THS Mediation Practice

I am not now taking clients in Colorado, because I am currently living in Prague, Czech Republic, and will be there at least until June 2007. Cooperative contact has been established with two Czech conflict resolution organizations and I have begun accepting mediation cases in Prague with English-speaking clients. I can be reached in Prague at (420) 775 275 965 or at thsmith@concentric.net (be sure to put the word "mediation" in the subject line of email).

The process of mediation is well established in Europe, with most countries providing some kind of basis for its use as a legally-sanctioned alternative dispute resolution method. As in the U.S., mediators come from backgrounds in law, psychology, social work, education and other fields. In the Czech Republic mediators have much more extensive training and experience in mediation before they are accepted by professional organizations such as Asociace Mediatorů České Republiky in Prague.

The enthusiasm and professionalism of the mediation community in Europe is apparent in the quality and attendance at mediation conferences. During 2005 and 2006 I have lead sessions on metaphor in mediation at four conferences: World Mediation Forum in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Mediation Institute Ireland in Dublin, Nordic/European Conference on Conflict Mediation in Helsinki, Finland, and Mediatoradvokaters in Copenhagen, Denmark.

I can still be reached via the above phone number or email address (be sure to put the word "mediation" in the subject line of email).

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In Brief:

Types of Disputes: Family disputes, interpersonal problems, couples in conflict, parent-adolescent, senior parent-adult children, legal disputes, family business, divorce, post-divorce, children out of wedlock, grand/step parent conflicts.

Areas of Experience: Child rearing, child development, parenting time, parenting plans, responsibilities and decision-making, young children and adolescents, custody, removal, support, health, property division, real estate, pension issues, handling anger, communication skills.

Background: Ph.D. Psychology. Private practice as mediator since 1991. Six years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, doing related research. Working with squabbling parents and families since 1987. Advanced Practitioner Member, Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly Academy of Family Mediators).

Fees: $115/hr mediation, $135/hr mediation-arbitration or parenting coordinator; reduced fee possible (1000 czk/hour in Prague).

Mediation addresses the needs and interests behind a dispute and helps people find worthwhile solutions. What people like most about mediation is that it's relatively quick, inexpensive, and keeps them in control of the decisions affecting their lives. Tom's best work has been with people who are barely able to listen to each other at first, but who learn to find common ground and negotiate solutions that work.

"I use techniques which restore functional communications between quarreling parties so that they can work toward mutual decisions. I build these techniques into the mediation process in such a way that participants quickly begin to use them. As we develop a written agreement, even people who have fought for years learn how to resolve issues and clear the way for future cooperation."

"Sometimes people ask me if it's really worth it to build cooperation with someone you're severing ties with. My answer comes from all the divorced parents I've worked with whose children are thriving. It's how to foster healthy dialog and prepare the ground for good parenting -- the ease with which kids relate to both parents and how readily parental challenges are handled."

Researcher and counselor in a military prison, psychiatric hospital and youth services programs; conflict resolution research at the Institute of Behavioral Science; university instructor in social psychology, creative thinking and family therapy. I migrated from psychology and business consulting into the mediation field after having been a single parent and experiencing the positive results of mediation.

Advanced Practitioner member, Association for Conflict Resolution (formerly AFM).

Guidelines member, Colorado Council of Mediators and Mediation Organizations (CCMO).