effective conflict resolution with empathy
We understand it’s not easy to deal with conflict. Our experience shows that adding a neutral and caring voice is often key to finding a solution that works for everyone. This is why we made it our mission to offer effective mediation with empathy.
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Our philosophy
Conflict is part of life, but it is often misunderstood and mishandled.
We believe that most conflicts have a lot to do with communication, and that more effective communication can prevent and resolve many issues. This is the reason why we seek to help people overcome the barriers to effective communication and conflict resolution – whether between work colleagues, family members and neighbours, within or between companies or communities, or wars between states.
As mediators, we are neutral, independent and omnipartial. By ‘omnipartial’, we mean that we work in the interests of all the parties. We do not take sides and always try to be attuned to the parties’ relationship and their specific needs. We also believe that empathy and careful listening are key attributes of a good mediator, and we constantly strive to embody this ideal.
We adopt different approaches depending on the nature of the dispute, from classic, facilitative mediation to more evaluative and transformative approaches. Moreover, we are not afraid of complexity, quite the contrary. An interpersonal dispute often hides structural, systemic issues within an organisation, which we can help reveal and address.
It is because we recognise the complexity of human interaction that we value working as co-mediators in some cases. Since two mediators tend to emphasise different aspects of a dispute, bringing diverse perspectives to the table as a duo can be a huge asset and lead to more durable solutions.
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Our expertise
Compared to court proceedings, mediation is a quick, effective and low-cost option. Our fees are usually based on standard hourly rates and depend on whether we do a mediation in solo or duo. In some cases, we can also offer comprehensive packages.
We have also lived and worked in many different places, which has allowed us to strengthen our intercultural competence and sensibility. We are both fluent in English, French and German and have some knowledge of Italian, Spanish, Arabic and Innu, an Indigenous language.
Elisabeth holds a graduate diploma in journalism, a master of international law and an interdisciplinary PhD in human rights. She has completed her mediation training in Canada.
Philipp has a law degree, a master of laws and a PhD in international law. He is accredited under the Australian Mediator & Dispute Resolution Accreditation Standards (AMDRAS).
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The mediation process
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process, where a mediator (or several mediators) helps two or more parties, whether individuals or organisations, to respectfully discuss and find a resolution to issues that they are experiencing with each other.
A mediator does not make decisions like a judge or an arbitrator; the parties always retain full authority to reach an agreement. Mediation is not about proving someone right or wrong, but about finding durable solutions that are beneficial to all the parties. You can expect from us the skills to facilitate this process effectively and with genuine empathy.
Once you have contacted us, we will ask each party to submit information about the issues to be mediated, and what steps, if any, have been taken so far to try to resolve the dispute. We will also provide you with further information about the mediation process, our ground rules and financial matters.
We will then speak with each of you individually and confidentially for about one hour. These individual sessions help us determine if mediation is appropriate in this case, and if so, how the mediation process will be conducted. We will also discuss how each of you can prepare for the joint session so that you feel as confident as possible about the process.
For a standard mediation, we usually proceed with a session of three to four hours with all the parties, either face-to-face or online. The goal of this joint session, which is facilitated by your mediator(s), is that you discuss your issues in a respectful manner and in a safe and confidential environment. You may choose to be accompanied by a person of confidence, but this is not required.
In most cases, it is possible to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, which we will help you draft, through this process. A further session or sessions may be beneficial to fine-tune your agreement. We may also agree to meet again for a follow-up session to discuss the implementation of your agreement.
We sometimes offer shuttle mediation, which can be more suitable for safety or logistical reasons in some cases. This is a form of mediation where the parties do not interact directly with each other; it is the mediator (or mediators) who moves back and forth between the parties.
For more complex cases, or when several parties are involved, we will design a bespoke process.
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Availability and fees
Compared to court proceedings, mediation is a quick, effective and low-cost option. Our fees are usually based on standard hourly rates and depend on whether we do a mediation in solo or duo. In some cases, we can also offer comprehensive packages.
We currently share our time between Australia, Austria and Canada, but our mediation practice has no geographical limits. The sessions will therefore be conducted face-to-face or online via Zoom. Each format has certain advantages and challenges, and we have learned to navigate and are comfortable with both.
Our goal is to help people resolve their disputes, and we strongly believe that mediation should be as accessible as possible. Feel free to raise any concerns you may have about the fees associated with mediation.
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Contact us
For all enquiries, or to start a mediation, please contact us at info@duomediation.com or through the form below.
We try to respond within 24 hours.