Acknowledgments.

PART ONE: PRACTICAL THEORY.

1. Understanding Family Dynamics.

Assessing the Family from the Systemic View.

Basic Tenets of Family Systems Theory.

The Change Process from a Family Systems Perspective.

Normalcy, Health, and Dysfunction.

Dynamics of Personal and Family Development.

Alliances, Legacies, and Secrets 40.

Resilience and the Current Dilemma.

2. Understanding Family Conflict.

The Multiple Levels of Family Conflicts.

Conflict Emergence and Intervention.

Analyzing Family Conflicts.

Reaction to Conflict: Anger, Indignation, and Aggression.

How Families Fight.

Negotiation Within Mediation.

Face-Saving in Family Conflict.

3. Family Mediation Models and Approaches.

Models and Approaches: A Definition.

Stage Theory Models.

Problem-Solving and Negotiative Approaches.

Procedural Models.

Therapeutic Models.

Transformative Approaches.

Narrative Mediation Models.

Interactive Approaches.

Neutrality Concepts Across Models.

Eclecticism, Integration, and Personalizing Models.

4. Family Mediation Skills and Techniques.

Case Assessment and Formulation.

Shaping Client Sessions for Effectiveness.

Mediating with Multiple Family Members.

Caucusing.

Power Balancing.

Neutrality and Client Self-Determination.

Transforming Impasses.

PART TWO: FAMILY MEDIATION PROCESSES.

5. Special Case Issues.

Control, Abuse, and Violence.

Mental Health Concerns.

Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.

Framing Agreements for Special Issues Cases.

6. Ethics and Standards, Confidentiality and Privilege.

Ethics and Standards.

Confidentiality and Privileged Communication.

7. Cultural Issues in Family Mediation.

Family Culture.

Assessment of Cultural Factors.

Identity, Adaptation, and Assimilation.

The Mediator s Cultural Perspectives.

African American Families in Mediation.

Hispanic Cultural Themes.

Asian Perspectives.

Gay and Lesbian Families.

Ethics and Practice Standards for Cultural Issues.

8. Interfacing with Other Professionals and Parties.

Continuity-of-Care Continuum.

Involving Children and Other Parties.

Working with Advocates and Attorneys.

Individual and Marital Therapists.

PART THREE: SPECIALIZED PRACTICES IN FAMILY MEDIATION.

9. Marital Mediation, Conciliation, and Prenuptial Agreements.

Conciliation: Mediating the Problems of Staying Together.

Marital Mediation Assessment.

Themes of Attachment, Love, and Trust.

Defining the Relationship by Agreement.

Creating Appropriate Consequences.

Prenuptial Agreements: More Than Money.

10. Divorce Mediation.

The Divorce Mediator s Role.

Mandatory and Voluntary Mediation.

Married Versus Unmarried Separations.

Complete Divorces or Parenting Issues Only.

Describing a Case Using an Interactive Model.

Integrating Children into the Process.

Postdivorce Concerns and Modifications.

11. Parent-Teen Mediation.

Service Provision Considerations.

Power Dynamics During Sessions.

Speaking Naturally.

Practice Dimensions.

Classic Parent-Teen Mediation: Pam and Suzie.

Sequential Family Mediations: The Kents.

Victim-Offender Youth Programs: The Nguyens.

12.Adoption, Abuse, and Placement Cases.

Fitting the Model to the Situation.

Confidentiality and Privileged Communi-cations.

Power Dynamics in Placement Cases.

Child Protection and Placement Cases.

Adoption.

13.Elder Care and Family Medical Concerns.

Mediable Disputes for Elders and Ill and Disabled People.

Issues of the Elderly Population.

Power Issues in Medical Disputes Concerning Elders.

Mediating Family Medical Issues.

Mediating Adult Guardianship.

Case Example: Out-of-Home Placement for an Aging Parent.

Case Example: Placement and Medical Treatment Dilemmas.

Case Example: Postprocedure Medical Complaint.

Case Example: Adult Guardianship of a Disabled Sister.

Appendix A: Household Map.

Appendix B: Report of the Academy of Family Mediators Task Force on Spousal and Child Abuse.

Appendix C: Control, Abuse, and Domestic Violence Screener.

Appendix D: Parenting Plan Rationale and Matrix.

Appendix E: Budget Sheet.

References.

The Author.

Index.