How can those who are not in agreement – agree on an individual to mediate an agreement to the conflict?
CFR Mediation removes this potential barrier from the resolution process. Clients who choose CFR work with a mediation coordinator who, after speaking to both sides, assigns the CFR Certified Mediator that best meets the needs of the participants and the case.
Unlike referral services, CFR Mediation Coordinators work with both parties – in every mediation case – to ensure that the best CFR Certified Mediator is assigned to facilitate the resolution. Clients receive high quality mediation services without having to try to pick someone out from an anonymous list of names.
The Mediation Coordinator assigns the CFR Mediator best for the case, as well as help both parties understand the mediation process, including the costs, and will assist everyone in preparing for the mediation. CFR mediation sessions are generally two hours in length.
Mediating the case starts at the first appointment: issues are clarified, priorities are set, and the process is begun. The mediator is careful to continue to create an informal, cooperative environment, maintaining neutrality at all times.
Between appointments, the parties have time to consider their options and think about what the best decisions might be.
Remember, those participating in the mediation are the ones who actually make the decisions about how to resolve the dispute. Once the mediation is complete, the mediator will write up a Memorandum of Understanding (MU) that both parties sign. The MU details the agreements reached in mediation, as well as continuing areas of disagreement (if any). Those participating in mediation can always have their own attorneys review the MU prior to signing, but that is at the discretion of each client. In general, a signed MU is as binding as any contract.
Contact a CFR Mediation Coordinator for a free no-obligation telephone consultation. We can assist you in an efficient and effective resolution to your conflict.
Finding a provider to effectively intervene in a stressful situation can be difficult. CFR was designed to remove that difficulty. We submit all applications to a rigorous review to ensure that the providers meet our quality standards. Only those mediators that meet our stringent education and practice standards are invited to be a CFR Certified Mediator.
As the president of CFR Mediation, I am consistently impressed with the quality of professional mediator that we are able to bring on as a CFR Certified Mediator. There is not a mediator on this panel who I would not choose to be my own provider.
Our mediators have degrees from some of our nation’s most prestigious institutions. They have committed their careers to the field of conflict resolution, and I feel confident in referring cases to them.
I want your experience with CFR to be as positive of an experience as possible. No one enjoys having to seek mediation services, but our entire focus is assisting those in dispute resolve the issues as effectively and efficiently as possible – with as little additional emotional distress as possible.
We have mediators for most any issue: including divorce mediation, business disputes, and workplace conflict.
Contact us, our mediation coordinators are available to answer your questions and provide a free no-obligation consultation at your convenience.
CFR Mediation was created to provide a holistic solution to those who find themselves in a conflict or dispute: expert vetted mediators focus on the actual resolution, while behavioral health experts facilitate preparation and provide conflict coaching – if needed – address emotional barriers to successful resolution.
This holistic approach is unique to CFR. Our goal is to remove the difficulty in choosing a provider, ensure purposeful focused mediation, protect mediator neutrality, and provide a positive respectful environment for individuals to resolve their conflicts.
Why Mediation?
As a master’s level psychotherapist with over 15 years experience, I have witnessed countless individuals and couples make the difficult decision to divorce or address a conflict head on. Too often, making the decision to resolve the issue resulted in “retaining attorneys and, inadvertently, embarking on an emotional roller coaster that added more stress, confusion, and uncertainty to an already emotional issue.
Mediation allows those actually involved in the dispute to create the resolution. A quality mediator is able to facilitate a resolution efficiently and effectively as they focus on the interests of the participants not the emotional based positions. The mediator is neutral and focuses on resolution that works for the parties involved.
Emotional Barriers to Resolution
The mediator, regardless of professional background, is not there to assist participants in working through their emotions. CFR sees this an Achilles Heel in the process. Emotions are always present, whether or not they are supposed to be. Some participants are able to put their emotion aside and focus on resolution; some are not.
CFR has designed its service model to address and mitigate any negative impact emotion may have the process. We assign qualified behavioral health experts (masters level clinicians) as CFR Mediation Coordinators to every CFR case. The mediation coordinators connect with each person at intake and facilitate the process, while also being available throughout the process to provide conflict coaching services to participants to address emotional issues that otherwise impede successful participation and resolution.
As a practicing clinical social worker (LCSW), I want CFR clients to believe in the mediation process and agreements reached; and know that their feelings, needs, and desires were heard and respected as appropriate, while not being allowed to negatively impact the outcome.
Our goal is to limit mediation time, in most any situations to less than 10 hours of face-to-face resolution. We do not allow meditation sessions to occur once or twice a week for weeks or months. It is our belief that resolution efforts must be purposeful, in instances where one or both parties are not purposefully engaging in mediating towards a resolution, we will not continue to provide services; as to do so would be unethical.
This holistic approach is unique to CFR. Our focus is to address the complete conflict. Ensuring an efficient and effective resolution, that heals as opposed to creating additional discomfort and stress.
Additional Reading:
CFR is different than other mediation providers. We administer all of our mediation cases from our headquarters in Chicago and have the mediation conducted by expert local mediators. This design allows us to ensure that mediators are as neutral and unbiased about the case as possible.
Choosing CFR to mediate your dispute, means the following:
CFR Mediators are available to address virtually any dispute. CFR Mediation Coordinators are available for a free, no-obligation consultation. Let us help you resolve your dispute quickly and effectively. Resolution does not have to be painful.
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CFR Mediation Services is pleased to have partnered with Next Jump, Inc., the premier provider of internet-based corporate employee purchasing programs and customer rewards and loyalty programs worldwide.
As a result of this agreement, eligible employees and members of companies throughout the US are able to access CFR’s host of mediation services as part of their the employee purchase plan.
The benefit allows individuals to effectively and efficiently resolve their interpersonal disputes – including workplace conflicts; business and civil disputes; as well as divorce mediation, custody, or other family issues – through mediation instead of litigation.
For more information contact a CFR Mediation Coordinator.
Additional information can be found at the NextJump.com/CorporatePerks.com website under life, personal, and legal services
A standard offering of all of our mediation services is “coaching” by a CFR Mediation Coordinator. This is more commonly referred to as “conflict coaching”.
CFR Mediation Coordinators have a minimum of a masters degree in a behavioral health field. They are not providing therapy or counseling, but are providing coaching to facilitate the success of every CFR mediation as needed.
Coaching focuses on addressing the emotions that can act as a barrier to successful resolution. For example:
Sarah and Peter are divorcing. Getting to this decision has been difficult and although both partners agree, the hurt feelings linger and their communication seems to have ground to a halt. Sarah is so fearful of incurring Peter’s disapproval, she avoids telling him about plans she makes for the children. She hates having to explain things later, but at least she avoids the confrontation as long as possible.
Unfortunately poor communication breeds poor communication – and can have a negative impact on mediation. CFR Mediation Coordinators work to empower participants to advocate for themselves and communicate in a manner that avoids triggering old problematic patterns of communication.
Sarah worked with the CFR Mediation Coordinator to address her apprehension about sharing plans and co-parenting with Peter. They planned a strategy that allowed Sarah to advise Peter of her plans without triggering the emotional response she found so upsetting. The coaching was brief and targeted – focusing solely on issues related to mediation and creating a co-parenting plan.
In addition, CFR Mediation Coordinators can assist in connecting to outside services if needed. By having qualified behavioral health experts available to intervene if needed, CFR is able to ensure that client needs are met and mediator neutrality is not affected.
Not everyone chooses to access CFR coaching services, and they are never forced on a person. However, for those who choose to access the coaching – services are available and part of the mediation package.
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