| A counselor is usually trained in many different types | | | | Conflict Mediation is also very useful in helping couples |
| of counseling styles and uses a variety of methods to | | | | with their problems because it's more important for the |
| help people resolve their problems. They are generally | | | | couple to learn how to live with each other using their |
| licensed by the state, accept insurance, and have a | | | | own values, not the values held by a counselor. |
| minimum of a Masters Degree in some form of | | | | Mediation helps the participants to get what they want |
| psychology. An ordained minister is legally able to do | | | | and peacefully coexist. Counseling can be very biased |
| the same type of counseling as a licensed therapist, | | | | and opinionated while offering analysis, education and |
| but they don't take insurance, and they don't have to | | | | guidance. Mediation is sitting as a third party and |
| be a licensed therapist by the state. | | | | listening to each participant tell their story, asking them |
| A conflict mediator is not a counselor and while they | | | | to verbalize what they want from the other, and then |
| may use psychological techniques in their sessions, | | | | helping them reach a compromise. Sometimes |
| mediation is only concerned with helping the parties | | | | mediation takes hours because the objective is to |
| come to an agreement about the conflict. The | | | | reach an agreement, not keep coming back to talk |
| mediator must be unbiased, offering no opinions of their | | | | about the same thing. Once an agreement is reached, |
| own, only guiding the participants into harmony. The | | | | the session is over. Mediation is a really great way to |
| court system uses conflict mediators as often as | | | | solve problems. |
| possible to keep people out of the court rooms. | | | | |