Intervention

Divorce Mediation

Divorce mediation is about you, your soon to be ex-spouse and what is best for your children.  It means that you and your spouse decide your own divorce terms and what is best for you, your spouse and children.   The mediator is a neutral third party that aids in the process, so you and your spouse can work through the issues you need to resolve. In turn, it opens doors to end your marriage as amicably and cost effective as possible.

The issues covered in Divorce Mediation are the following (but are not limited):

1. Distribution of Property (Assets/Liabilities)
2. Child Custody and Parenting Time
3. Child Support/Maintenance
4. Retirement
5. Taxes

In mediation, the couple, with the help of the mediator, works out agreements on the above issues.  It may be easy, or it may take some time and energy if agreements are hard to reach.  The mediator’s job is to:

1. Keep lines of communication open
2. Assist couples in problem solving
3. Assist couples in reaching equitable outcomes
4. Assist couples in the decision-making process
5. Assist couples in exercising empathy
6. Assist couples to stay focused on issues, solution focused and in touch with reality
7. Facilitate effective conflict resolution techniques

Mediation is voluntary, flexible and confidential. It gives you and your spouse a way to settle the conflict between you in a way that helps you to work together as parents.  A divorce mediator is neutral and doesn't "work" for either parent. That means the mediator cannot give advice to either party. They must remain neutral no matter what the situation.
How long does divorce mediation take and what are the costs?
The length of time mediation will take depend on the issues that are pending to work on.  If there are issues that you have agreed upon already with your spouse, it will be less lengthy.  It also depends on the time it takes for both of you to come to an equitable agreement and disposition to do what is in the best interest of your children.
On average, pre-decree divorce mediation can be completed in 4-10 sessions.
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Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse Interventions:

• Court Ordered Assessments / Evaluations

•  Mental Health Assessments
•  Substance Abuse Assessments
  
• Batterers Intervention Assessments
• Parenting Evaluation
  
• Approved provider for Pyscho-sexual Evaluation

• Court Ordered Classes / Groups

• Substance Abuse: 12 and 24 weeks
• Anger Management: 4, 8, and 12 hours
• Impulse Control
• Parenting
• Drug Awareness
• Battered Intervention (BIP)
  
• Women’s Empower Group (WEG)

Batterers Intervention Program

• Our Vision

• Professional Counseling Center’s vision is to decrease abusive behaviors used by tactics of power and control between intimate partners, family members and children.   Our goal is to do this through teachings and education about the dynamics of domestic violence and acquiring non-controlling and non-violent behaviors.

• Program Specifics / Curriculum

• Assessment (approx. 90 min.)
• Orientation (90 min.)
• Class Sessions (90 min.)
• 29 Week Program

• Use of Duluth Model

• Assigns responsibility for the violence solely to the batterer.
• Provides strategies and assistance to the batterer in taking responsibility for violent behavior.
• Encourages development of critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and identifying appropriate, healthy behavior choices rather than violence.
• Supports the belief that domestic violence is, primarily, a learned behavior, and is NOT provoked or the result of substance abuse/use.
  
• Designed to improve communication and conflict-resolution skills and listening with empathy.
  
• Challenges stereotypical gender role expectations.
  
• Identifies the effects of distorted beliefs and thinking on emotions and behavior.
  
• Identifies the effects of domestic violence on children, partners, clients, and others.