Edward Cooke Family Law supports Family Mediation Week
27 January 2025
As Family Mediation Week 2025 gets underway, we outline the range of different mediation styles that family mediators can move between to reach resolution for clients, including traditional family mediation, solicitor-inclusive mediation, hybrid mediation, shuttle mediation, child-inclusive mediation and co-mediation.
We will take the time to understand your individual circumstances, and through our comprehensive and flexible mediation service we can switch between a range of non-court resolution methodologies to support you through separation and divorce. Our team includes five highly experienced family mediators: Edward Cooke, Grace Parker-White, Lauren Guy, Michelle Lewis and Hannah Rogers.
Together, we can find the right approach for you.
Supporting Family Mediation Week 2025
Family Mediation Week is an annual event run by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), the umbrella organisation for national family mediation organisations in England and Wales, including Resolution, a nationwide organisation of family justice professionals.
We are proud to support Family Mediation Week to help raise awareness of family mediation and the considerable benefits it can have for those who wish to resolve family issues in a safe and neutral environment, providing a less adversarial and less expensive alternative to the court process.
When appropriate, Family Mediation allows couples to move forward in a positive way and make informed decisions for their family. Mediation can take place in-person or online - or as a combination of the two.
In order to reach resolution, our experienced mediators are trained to move between a range of different mediation styles, including:
Traditional Mediation
Traditional family mediation usually involves one mediator working with a couple in one room to help them make decisions for the future. For more information visit Family Mediation.
Solicitor-Inclusive Mediation
In complex or difficult cases, each party’s lawyers and, on occasion, other professionals participate in the meetings to provide advice and support.
Hybrid Mediation
If your situation is complex or if there are high levels of conflict, Hybrid Mediation may be best for you. The parties’ lawyers often participate in the meetings. The mediator is permitted to hold confidences, only sharing information that they have permission to disclose. Read more on our Hybrid Mediation page including answers to frequently asked questions about Hybrid Mediation.
Shuttle Mediation
When it is not appropriate for the parties to meet face to face, the mediator locates them in separate rooms and ‘shuttles’ between them to work towards a resolution.
Child-Inclusive Mediation
Wherever possible, children should have the opportunity to voice their wishes and feelings. In this situation, either the mediator or another suitable professional meets with the children and then, with the children’s permission, feeds back to the parents. Edward’s work in the field of Child Inclusive Mediation and his commitment to supporting this process was recognised when Edward won the Child Inclusive Mediator of the Year Award at the 2024 National Mediation Awards.
You can explore more about Child-Inclusive Mediation here.
Co-Mediation
It can be beneficial for two mediators to work with the parties together, as a team. The two mediators are often from different backgrounds. For example, a lawyer mediator might work with a mediator from a financial or therapeutic background.
More Questions about Family Mediation?
For more information on Family Mediation, visit our Family Mediation FAQs or explore our Family Mediation Guide.
To explore which mediation approach may be suitable for your circumstances, contact one of our friendly team on 01243 769001.
