Kate screamed furiously at her mother. Her mom, without hearing even one of Kate’s vicious words, screamed equally loud. The two seemed like they would never get along, let alone be able to live together under the same roof. Was this just a case of a rebellious teen? Or was it just a mother who didn’t know what else to do?

Resolving conflicts peacefully - outside of court
It was finally when Kate and her mother called Volunteers of America Dispute Resolution Center, and sat together with neutral mediators, that their relationship turned around. The mediator gave both parties the space they needed to express their complaints and concerns. Then they got down to the nitty-gritty’s of living together, assigning chores and discussing expectations. Talking through these issues, these simple agreements that had kept this this mother and daughter at odds for what seemed like years, was transformational and Kate left the mediation arm-in-arm with her mother.   "Could we come back if we can’t agree in the future?" they asked with a smile.

Empowering solutions at home, at work, in the community
Dipute Resolution Center of Snohomish and Island Counties has a national reputation for training conflict resolution professionals and offering conflict resolution that works.  Whether a dispute is rooted at home, with friends or family, neighbors, co-workers, or otherwise, the process of mediation guides parties through a process that not only offers an alternative to courts and violence, but also allows people to be respected and heard.  It gives people ownership of their own disputes and their own solutions. 

Facing conflict is not often pleasant. But taking the time to resolve it - especially through the highly reputable, successful, trained mediators of Dispute Resolution Center - will empower a powerful communication process that creates lasting solutions, and (hopefully) positive life long patterns.