2:31 - 2:59 - Lawyers not generally not directly involved in the standard mediation model

3:00 -3:59 - The commercial mediation model is very different.../

4:00 - 5:36 - I realised that each model could learn something from the other and started doing this. It became known as the Hybrid model approach...

5:37 - 6:29 - Where do other non-mediator professionals fit into and work with the hybrid mediation model?

6:30 - 7:44 - Mediators come from many different professions who work as mediators as sole or co-mediators

7:45 - 8:44 - There is a role for other professionals to support people in mediation in a variety of different role, as neutrals or in a representative, advising role

8:45 - 9:48 - As a mediator, I would be quite willing to contact these professionals to see how they can help the couple to reach resolution...

2:00 - 2:19 - There are a number of situations where the Hybrid model might be beneficial

2:20 - 3:19 - Abusive relationships where it is appropriate to mediate

3:20 - 4:33 - Where couples simply cannot communicate in the same room because there are social difficulties, for example with autism...

4:34 - 8:19 - Where one or both people are ‘high conflict personalities’, who can get very stuck in their thinking and find it very difficult to shift. This is how they are for whom a joint meeting can feel very frustrating. For these kinds of people the Hybrid model is essential...

8:20 - 9:30 - Complex financial situations needing more time to explore, think about and speak to their lawyers. Lawyers can be present in the Hybrid model

9:30 - 10:29 - Where the standard model simply isn’t working. It is important not to be too rigid with the process we use

10:30 - 11:09 - I have two tests - Is it ethical and does it work? Why do we have to have a one size fits all. Why not have a mediation process tool kit.... This is so logical.

3:00 - 3:59 - However, over the decades mediators have become quite stuck in this model, finding it difficult to move off it. Looking back, might we have allowed some flexibility? Possibly, but it worked the way it did and explains why so many professionals rigidly follow the standard model

4:00 - 4:59 - It is right that the standard model is the foundation. What we didn’t envisage was that the model we created 30 to 35 years ago would become rigidified

5:00 - 5:29 - ‘The foundation is terrific but we do need the freedom to be creative with the (mediation) structure we put onto the foundation’

5:30 - 6:04 - Can the family mediator use this Hybrid model? I think that they can and should but I am nervous about people do this without some sort of training

6:05 - 7:04 - It does need to be carefully done. It needs a different kind of mediation agreement...

7:05 - 8:09 - If the Hybrid mediation model is logical and requires training, do all family mediation organisations offer this training? 3 of the 6 membership organisation approve this model but only one offers training, as far as we aware

8:10 - 11:32 - The Family Mediation Council code does not exclude the Hybrid model

5:00 - 5:59 - The concept of ‘High Conflict’ refers to people who have certain personality traits that make it hard for them to let go of their strong belief systems and which manifest themselves in being totally inflexible in their views and unable to shift from them even though they may project as being very reasonable

6:00 - 7:14 - One mediation strategy is not to have all your meetings jointly. You would definitely want to separate them…. And allow more time… smaller steps…respect their views…learn to work with their views…slowly introduce different perspectives...

7:15 - 8:14 - Tell us about your recent book about ‘High Conflict personalities’

8:15 - 9:59 - Neil and Brenda McHughes have written a book for all professions, not just mediators, called ‘psychology, emotion and intuition in work relationships’ with the subtitle; ‘The Head, Heart and Gut Professional’

10:00 - 10:59 - You do need to trust your gut but you also need to know when to question your gut because it can be unreliable. We have written about High Conflict personalities

11:00 - 14:30 - We wanted to give it an academic background for practitioners. It is a practical book

11:00 - 14:30 - Empathy is central and specifically professional boundaried empathy. We also look at risk, uncertainty, change and many other aspects of professional life