Family Mediation: Facts, Myths, and Future Prospects

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"In Family Mediation: Facts, Myths, and Future Prospects, Connie J. A. Beck and Bruce D. Sales trace the development of the field as well as current mediation practices and take a hard look at the consequences for families and the legal system. For families enduring divorce, it is presumed that mediating support, custody, and visitation issues is quicker, less expensive, and less painful than battling in court. But how valid are the claims of mediation's wide-ranging benefits? Borrowing from the experiences and methods of psychotherapy research, the authors offer an engaging, highly informative critique of family mediation practice and research to reveal the intricacies, inadequacies, and situations in which mediation is most effective. Legal and mental health scholars involved with families in divorce will gain a clear understanding of the substantial research needs and opportunities in the field and their implications for social policies."--BOOK JACKET.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Two members of the Psychology, Policy, and Law Program at the U. of Arizona trace the development of the use of divorce mediation to resolve family disputes. They explore current mediation practices and their consequences for both families and the legal system. Their study concludes that while mediation can have benefits, its proponents have overpromised what it can accomplish and have failed to confront unintended consequences that have costs for disputants and the courts. They discuss psychotherapy research methods that could be used to study and improve the mediation process. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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