Families come in all different shapes and sizes. So do the challenges they encounter throughout the many stages of life. When there’s a change in one part of the family, it often sends a ripple impacting others. Depending on who is impacted, how much, and how it’s handled, it may be very challenging and disruptive to the most important relationships in our lives. This is especially true since family relationships are often steeped in expectations, assumption, history, and larger family system dynamics that can make conflicts even more complicated to resolve.

Family issues can be complicated and hard. Whether your family is biological or built based on deep bonds, the relationships are fundamental and frequently form the fabric that holds the rest of life together.

There are many different types of dispute resolution engagements for families seeking support, and it’s important to find the right one for the situation and individuals involved. For example, not every scenario is appropriate for facilitation or mediation and is better suited for a process with judicial oversight. So, every potential engagement begins with a free consultation to:

  • Assess the situation.
  • Provide information about what options are potentially available, including outside of ACS when applicable.
  • If suitable, propose a potential framework for moving forward together.
  • Ensure all parties are comfortable with the proposed approach.

ACS tends toward a Transformative Restorative approach when possible. While it isn’t always suitable, we find the foundational principles to be broadly relevant and valuable as a guide within flexible frameworks that can be uniquely designed and applied.

The Transformative approach emphasizes the importance of understanding that informs agreements. Flexibility and/or review is built into the agreements to ensure they can be revised if needed. Finally, agreements are fortified with how people will be held accountable to the commitments they’ve made.

Restorative Practice focuses on the following basic questions at its core:

  1. What happened?
  2. Who was impacted?
  3. How were they impacted?
  4. What needs to happen to make things right? (i.e., What needs to happen for restoration?)

Approaching conflict in this way moves away from blame without sacrificing accountability. Additionally, everyone is taken into account throughout the entire process. It isn’t about penalty or punishment; it’s about resolving the problems that led to the conflict(s). Another benefit of this practice is that even while working through the conflict, connection often begins to be reestablished because people are working together.

Leveraging a Transformative Restorative Practice approach offers the space and foundation for families to address the challenges before them with empathy and lasting practical solutions.

OUR SPECIALTIES

RECONCILIATION

FAMILY MEDIATION

DIVORCE MEDIATION

CONVERSATION FACILITATION

FACILITATED DECISION-MAKING

APOLOGY & FORGIVENESS

INTEGRATED RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

PARENTING PLANS

CO-PARENTING COACHING

PARALLEL PARENTING COACHING

CONFLICT COACHING

UNIQUE NEEDS CREATED BY:

TRAUMA

DIVERSITY & CULTURE

MENTAL HEALTH

COGNITIVE PROCESSING

ALIENATION

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Not sure what some of these mean?
Or what you might be looking for?
Let’s talk about it!

Call or Text:
805-702-5065
Email:
Shelley@AllenConflictSolutions.com

Allen Conflict Solutions