Arbitration & Mediation

Divorce-proof your Marriage with Mediators

By Dina Lynch, ADRPracticeBuilder.com

December is the most popular month for popping the question, which fills this mediator with loads of holiday cheer. Why? A skillful family or marriage mediator can build a practice by assisting couples to answer the second big question: I will, then what?

According to a Boston Globe article, couples, who were once surrounded my family and friends who could offer marriage advice, now need a different kind of support system to navigate the challenges of learning to live together and be happily married. Social workers like Mimi Licht counsel couples before they get married.

And, mediators like Laurie Israel of Brookline, MA who specializes in helping married couples negotiate better, can be part of that support, too. In fact, if I recall correctly, I blogged about the wedding opportunity a year ago. When you consider that almost half of all marriages end in divorce and that the average cost for a wedding has now risen to $30K, it seems very likely that couples (and their bill-paying parents) are ready to invest in this kind of wedding planning.

If you're interested in learning more about this emerging field, here are some suggestions:

1. Reach out your local family mediation council or association for social workers to investigate the market further

2. Identify a local service provider: therapist, wedding shop, event planner, who may want to expand their services and partner with you

3. Consider joining our Family Learning Circle- our first topic for discussion is Marriage Mediation lead by Mediator Ned Busch on Jan. 4th at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST

4. Listen to a Day in the Life of an attorney and therapist mediation team, Diana Mercer and Tara Fass on Monday, Feb. 11th. Sign up here

Try. Fail. Learn. Grow!
Dina

Full post as published by Mediation Mensch on December 19, 2007 (boomark / email).