Article archive / January 2018
Originally published: . Volume 9, No. 1. Source pages: 7.
The Louisiana Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts will host mediation trainer, James Stovall, at its State Conference on January 26 and 27, to be held at the Paul Hebert Law Center on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge. The theme for the conference will be “Mediation, Money & Mental Health: Issues in Family Court.”
Stovall will conduct a three-hour discussion on reaching mediation clients. Mr. Stovall founded The Mediation Institute, which provides mediation services and training in family, governmental, and corporate arenas. He has conducted training workshops in Egypt, India, Indonesia, and 23 states in the U.S., and taught mediation and negotiation at the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma City University School of Law, and the University of Central Oklahoma.
The Times asked Mr. Stovall why is mediation such an important and useful service? “Too often children are the unintended victims in divorce and separation,” said Stovall. “Parents anger spills over on to the children and children feel torn between parents. In mediation, we are attempting to provide a safe atmosphere and empower parents by giving them opportunities for decision- making based upon their own values and priorities. In a high percentage of cases parents are able to reach an agreement that is satisfactory to both sides. They are able to put their own anger aside. They become willing to put their swords away for the sake of their children,” he explained.
Why do courts and others turn to mediators? “Many professionals–– including many judges––have seen up close and personal what happens when parents attempt to battle it out in courts,” he said. “Courts are not well equipped to handle the feelings of anger and resentment that often escalate as a case moves through the courts. Quite often the adversarial system takes a bad situation and makes it worse.”
Other presentations for the conference include “Social Security Entitlements, Pension Set-offs, Health Care,” presented by Madison Field, MBA and Robert Woosley, CFP; “Hearing Officers: Use of Mental Health Professionals,” by Brandy Blanchard, JD, Jill deCourt, JD, and Lisa Matthews, JD; and “The Use of MHPs as Custody Case Managers,” will be presented by Hon. Pamela Baker and Cathy Austin, PhD, LPC.
Dr. Catherine Austin, said, “The conference is an excellent source of information for those who work within the legal community, and it presents a unique opportunity for networking with judges, hearing officers, family law practitioners, and mental health professionals.” Dr. Austin is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Registered Play Therapist. She is in private practice in Covington, and a Qualified Domestic and Eldercare Mediator and a Parenting Coordinator.
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