Mediation and
conflict counselling

Barbed like a cactus?

Conflicts are a normal phenomenon in human relationships. What is not normal is that in cases of dispute these relationships have to be destroyed forever, or that conflicting parties have to end up facing financial ruin. Unfortunately, the latter is often the case. In court cases in which relationships between plaintiffs and defendants are already strained by a conflict, the probability is always high that these relationships become destroyed forever. Legal procedures aim at a purely legal solution, where mutual trust, respect for each other and a common solution for the future are not the most important considerations. The fact is that, where parties are bound together by circumstances or family ties, for example where children are involved or there is community of property, they usually end up being advised to try coexisting permanently. Here, constructive solutions are needed that require professional impartial advice. The best practice could be mediation.
Mediation is an informal and confidential way for people to resolve disputes with the help of a neutral person (the mediator) in order to achieve a common agreement that meets their needs and interests. The mediator is solely responsible for the process and does not therefore make decisions. The goal of mediation is the constructive resolution of the conflict without escalation or violence, and, if possible, even without trial.

Intercultural Mediation

Intermediaries, known as arbitrators and mediators are nothing new in Europe. A historically important example is the mediator Alvise Contarini, who played an instrumental role in ending the Thirty Years War in Germany in 1648. Currently, the arbitration regarding the expansion of Frankfurt Airport and the so-called "conflict-pilots" in schools are making the headlines. A particularly long tradition of mediation can be found in Asia, where harmony occupies a special culturally defined importance. In China for example, people traditionally avoid disputes because taking someone to court is regarded as a shameful and a loss of face. It is therefore not surprising that the first mediation centres in the U.S. were established by Chinese immigrants.
In Germany, mediation is becoming increasingly important, in private and family spheres, as well as in business, social and religious organizations. Since 2008, a new EU Directive on mediation which applies to cross-border disputes in civil and commercial matters has come into effect. At a national level, a bill which seeks to promote mediation and other methods of extra-judicial settlement of disputes or conflicts is about to be passed.
Conflict situations and crises involving parties with different cultural backgrounds, are particularly complicated. People from different cultures have different conflict behaviour. Communication styles, language problems, traditions, a sense of honour and many other issues differ.
In our globalized world and diverse multicultural society, arbitration increasingly requires intercultural perspectives.
These include awareness for cultural differences, empathy, knowledge of international law and culturally sensitive communication skills. Currently, only few mediators meet these competences and abilities.
Because of my training as a psychologist and mediator, my work experience, language skills and own migration experience, I am well prepared for this task. Please do not hesitate to contact me for an informal consultation, in which we can clarify whether mediation is the right approach for you at this point.
phone ++49 - (0)228 - 92983867 or e-Mail: info@queiroz-mediation.com

About me

My name is Glaucia Maria de Queiroz Gláucia. I am a psychologist, mediator and intercultural trainer. In December 1996, I completed my degree in psychology with honours and obtained my diploma as a psychologist and psychoanalyst at the state university of the city of Belo Horizonte, in my home country of Brazil. I worked as a psychotherapist in clinics, schools and my own private clinic in Brazil. After moving to Germany in 2000, I first worked in the field of Training & Consulting where I specialized in preparing professionals and managers for foreign assignments. Being a qualified intercultural trainer, my own experience as a migrant in Germany, as well as the experience with many bi-national marriages and partnerships led me to focus on intercultural communication and the involvement of the "dimension of culture" in my consulting services and psychotherapeutic practice. In certain cases, I found that psychotherapy was not really necessary, what was required was conflict counselling or mediation. Therefore, I trained as a mediator at the Institute for Conflict Consulting and Mediation in Bonn under the guidelines of the Federal Association for Family Mediation. I am currently in further training, learning intercultural mediation under the supervision of the MIKK e.V. in Berlin.

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Contact

My office is located in Königstr. 91,
53115 Bonn (Poppelsdorf)
As a mediator, however, I am also internationally available.
phone: ++49 - (0)228 - 92983867
e-Mail: info@queiroz-mediation.com

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